2021 WCCD School & Community Habitat Grant Awardee Report:
University Palisades - Native Plant Entrance Island
Eileen picking up the plants at the Native Plant Expo & Marketplace with help from a volunteer.
The University Palisades is a community of homes in Pittsfield Township collectively organized with a Homeowner's Association. Suzanne, Eileen, and Sally applied for the 2021 School & Community Habitat Grant with intentions to reintroduce more colors to attract pollinators and birds to their shared neighborhood natural spaces, with the additional goal of reducing irrigation requirements and fertilizer and pesticide use. In their conventionally landscaped neighborhood, the small but mighty crew hoped to "provide a model of environmental responsibility and sustainability that educates and encourages private owners within the subdivision to follow our lead", especially after seeing all large volumes of yard "waste" on "trash day".
Their project vision included introducing native plants to multiple landscaped road medians / "islands" and creating a natural noise/pollution privacy break between homes and a busy road. They were awarded the grant and started working with David M. of PlantWise LLC, and narrowed the project down to a phased plan starting with replanting one island to be a native plant pollinator paradise! Continue reading for the project report and before/after photos.
We're looking forward to see more as the plantings mature!
Their project vision included introducing native plants to multiple landscaped road medians / "islands" and creating a natural noise/pollution privacy break between homes and a busy road. They were awarded the grant and started working with David M. of PlantWise LLC, and narrowed the project down to a phased plan starting with replanting one island to be a native plant pollinator paradise! Continue reading for the project report and before/after photos.
We're looking forward to see more as the plantings mature!
Native Plant Entrance Island - One Year Project Report
by Eileen Shivak
6/24/2023
Installation
The University Palisades neighborhood is pleased with our new garden. The plants are flourishing and blooming.
The design is working well. The various plants provide both color and textural interest throughout the season. The border of wild strawberries have filled in nicely. They even produced a bountiful crop of small but tasty berries.
After planting last summer and through the spring the garden looked sparce and weedy. In early June some of the plants wilted during the drought, but rejuvenated with the next rain. They are robust and healthy.
It is wonderful to hear compliments from homeowners rather than the complaints we had been receiving for years. Several have volunteered to assist in maintaining and growing our garden. There is also an interest in adding spring bulbs.
We welcome visitors. The UP subdivision is excited to be landscaping with native plants.
We thank the WCCD for their generous assistance and guidance.
by Eileen Shivak
6/24/2023
Installation
The University Palisades neighborhood is pleased with our new garden. The plants are flourishing and blooming.
The design is working well. The various plants provide both color and textural interest throughout the season. The border of wild strawberries have filled in nicely. They even produced a bountiful crop of small but tasty berries.
After planting last summer and through the spring the garden looked sparce and weedy. In early June some of the plants wilted during the drought, but rejuvenated with the next rain. They are robust and healthy.
It is wonderful to hear compliments from homeowners rather than the complaints we had been receiving for years. Several have volunteered to assist in maintaining and growing our garden. There is also an interest in adding spring bulbs.
We welcome visitors. The UP subdivision is excited to be landscaping with native plants.
We thank the WCCD for their generous assistance and guidance.
2023 One year later!
2022 Summer Gallery:
WCCD School & Community Habitat Grant - Final Project Report
by Eileen Shivak
6/8/2022
Installation
Our installation took place on June 4,2022. Previously, the ground was readied for planting. All unwanted plants, shrubs and trees were removed. A damaged tree was replaced. The ground was then leveled and the entire island was covered with fresh mulch. The week before all weeds were removed from the area.
Our work crew consisted of two board members and five volunteers. Everyone brought their own tools. The most useful tool was a bulb auger attached to a cordless drill. This made perfect holes for placement of the plugs. We had a design prepared for us by Guy Smith from Plant Wise. All of the plants, which had been picked up the day before were on site that morning. The WCCD sign was installed by one of our volunteers.
by Eileen Shivak
6/8/2022
Installation
Our installation took place on June 4,2022. Previously, the ground was readied for planting. All unwanted plants, shrubs and trees were removed. A damaged tree was replaced. The ground was then leveled and the entire island was covered with fresh mulch. The week before all weeds were removed from the area.
Our work crew consisted of two board members and five volunteers. Everyone brought their own tools. The most useful tool was a bulb auger attached to a cordless drill. This made perfect holes for placement of the plugs. We had a design prepared for us by Guy Smith from Plant Wise. All of the plants, which had been picked up the day before were on site that morning. The WCCD sign was installed by one of our volunteers.
Challenges
We encountered many unforeseen challenges during installation. Many of which resulted from inexperience in leading projects of this size.
1) We should have established an overall project leader.
2) We should have divided the area into sections, each with its own group of volunteers and a supervisor.
3) Better knowledge of the specific plants would have been useful. We were Googling plant specifications.
4) We forgot to take photos. We should have assigned someone to take pictures before, during and after installation.
5) I recommend watering the flats before planting as the plugs dry out quickly.
6) The homeowner who supplies our water had unexpectedly shut off his water and left town. Luckily we were able to access water from another home.
7) Hoses and sprinklers needed to be purchased that day.
8) The planting took much longer than expected. We should have planned two days for installation.
9) We did not have enough strawberry plants to complete the border.
Plan for the First Year
As our garden is located at the entrance to our subdivision, it is easy to check on the plants daily. We are working on setting up sprinklers which can be left in place, for ease of watering. Several board members are handling the initial few weeks of watering. After the plants have become established, we will arrange for regular watering throughout the summer and fall. Our landscaper is scheduled to weed the garden every two weeks.
As the season progresses we will add plants to areas in need of filling in, and move plants where appropriate. We will plant additional strawberry plants along the border. We intend to extend the design by adding native plants to the second island at our entrance next year.
We encountered many unforeseen challenges during installation. Many of which resulted from inexperience in leading projects of this size.
1) We should have established an overall project leader.
2) We should have divided the area into sections, each with its own group of volunteers and a supervisor.
3) Better knowledge of the specific plants would have been useful. We were Googling plant specifications.
4) We forgot to take photos. We should have assigned someone to take pictures before, during and after installation.
5) I recommend watering the flats before planting as the plugs dry out quickly.
6) The homeowner who supplies our water had unexpectedly shut off his water and left town. Luckily we were able to access water from another home.
7) Hoses and sprinklers needed to be purchased that day.
8) The planting took much longer than expected. We should have planned two days for installation.
9) We did not have enough strawberry plants to complete the border.
Plan for the First Year
As our garden is located at the entrance to our subdivision, it is easy to check on the plants daily. We are working on setting up sprinklers which can be left in place, for ease of watering. Several board members are handling the initial few weeks of watering. After the plants have become established, we will arrange for regular watering throughout the summer and fall. Our landscaper is scheduled to weed the garden every two weeks.
As the season progresses we will add plants to areas in need of filling in, and move plants where appropriate. We will plant additional strawberry plants along the border. We intend to extend the design by adding native plants to the second island at our entrance next year.
