Pink Muhly Grass and Sourwood Make Colorful Native Additions to Schoolyard Habitat

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A student buried her face in a cloud of pink muhly grass.



Others took a taste of a leaf from a sourwood plant to see if the plant is aptly named. (It is.)

They were among the plants purchased by Master Gardener Kristi Jennings, mother of sixth-grader Caroline, for the National Wildlife School Habitat garden in the Middle School.

On Tuesday, Sept. 25, Mrs. Jennings spoke to the fifth and sixth-graders about South Carolina native plants, explaining how they would "take" to our school habitat.


Students are framed by the yellow-jessamine-
covered arbor at the entrance to the MS
Butterfly Garden. Fifth-graders built the
arbor several years ago.

In addition, Mrs. Jennings shared an opposum skeleton she had found in the garden, and discussed the types of butterflies we are finding in the garden.


A fifth-grader admires a ceramic turtle made in art class by an earlier group of students.

Jane Williams, lead teacher for the fifth grade garden, which encompasses the Butterfly Garden, Schoolyard Habitat, and Outdoor Learning Classroom, found a monarch in its chrysalis on a recent Friday afternoon, but, she explained, "It had emerged before we could show the students."



But with so many plants to feed on in the garden, including butterfly bush, lantana, and other native plants, students are bound to find another chrysalis--along with many other wonders--as they work outdoors.