Deciduous Biome Garden
May 2, 2015- June 3, 2015
In order to study different biomes around the world, our class is restoring a biome garden. Groups of four students are responsible for researching the given biome and discovering the plants, animals, and living conditions required to support their organisms. Our biome, the deciduous forest, is typically found on the east coast of the United States, but there are other regions, mainly in Europe, Asia, and Australia, that support deciduous forests. Despite the western side of the US is not known for deciduous forests, there are several plants and trees native to California that are deciduous plants. Plants in the deciduous forest have the feature of annually shedding their leaves. This typically entails the changing of the leaves' colors during the fall and dropping to the ground in the winter before regrowing in the spring and summer.
Reflection: For this project, we would need to add certain features in order to maintain the beauty of the garden. It would also be a good idea to add more plants to encourage more interactions between plants and animals. One plant in our biome that could be planted would be a smoke-bush or a vine maple. Both of these plants would fit in the available space and would be able to grow upwards. They increase in flowering plants will attract bees which will help pollinate other plants nearby; this would be an example of a symbiotic relationship. Another type of interaction these extra plants would encourage is the relationship between birds and the plants, especially hummingbirds. These birds are attracted to the sweet nectar and the bright red coloring of the smoke-bush.
Another feature that we should add is the placement of gopher cages around the new plants. This cage would be plant in the hole with the plant and it would prevent gophers from burrowing below the soil to destroy the plants' roots. This contraption would not harm the gophers, only stop them from killing the plants. Another piece of technology that would a useful addition is a trellis or tomato cage. This can be place around the climbing plants, such as the vine maple or clematis, so the plants will be able to wrap around the posts without drooping. Although our biome section has clearly defined areas for walking and our new plants are still tall enough to discourage people from trampling them by mistake, other biomes my have an interest in investing in designing more distinct pathways. For example, the grassland plants often got trampled or cut down because the plants just looked like weeds. Another feature that could be considered for our biome is the addition of a bench. It would be a nice location because the larger trees are able to provide shade, but there is a table across the path so the bench may not be used that often. Because she hasn't botany.
In order to use the biome gardens as a teaching tool, we would need to make a couple of small changes. One way to help future classes is to start this project at the beginning of the year so the plant growth is more apparent. Students would also be able to compare the animals before planting new plants and the interactions after their plants flourish. This is challenging this year because our plants are still too young to truly attract the desired animals and it is challenging to observe changes during the summer. Summer right after this project also provides the issue of having a reliable watering schedule. Students would be able to learn more from this project if they were able to compare all the interactions between the different biomes. They could compare and contrast each region and the animals that visit the plants. I also think it would help students improve life skills if they were forced to advocate for funding and contact the garden locations in order to buy their own plants. These are just a couple of suggestions to increase the amount of learning from this project.
Another feature that we should add is the placement of gopher cages around the new plants. This cage would be plant in the hole with the plant and it would prevent gophers from burrowing below the soil to destroy the plants' roots. This contraption would not harm the gophers, only stop them from killing the plants. Another piece of technology that would a useful addition is a trellis or tomato cage. This can be place around the climbing plants, such as the vine maple or clematis, so the plants will be able to wrap around the posts without drooping. Although our biome section has clearly defined areas for walking and our new plants are still tall enough to discourage people from trampling them by mistake, other biomes my have an interest in investing in designing more distinct pathways. For example, the grassland plants often got trampled or cut down because the plants just looked like weeds. Another feature that could be considered for our biome is the addition of a bench. It would be a nice location because the larger trees are able to provide shade, but there is a table across the path so the bench may not be used that often. Because she hasn't botany.
In order to use the biome gardens as a teaching tool, we would need to make a couple of small changes. One way to help future classes is to start this project at the beginning of the year so the plant growth is more apparent. Students would also be able to compare the animals before planting new plants and the interactions after their plants flourish. This is challenging this year because our plants are still too young to truly attract the desired animals and it is challenging to observe changes during the summer. Summer right after this project also provides the issue of having a reliable watering schedule. Students would be able to learn more from this project if they were able to compare all the interactions between the different biomes. They could compare and contrast each region and the animals that visit the plants. I also think it would help students improve life skills if they were forced to advocate for funding and contact the garden locations in order to buy their own plants. These are just a couple of suggestions to increase the amount of learning from this project.