Jim Fair
Gail Clifton (Primrose Garden Club), Joan Britton (Principal, Dunbar Child Development Center), and Karen Sparkman, Director of Early Education for Greenville County Schools) mark today as the official dedication and certification of the Carolina Fence Garden as a Certified Wildlife Habitat.
Jim Fair
Students braved the presentation under cloudy skies with a cool breeze.
Jim Fair
The Carolina Split Fence Garden at Dunbar CDS has met the requirements to be designated a Wildlife Habitat. The are: split rail fence (like used in late 1800's), state flower Yellow Jasmine, state stone Blue Granite, house for state bird Carolina Wren, native plants to attract state butterfly Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, state grass Indian Grass and the state wildflower Goldenrod.
Gail Clifton and Donna Yarborough of the Primrose Garden Club made the dedication to Dunbar CCC Principal Joan Britton and Greenville County Director of Early Childhood Karen Sparkman. Clifton is a retired Dunbar teacher.
Students from Dunbar attended the dedication in cool temperatures with a breeze
Clifton said the students, “had watched butterflies develop from caterpillars, planted seasonal flowers, observed leaf changes and insect habitats. A family of bluebirds made the garden their home as students watched the eggs, babies and bird parents.” Clifton said the school and classes occasionally used the green space for a picnic area.
The Primrose Garden Club established the Fence Garden that includes:
• A split rail fence (like used in the 1880’s)
• State flower Yellow Jasmine
• State stone Blue Granite
• House for the state bird, Carolina Wren
• Native plants to attract the state butterfly Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
• State grass Indian Grass
• State wildflower Goldenrod.
The garden met the criteria to qualify as a Wildlife Habitat, providing essential elements needed by all wildlife – natural food sources, clean water, cover and places to raise young.
South Carolina has 3,600 homeowners who have certified backyard wildlife habitats, more sites per capita than any other state, according to the S.C. Wildlife Federation.