Streambank Restoration

I hope you are wondering how the stream bank restoration planting went on October 24th at the Village Elementary School in Skillman Village. A small band of dedicated volunteers worked for about two and a half hours in intermittent light rain and planted most of the plants, covering all of the area in the plan. Fortunately, Alyssa Gartenberg (the girl scout who has made this her gold award project) took advantage of the beautiful weather the previous Thursday and Friday to get some planting done after school with a few volunteers who were not available Saturday. Stakes were also placed around the edge of the area to keep lawn mowers and pedestrians from accidentally damaging the plants.

Right after we planted, it rained about three inches, and there has been some erosion. This occurred mostly in the area that was already eroded: a narrow strip where all the water from the parking area and driveway comes pouring down to the stream (see first photo). I recently drove over to the school and placed chunks of sod, which we had removed when we put in the plants, in the eroded spots. I hope they will prevent erosion during the winter and that in the spring the new plants will fill in any remaining bare spots.

I wish I could show you photos of a beautiful stream bank covered with flowering plants, but it is the wrong time of year for that. The photos I have posted show what some of the plants will look like when they bloom. Next spring and summer the stream bank should start to look beautiful. It is unfortunate that some of the plants will bloom during the summer, when there are no students in the school, but a few will flower during spring and fall. Next year I will post photos, and I hope some of you will drive through Skillman Village and stop and take a look.

I want to thank the volunteers who planted and the businesses and friends who donated plants. Thank you! You've helped a girl scout, beautified a school, provided food for caterpillars, butterflies, and birds, and cleaned the stream. And especially, thank you Alyssa, for all your hard work and your vision!