Hoosier National Forest staff help Lawrence County students expand pollinator garden

Hoosier National Forest staff recently helped elementary students at Lawrence County Independent Schools (LCIS) expand a pollinator garden to increase local habitat. This was the second year of planting; last year staff, students and teachers planted many different species in the newly created garden location.

“We got started this time last year when I reached out to [Hoosier National Forest Botanist] Cheryl Coon, to assist us with starting a pollinator garden to help the Monarch butterfly,” said Gina Weir, LCIS STEM/Art/Outdoor Education Teacher, in a news release.

This year, with the help of Hoosier National Forest staff and a grant from the “Monarch Watch” nonprofit organization, LCIS teachers and a group of fourth and fifth graders planted 32 additional milkweed plants into the pollinator garden behind the Fayetteville school. The pollinator garden is near the children’s vegetable garden, where they are growing fruit and vegetables that require pollination.

“Pollinator gardens are designed with native plants to provide nectar and pollen to pollinators,” said Coon. “Planting different plants that flower in spring, early summer or fall provides a food source for pollinators for the whole season.”

The group planted milkweed in the garden because it is an important pollinator plant that is also the only food source for Monarch caterpillars, one of the most recognizable and well-studied butterflies in the United States, which has seen its population decline in recent years.

“Pollinators, like monarchs, play a vital role in the natural ecosystem and our food system,” said Coon. “Without pollinators, the world around us would not be the same. Not only are they beautiful, but they also provide a valuable food source for birds, other insects, and small animals.”

Expanding and maintaining the pollinator garden provided the Lawrence County students with a chance to not only help the local environment, but also learn about pollinator needs and the monarch butterfly’s lifecycle.

“It is fun to work with the kids and discuss pollinators’ roles and how we can improve habitat for them in our local yards,” said Coon. “I can’t wait to come back next year.”

The appreciative feeling was mutual between local school students and staff.

“Cheryl gave us good guidance and the collaboration was pretty awesome,” said Weir. “Next year we’re planning to expand the pollinator garden even more and have an even larger outdoor classroom for our students.”

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Lawrence County school expands pollinator garden with forest staff help