Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat Grant
In the fall of 2013 I wrote to receive a grant through the Department of Natural Resources to provide funding to put in three prairie gardens at United West Elementary. In January of 2014 we learned we received grant funds.
In late April three gardens were tilled and Kindergarten and 3rd grade students watched the video of the gardens being tilled together. The gardens were cleaned of grass and then raked to provide a good bed for the seeds. Kindergarten and 3rd grade students also participated in mixing the seeds with sand and then measuring it to be put into baggies for easy broadcasting. On May 9th the beds were seeded by Ms. Fry's Kindergarten class and the students of 3R. The gardens were seeded with prairie flowers and grass seed purchased from Kelly Seed Company out of Peoria, IL. The gardens were watered and cared for until the last days of school. They are now thriving and attracting butterflies and birds we can see right out our windows!
Coming this fall 3R will put together a field guide to be used to identify the native prairie flowers and grasses found in our new gardens.
In late April three gardens were tilled and Kindergarten and 3rd grade students watched the video of the gardens being tilled together. The gardens were cleaned of grass and then raked to provide a good bed for the seeds. Kindergarten and 3rd grade students also participated in mixing the seeds with sand and then measuring it to be put into baggies for easy broadcasting. On May 9th the beds were seeded by Ms. Fry's Kindergarten class and the students of 3R. The gardens were seeded with prairie flowers and grass seed purchased from Kelly Seed Company out of Peoria, IL. The gardens were watered and cared for until the last days of school. They are now thriving and attracting butterflies and birds we can see right out our windows!
Coming this fall 3R will put together a field guide to be used to identify the native prairie flowers and grasses found in our new gardens.
Prairie Plant Websites
Prairie Wildflowers of Illinois
Illinois Roadside Prairies
Department of Natural Resources
Prairie Wildflowers of Illinois
Illinois Roadside Prairies
Department of Natural Resources