The Child Development Center (CDC) at Oxnard College has a brand new butterfly/hummingbird garden–with the help of members of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the college’s maintenance and operations department. The CDC had five small landscaped areas–four containing only turf. They were the perfect location make the switch to native plants so preschoolers could have a place to observe nature.
The turf was removed and the spray irrigation was replaced to drip irrigation, which will only be needed until the plant roots are established or during prolonged heat waves. Next, soil (donated by Agromin) was added. With the assistance from teachers, parents and a team of biologists and scientists from the Fish and Wildlife Service, the preschoolers planted a variety of native plants at the center.
Plants included sages, Monkey Plants, Mallow, Flannel Bush, Catalina cherry trees, Lemonade Berry, Galvezia, Heuchera, Yarrow and Milkweed. Some of the plants were from cuttings from a makeshift nursery on the college campus created by Bob Sube, Oxnard College director of facilities, maintenance and operations. Others were donated by Michael Glenn, a biologist from the Fish and Wildlife Service.
The children enjoyed themselves and were proud of creating a garden that will attract hummingbirds and butterflies to the campus. As an added benefit, the new landscaping will require less water and fewer hours to maintain.