About the Project
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
My Eagle Scout Service Project will be a pollinator garden, utilizing the empty area behind the Lyman Woods Edible Garden. Although it is a large project, I believe it is achievable and poses many benefits to Downers Grove Park District's Lyman Woods and the local community. The approximately 45-foot by 75-foot garden will have different sections based on pollinator species. For example, one area will be mainly for hummingbirds, another mainly for moths, with similar divisions for every pollinator species. I will also make and install several artificial habitats for the pollinator species. One of the main goals of this garden is to educate people of all ages on the benefits of pollinators. This project will be open to the public with informative signs about the native plant and pollinator species, fulfilling this goal. My project will include some temporary informative signs, and Lyman Woods will design and install the permanent ones. I will also have benches in the garden, which will be used for the Lyman Woods educational programs. This Pollinator Garden will have several plant species used for pollen, nectar, food, and habitats. Butterfly Boxes and Hummingbird "Nests" are among some of the artificial pollinator habitats that will be located in the garden so that some of these species can have a protected place for shelter. The project will also use a handful of endangered pollinator-friendly plant species, such as the Decurrent False Aster and an assortment of Milkweeds. These endangered species will be secluded and protected to avoid damage from young kids or mammalian herbivores. I have attached a rough diagram of the garden with a legend. Before pictures, the current plant list (subject to change), and some other necessary resources are attached as well.
PROJECT BENEFIT
The main goal of my garden is to educate the public about pollinator species and their challenges. As a part of the widespread movement to conserve pollinators, this garden will inform people about how they can support local pollinator populations. Several people view bees or butterflies as the sole pollinators. Even though they are crucial pollinators, I hope to familiarize the public with several other pollinator species. My garden will have the expected bees and butterflies, but I will also include plants that support hummingbirds, moths, and even flies- which are responsible for 72% of pollination, only 8% below bees. Because the garden will be next to an edible garden, it can emphasize the importance of pollinators to our agriculture. The project beneficiary, Lyman Woods, runs a nature summer camp for younger children, and this garden can help the Park District teach kids about the role of pollinators and lessen the aura of negativity regarding certain insects like bees, flies, and moths. Pollinator gardens help native wildflower populations and improve local air quality simultaneously. The benches in the garden will provide an area for the staff members to teach the kids about the role of pollinators in our lives. The list goes on! In total, this pollinator garden can have many positive ramifications for our local community and Lyman Woods.
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