Native Plant Demonstration Garden
The well-manicured lawn has long been an obsession of the average American homeowner. However, there is a growing interest in moving away from water-guzzling and chemical-hungry lawns and cultivating yards that are diverse and self-regulating.
At the NC State Center for Marine Sciences & Technology (CMAST) on the campus of Carteret Community College, the front lawn looks rather typical. It is planted with turfgrass and non-native shrubs and trees, bordered by concrete sidewalks.
But Shawn Banks, the county’s Agricultural Extension Agent, and the Extension Master Gardener Volunteers are working to transform the area into a native plant space that will attract not only people but birds and insects as well.
After permission was granted for the project from the grounds maintenance supervisor and the CMAST building superintendent, design work began.
The design was a mashup of drawings submitted by students in the horticulture design program at NC State University. Some had favorable designs, but the plants were not ideally suited for the area. Others had excellent plant selections, but the designs weren't the best aesthetic for the space.
As the project gets off the ground, the first step will be the installation of the permeable paver walkway that will extend from the stairwell exit to the parking lot and the removal of the crepe myrtles. Once the walkway is installed and the trees are removed, bed preparation and installation of the plants can begin.
Attracting Wildlife
Native beneficial insects and wildlife have pretty narrow food sources in well-manicured lawns and planting beds. While planting any flowers is better than no flowers, native species (like milkweed) provide the best food sources for attracting and benefiting local wildlife and those passing through during migration.
Native plants provide the right nutrients and physical structure that native pollinators, insects, birds, and other wildlife are adapted to and rely on. Non-native landscapes reduce habitat variety that would otherwise support greater bird and pollinator abundance. With more lawn, there’s less biodiversity to native wildlife.
Wildlife has three basic survival needs: food, water, and shelter. Expanses of pure, short-turf grasses can’t meet these needs.
Without flowers, there’s no nectar for a butterfly to drink. Without native plants, there’s no food for hungry caterpillars. Without hollow stems, native female bees don’t have anywhere to lay their eggs and reproduce. There’s nowhere for critters to seek refuge from a sweltering summer sun or the relentless pelting of a storm.
Building Resiliency
Native plants aren't just good for birds and bees. They also make the land more resilient to the effects of climate change and can even help prevent it. Carteret County and all of eastern North Carolina experience extended periods of minimal rainfall as well as flooding rains from hurricanes and other storms.
Native plants do more to prevent flooding than a lawn. They have longer roots, which keep the soil in place and help it absorb more water. That, in turn, reduces runoff.
Those roots also trap more carbon dioxide. As a bonus, native plant species are already adapted to living in this climate, so they need less watering and special amendments.
Crepe myrtles, non-native shrubs, impervious sidewalks, and turfgrass make up the current landscaping at the CMAST building.
The final design was a collaboration between students in the horticulture program at NC State and the local Master Gardener program.
Donate Today!
The project will be funded entirely from grants and donations. We invite individuals, garden clubs, and local businesses small and large to help us complete this educational native plant project. Donations can be made to:
Carteret County Master Gardener Volunteer Association
303 College Circle
Morehead City, NC 28557
