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In the winter of 2012, Heidi and her class decided that they
wanted to improve a 16 foot by 24 foot area around the
school’s front sign. |
This butterfly garden beautified a previously bare area
around the sign by filling it with native plants. |
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The class made their own compost to use for the planting.
Food waste and biodegradable trash generated by the class
was placed in this bin with worms. It was surprisingly
effective and did not smell. Heidi mentioned that the key
to its scentless success was not using any citrus and
burying any potentially smelly items deep in the bin. |
Before the planting, CI's Ben Alexandro educated the
students on why native plants are so important to our
watershed. The students learned what the butterfly garden
would do for native pollinators and why it was important to
use native plants. They learned about each native plant
chosen and what type of insects and beneficial species that
they would attract. Throughout the spring, the students
grew Blackeyed Susans from the seed. |
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The students and their parents brought tools to help plant.
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The students arranged the wildflowers based on shade
tolerance, height, color, etc. |
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Twenty students from grade 3-5 planted over 200 plants from
12 native species including the Blackeyed Susans that they
grew themselves. |
Species planted included bee balm, boneset, wild columbine,
butterfly weed, common milkweed, lance-leaved coreopsis,
false dragonhead, joe-pye weed, wrinkle-leaf goldenrod, and
common blue violet. |
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The students were sure to not plant anything that will grow
too high in front of the school sign. |
As the students were planting, an impromptu opportunity for
a lesson on complete metamorphosis arose when a student
discovered a wiggling moth Pupae in the soil. |
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The students were fascinated, but, at times, apprehensive.
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The planting was a big success. CI hopes that this is the
first of many Best Management Practices we will partner on
at Williamsport Elementary School. |