What has seven plant beds, one dirt pit, and lots of native pollinator plants? The garden at Adams Elementary School in Cary! On this second of two garden workdays, volunteers from SWC, NCWF, and members of the Adams Elementary School PTA finished planting native pollinator plants in the school’s garden. The kids enjoyed digging, planting, watering, and mulching as well as looking for pollinators like fiery skippers and bees. New this week was the addition of native seeds provided by SWC’s John Kinsella. Our student helpers learned about the seed heads of native pollinator plants like Anise hyssop, black-eyed Susan, and clasping coneflower and then helped spread these seeds in the garden. We also had the kids help plant rose mallows, Carolina phlox, and purple coneflowers in the remaining flower beds as well as some winter-hard annuals along the cement walkway.
After working with these kids for two Fridays, what stood out about them was their enthusiasm for the opportunity to dig in the dirt and for every creature they found (from earthworms and beetle grubs to grasshoppers and butterflies.) When we found a creepy crawly or a snake skin, no one was hesitant to pick it up, examine it, and then quickly run off to show their friends. We hope that the new additions to the garden bring in lots more garden critters to discover!
NCWF Conservation Coordinator Kara Solomon and NCWF VP of Conservation Partnerships Natalie Bohorquez lent a hand. Our other star volunteers included Bill, David, Cissy, and Courtney from SWC, as well as PTA garden leaders Brianna and Ashley. We know the garden is in good (but dirty!) hands with them.
Please join us for many more activities and events coming up this fall and be sure to subscribe to this website blog at the bottom of the page to see what’s next!
South Wake Conservationists 