ESF Pollinators's Boletim

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21 de setembro de 2022

New Campus Pollinator Garden!

On September 20th, staff, students, and the ESF grounds crew came together to install over 180 native plants in what is now ESF's first dedicated Bee Campus pollinator garden! Located in P1 (the Oval Lot) between Bray and Walter Hall, in front of the iconic Robin Hood Oak, this new garden contains 27 species of native flowers, shrubs, and grasses.
Photo: Lilly Kramer

Check out just one example of the before and after:

From showy spring-bloomers like wild columbine and golden alexanders to crooked-stem asters and stiff goldenrod catching the last rays of autumn sun, this approximately 1100 sq ft area will ensure a turnover of floral resources all season that both pollinators and people are sure to enjoy. In addition, three species of native grasses - little bluestem, bottlebrush grass, and purple lovegrass (alongside panic grass and northern sea oats which grow nearby) - act as important habitat structure, skipper butterfly host plants, and nesting material for solitary bees and wasps. Three species of milkweeds, plus butterfly favorites like purple Joe-Pye, have earned this spot the added title of certified Monarch Waystation (via MonarchWatch) - so keep an eye out for this sign, coming soon!
We encourage students, staff, and visitors to ESF to come visit this new garden throughout the year. Part of the wonder and beauty of a native garden is that it is ever-changing, and there will always be something new to discover. We hope this place will offer not just ecological value, but educational, aesthetic, and recreational value as well, to all members of our campus community. Stay tuned for interpretive signage which will be installed at the garden to educate visitors about Bee Campus efforts, and how everyone can protect pollinators right at home.

iNatters, we want you to get out and document pollinators in this new garden! Check out this awesome Spilomyia fusca, a bald-faced hornet mimic fly, spotted visiting the new flowers right as they were being planted!

Photo: Lilly Kramer: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/136041734

Please note, any plants iNatted from this garden should be 'casual' and 'cultivated'. Soon everything in the garden will have official labels, so we highly encourage you to use the observation field "Interaction -> Visited flower of:" to let us know what plant you saw the insect on. You may also use "Host Plant" for any caterpillars you find.

A huge thank you to all the volunteers and staff who made this planting possible! Keep up to date on future Bee Campus plantings and volunteer opportunities by visiting our social media pages:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunyesfrsc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunyesf_rsc/

Posted on 21 de setembro de 2022, 10:21 PM by mollymjacobson mollymjacobson | 0 comentários | Deixar um comentário

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