Henderson Interpretive Pollinator Garden Update
What began last summer, as the seed of an idea, to collaborate with SC 4-H Natural Resources, The Bee Cause Project, and Conestee Nature Preserve, has since bloomed into the Henderson Meadow Interpretive Pollinator garden (HIP). Work started in February 2023 with 4-H’ers researching native plants that would benefit pollinators and also provide close-up examples of species growing within the larger Henderson meadow at Conestee Nature Preserve. 4-H’ers from Upstate Circle of Friends and the Junior Naturalist 4-H explorer’s club created a planting plan and presented their ideas to board members at Conestee Nature Preserve and to funders through The Bee Cause Project.
This project has grown into a true community collaboration with native plants being provided by the South Carolina Native Plant Society and a Clemson University alumna who specializes in growing native plants at Seven Springs Farm.
South Carolina 4-H Youth Development helps kids build life skills by leading hands-on projects in areas like environmental education– helping them to grow confidence, independence, resilience, and compassion so that they can thrive. Adult mentors provide a positive environment where they learn by doing. The HIP project has brought together sixteen 4-H’ers, eleven volunteers, and numerous families and community partners who have all invested their heads, hearts, and hands to create healthy habitat for native pollinators.
The HIP garden will continue to ‘bee’ utilized as an outdoor classroom and 4-H’ers, as well as all visitors to Conestee Nature Preserve, will have the opportunity to learn as the next phase of the project is completed. In addition to the erosion prevention wall and steps that Conestee Nature Preserve staff have already built, Interpretive signage will be developed and installed to highlight the native plant species and the native pollinators that rely on them. The Henderson Meadow habitat adjacent to the garden will be highlighted. Additionally, 4-H’ers will be participating in citizen science as part of the Southeastern Bumble Bee Atlas through Xerces society and in August will contribute to the great southeast pollinator census in partnership with Clemson Cooperative Extension and UGA.
March 2023
To learn more about how you can contribute to the mission of Conestee Nature Preserve visit their webpage; Learn more about The Bee Cause Project and resources by clicking this link; You can also contribute to the Southeast Bumble Bee Atlas.
If you are interested in contributing to this 4-H project or in starting a project of your own, contact Patricia Whitener at pwhiten@clemson.edu.
For guidance and resources on how to start a school or community garden and how to Bee a friend to pollinators, visit our Clemson Cooperative Extension webpage.
