LANDS and WATERS
  A not-for-profit organization devoted to watershed protection and education

The following list outlines guidelines for creating a pollinator garden.

1. Plant plenty of nectar- and pollen-rich flowers.
2. Provide food sources (host plants) and overwintering places for eggs and larvae.
3. Provide water (shallow pools, mud puddles, and bird baths).
4. Avoid using pesticides and herbicides.
5. Provide sites and materials for nesting and overwintering.
6. Provide rocks for basking.

For simple instructions on planting a pollinator garden click here.

Edge Garden

  
Above left: Edge area with educational signage. Above right: Native edge plants showing black berries of the arrowwood viburnum, a excellent edge and understory bush.

In a natural setting the transition from the lower growing meadow plants to the forest is gradual. This area of gradual transition is called the forest edge. The forest edge is an important source of food and shelter for wildlife and hosts a great diversity of native plants. Unfortunately, edge areas are often lost during the urbanization process. We have restored an edge area to illustrate this important ecological feature.

Edge gardens provide a healthy transition from meadows to forests

Native Grass Hillside 

  
Above left: Hillside shortly after planting. Above right: Hillside in second year of restoration

The slope of this hill was increased after Daniels Run School was remolded.  Turf grass was planted to control the erosion of soil from the hillside.  This reduced erosion to some extent but not entirely and did nothing to help slow down the flow or reduce the volume of water during a rain event.  Turf grass is a monoculture that provides very little or no wildlife habitat opportunities.  In order to reduce and filter stormwater and to increase biodiversity and habitat, students and volunteers planted this hillside with a variety of native grasses.  This has eliminated soil erosion and provides food and shelter far a wide variety of birds and pollinators.

Sponge Gardens

  
Above left: The sponge garden was created at the bottom of this slope to capture and filter stormwater runoff  Above right: Students, teachers, and volunteers are shown here mixing sand and leaf compost into the original clay soil to enhance the soil's capacity for retaining and filtering water

We coined the phrase sponge garden to describe a simple water retention area without many of the engineering features found in  rain gardens. There are two sponge gardens in our living classroom both function to retain the water runoff  from paved and grassy sloped areas. After excavating, we mixed the original clay soil with sand and leaf compost to improve water retention.  Lastly, we planted native plants that would tolerate both dry and wet conditions. Sponge gardens provide multiple benefits including stormwater control, increased biodiversity, and expanded wildlife habitat. There is an engineered rain garden demonstrated in the living classroom. This facility captures rooftop runoff from a portion of the school building and includes such engineered features as an under-drain and engineered soil mix.

Forest Restoration 

    
Above left: This image shows the beginning restoration of the forest understory.  A brush pile is visible in the back of the picture created to provide shelter for wildlife. Above right: Paths have been developed throughout the living classroom.  Often visitors from the surrounding neighborhoods enjoy strolling the paths after school hours. 

The forest areas at Daniels Run School were overgrown by invasive plants, mostly English ivy.  This invasive vine covered the forest floor and climbed up the canopy trees.  Over time invasive vines will kill trees.  Our first step towards restoring the forest was to remove the invasive plants and replace them with native plant communities.  It is important when restoring forest areas to plant  understory species along with canopy trees.  Understory plants include smaller trees like dogwoods, bushes like viburnums, and the lower perennials like Christmas ferns.

Constructed Wetland 

  
Above left: Images shows the area where water overflows to fed the natural wetland.  Above right: Student examining water from the wetland during a water testing activity.