One of our community service projects performed by the Pack is actually a thank you to Leesylvania Elementary School.
In the rear of the school, is a small garden area.
The garden beds there had been overgrown and neglected.
Last fall, the Pack did some serious weeding and pruning. Some bulbs were planted and the spring planting is about to begin.
The garden plan:
Virginia Native Garden
We have been able to get several Virginia native flowering plants to build a foundation garden for the future. The idea is to build on this planning over the years and maintain the plants for proper growth and habit.
The FloweringDogwood – Cornus Florida, is the state tree of Virginia. The Dogwood, was adopted as Virginia’s state tree in 1956. It has white flowers, which bloom in spring and its dark green foliage changes to red in fall. Flowering dogwood is one of America's most popular ornamental trees. It is native to the Mid-Atlantic and Eastern US.
The Forsythia - forsythia x intermedia,is a native to most of the US and grows throughout the Region. Its bright yellow flowers are one of the earliest to bloom and is known to “welcome” spring each year. The forsythia is named after the English horticulturist William Forsythe. It is also called the border forsythiaor golden bell. Forsythia intermedia is a hybrid between F suspensa and F.viridissima.
Bulbs
In addition to the new plants, the perennial bulbs that we planted in the spring and are blooming now will come back each year and bloom in the spring. After the bloom, the plant lives for a few more weeks to store energy in the bulb or the root. After a dormant period in the winter, the bulb uses that stored food to generate the blooms the next year.
Perennial plants
Perennial plants, are a type of plant the continually self-propagate, or spread by themselves. Like the bulb, they grow and store energy in their roots to grow back every year, bigger and stronger.
We are planting Sedum, which is a perennial, and produces red flowers in the fall that dryout and can be used in flower arrangements.
Miscanthus and Pennisitum Native grasses; These grasses are native the marshes and wetlands along the East Coast. The plants we are planting are split from clumps that were split nearly 20 years ago and have been split many, many times. These are a way that friends can share plants that keep giving back.
Vegetables
We will also be planting some vegetables. These start as either seed or small plants or cutting. With proper sunlight and water they produce fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, corn, beans, cucumbers and carrots from one small seed.
BEDS
Leave all the bulbs in place, if a daffodil or crocus bulb is dug up it can be replanted and will come back next year.
Bed ONE (1)
- Plant one forsythia as marked about 4’ ft from the building.
- Plant one large Miscanthus (orange ribbon) as marked.
Bed Two (2)
- Plant one dogwood as marked about 6’ ft from the building.
- Plant one large Miscanthus (orange ribbon) as marked.
- Install small grasses
Bed Three (3)
- Plant one dogwood as marked about 6’ ft from the building.
- Plant one large Miscanthus (orange ribbon) as marked.
Bed Four (4)
- Plant one forsythia as marked about 4’ ft from the building.
- Plant one large Miscanthus (orange ribbon) as marked.
Bed Five (5)
- Plant one large Miscanthus (orange ribbon) as marked.
Bed Two (6)
- Plant one dogwood as marked about 6’ ft from the building.
- Plant one large Miscanthus (orange ribbon) as marked.
- Plant 6 Sedum as laid out
Check back soon and often to see how our garden grows!!!