Edgewood Freshmen: What a Crew!

Nearby Edgewood College on Monroe Street requires their students to do community services or action projects.  Included in the Freshmen orientation are opportunities to engage in community service. On this sunny and cool day, with a hint of Fall in the air, I met the seven Freshmen and an assistant on campus at 1 p.m. After a brief orientation and opening activities, we sauntered across campus, crossed Monroe Street and made our way to the Prospect Gardens. We meet Sandy, my garden co-leader for the day, and walked the half block to the site. I followed with a wheel barrel. Inside was an ice chest with bottled water and a bag of granola bars for the crew.

We arrive and Sandy Gives Some Directions

Today's goal was to plant milkweed and butterfly weed as part of the national initiative to improve the habitat for monarch butterflies.  Their habitat is disappearing in part because farm land is highly cultivated which reduces the right habitat.

We planted slightly more than 200 plants in a terrace near the Commonwealth butterfly and pollinator garden. The site has the newest garden on the Southwest Commuter Path. This fantastic garden resulted from the energies and foresight of David and Jeannette, owners of the home bordering the butterfly and pollinator garden.

We saw several monarchs enjoying the year old habitat made up of plants that butterflies love. Several of us assisted the red milkweed seeds to disperse by blowing them into the air with our exhalations, giving nature an assist that wasn't necessarily needed.

I always so enjoy planting with the Edgewood freshmen. This is the second year students have been involved with the gardens as part of their orientation to Edgewood College life.  All seven Freshmen were either 18 or just turning 19 which makes me just over a half century older than these 21st century youth.

We worked diligently while enjoying small talk, and some laughs. It was great to be out in the sunny, cool air of late August day. What a splendid way to spend the waning days of summer while lending a hand to the Monarch butterflies and other creatures that share this commuter path with us.  Thank you  Edgewood college students!!  Here are seven more  pictures of the crew in action.

Bryan and Steve In Action

The Coeds Know How to Plant

Steve Spreading Mulch

The Crew In Action

The Happy Crew

Break Time

Kelly In Action: What a Great Smile.