Missouri High School Students Aid Mark Twain National Forest in Planting Pollinator Gardens

By Ashlee Ransom on Nov 11, 2010

Potosi High School students help Mark Twain National Forest's Potosi Ranger District build two pollinator gardens at district office.

Mark Twain National Forest's Potosi Ranger District now has two pollinator gardens.

District employees, with the assistance of Potosi High School students, built the pollinator gardens September 2010. The students who participated are taking agriculture classes and are members of Future Farmers of America (FFA).

"A large percentage of our country's crops are created from pollinators," said Potosi District Ranger Mike Weber. "Pollinator gardens provide native, blooming flowers from spring through fall and can include a variety of different colors."

One pollinator garden built represents native Missouri plants that are adapted to part shade and may be found in woodland habitats. This garden includes 16 different species of plants, most of which are flowering plants.

The second pollinator garden represents native Missouri plants that are adapted to full sun and may be found in glade or prairie habitats. It includes 15 different species of plants, most of which are flowering plants.

The pollinator gardens built at Mark Twain National Forest's Potosi-Fredericktown District Office were funded through the Botany and Native Plant Material Program.

Additionally, a rain barrel was purchased to help conserve water and show others how to utilize it for landscaping.

Pollinator gardens supply flowering plants for native pollinating insects like honey bees, some of which are in decline. The gardens also provide milkweed plants essential for monarch butterfly breeding. Monarch butterflies are also showing declines in the USA.

"Pollinator gardens play a significant role in educating the public about the diversity and beauty of Missouri's native plants," said Lynda Mills, wildlife biologist for Mark Twain National Forest. "It also encourages people to participate in the state's Grow Native! Program."

Missouri's Grow Native! Program is a joint program of the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA). Grow Native! Program helps protect and restore the state's biodiversity by increasing conservation awareness of native plants and their effective use. To learn more about this program, visit: http://www.grownative.org/.

Individual reports and Success Stories about all native gardens in the Forest Service's Eastern Region can be found here: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/wildlife/plants_botany/.

For more information about Mark Twain National Forest, http://www.fs.usda.gov/mtnf