Activity #7: Create & Share a Landscape Tag for a Prairie Plant (45 min)
“The other day I was at a plant nursery. I wanted to see what I could get to fill a rather large space in my front yard. While I was looking, I came across a section that was all prairie plants. I had not seen large containers of our prairie plants being sold at a nursery before. There was a horticulturist close by and I asked him about the prairie plants. He told me that landscapers were beginning to use these plants in their designs for homeowners because of their sustainability. Oh, I had never thought about this before, the sustainability of the prairie plants. Think about it. First of all, what do we mean by sustainability? Sustainable means something would be there for a long time and would not take a lot of resources to live and could even add to the environment. How would the prairie plants qualify for this idea? Prairie plants live a long time, do not require much water, and like to live in groups where they can reproduce readily. The prairie plants have a new environment to enter. It seems like a fantastic
solution if we are trying to make our world more sustainable.
I have an idea and I think you will agree with me. We are going to create Landscape Tags for the prairie plants that are being sold in nurseries. These tags are placed in the pot with the plant telling the buyer the characteristics and adaptations of the plant and where and why it should be planted. Here is the form we will use for the landscape tags. Each group will be responsible for making one tag for the plant they researched. I am going to take 4 of you to make the tag for the Cup Plant. When we finish the tags, they can be photocopied. While you are working, think about where these landscape tags should be sent so you can inform people about their perfect qualifications as landscaping plants for home owners’ yards and commercial yards.”
Groups of 3 create their own Landscape Tag for their assigned plant.
Have children share their Landscape Tag and distribute them to their parents and community.
