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MVGS students have an "on-growing" project at Laurel Ridge Community College in Warrenton, studying and caring for a small plot of native wildflowers as part of their ecology class.
Native plants are important because they have co-evolved with the native insects in our region for hundreds of thousands of years. That means that the insects that act as pollinators as well as food for birds and other wildlife are adapted to, and depend on, native plants. Without native plants, we lose native insects. Without native insects, we lose songbirds and countless other pieces of the ecosystem and the services that they provide. Plant native!
List of Species found in the MVGS Warrenton Native Garden:
Blue Mist Flower
Lemon Bee Balm
Small White Aster
Tall Goldenrod
We are grateful for everyone that has helped us to grow our garden from dream to reality!
Special thanks to:
Laurel Ridge for providing the space on campus!
The Ever Green Project from James Madison University for a start up grant
The Piedmont Chapter of the Native Plant Society for a grant to create signage
Support from Meadows Farm Nursery
Monarch Watch for the donation of milkweed plants
Sustainability Matters for seed donation
Soil and Water Conservation District for soil testing
Dr. Huff for helping to champion the project
Mrs. Wilmore for watering over the summer while plants were first establishing
The garden will be lovingly managed by MVGS staff and students in perpetuity.
Warrenton Native Meadow Timeline
In the spring of 2022, Warrenton ecology and envirothon students worked with Laurel Ridge Community College to design and put in a small plot of native wildflowers on campus. They grew the plants from seeds using the winter sowing method and seeds donated by Sustainability Matters and individuals in the community.
During the 2022-2023 school year, ecology seniors worked to weed the plot and add new plants, including milkweed donated by the Monarch Watch Foundation. The plants flourished and wildlife was observed using the garden habitat, including monarch caterpillars!
In the fall of 2023, ecology seniors identified all the plants growing in the plot and worked to remove non target and non-native species. They also successfully got the garden certified as a Monarch Way Station and even tagged monarchs as part of an International research project.
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