For those who haven’t ventured behind the chapel in awhile, the pollinator habitat that was planted five-and-a-half years ago is thriving, with many of the native shrubs that were purchased through a Watchable Wildlife grant now approaching their full height and breadth. The wildflowers that have been planted periodically for the past several years are in various stages of blooming throughout the year, so any time from April–October there will be something in bloom and no doubt being appreciated by a pollinator.
Earlier in the day Ms. Gibbin’s Forest Room class released some monarch butterflies they had been raising in their classroom, and then after lunch they went back to the site with 16 pollinator seedlings that Ms. Gibbins had received from Nebraska Monarchs. The class spent some time digging in the ground, breaking up root balls, and securing their plants into the soil.
Some of the species planted were butterfly milkweed, goldenrod, blazing star, mountain mint, and foxglove. It will take a couple of years for these plants to establish, but once they do they will contribute beautiful color and continue to ensure pollinators have a safe place to visit on our campus.
Thanks, Forest Room!
