This satellite garden was established in late spring 2012. The Nittany Valley Charter School has an environmental emphasis. We study and care deeply about the natural world. Creating, maintaining and studying this garden has been a rewarding experience for the students.
Centre County Master Gardeners helped us choose a site. We had considered another site but they pointed out the advantages of the full sun and visibility of the location near the street and in front of the school. Our site is about twelve feet long and six feet wide. We have another school garden where we grow vegetables, herbs and flowers.
The teachers and students of Nittany Valley Charter School are involved with this satellite garden, with continuing advice from the Master Gardeners. When the garden was designed, they helped us to consider the ENTIRE life cycle of pollinators. We included plants that provide food for caterpillars, places for pollinators to land, places for them to lay their eggs, and of course, flowers with nectar. We also considered visual appeal and have a variety of colors and heights in our garden. The students have had hands on experience in planning, planting and maintaining the garden. So far, it is doing very well.
Centre County Master Gardeners helped us choose a site. We had considered another site but they pointed out the advantages of the full sun and visibility of the location near the street and in front of the school. Our site is about twelve feet long and six feet wide. We have another school garden where we grow vegetables, herbs and flowers.
The teachers and students of Nittany Valley Charter School are involved with this satellite garden, with continuing advice from the Master Gardeners. When the garden was designed, they helped us to consider the ENTIRE life cycle of pollinators. We included plants that provide food for caterpillars, places for pollinators to land, places for them to lay their eggs, and of course, flowers with nectar. We also considered visual appeal and have a variety of colors and heights in our garden. The students have had hands on experience in planning, planting and maintaining the garden. So far, it is doing very well.
We've had many different pollinators visiting our garden, including butterflies of various sizes, different sizes of butterflies, honey bees, wasps, very tiny bees, carpenter bees, bumble bees. And that variety was seen on just one day in early August!
Thank you Master Gardeners! We are thrilled that so many pollinators are visiting our garden. |