Beautify a campus with drought-resistant flowers while also providing a space that helps nature’s pollinators to thrive and continue to be resilient?

That’s what Gateway Technical College has created. It’s a win-win for the community, its students … and bees and butterflies.

The college worked with Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network to help plant perennial pollinator patches on its Racine Campus recently. The Potpourri Garden Club supported the project through Root-Pike WIN, providing native pollinator-friendly forbes and grasses. 

Kristi Heuser of WIN Pike helped facilitate the planting and said efforts like these benefit the landscape as well as the waterways of Racine. Patches range in size from 300 square feet to 2,000 square feet.

“It’s all volunteer driven,” she said. “It’s not huge areas we are talking about, but they are effective.”

She pointed out that native plants have a root system that delves 15 to 60 feet deep, soaking up rainwater and keeping it from moving through pollutants and then on to area waterways.

First-semester Gateway Horticulture students gained real-world experience by helping to plant the flowers in two spots designated on the college campus.

“This hands-on project allows students to apply classroom knowledge while learning about sustainable landscaping practices that support pollinators vital to local ecosystems,” said Gateway Technical College Horticulture instructor Courtney Greve.

“Beyond planting, students will build skills in teamwork, environmental stewardship and community engagement, laying the groundwork for their future careers in the green industry." 

The result is a space that helps the environment while adding beauty to the campus.

“The project adds beauty to the campus, which makes it more presentable and is enjoyable to the community,” said Greve.

The spots chosen were on the western side of the campus near Main Street

To see all photos from this event: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCw2r6

For more information on the program:
https://www.gtc.edu/programs/technical-diplomas/horticulture-technician