The Obed Watershed Community Association (OWCA) and the Friends of Cumberland Mountain State Park (FCMSP) partner to maintain and add native plants to the flower beds at the park. They are often joined by Fairfield Glade Rotary volunteers. The group met Oct. 20 at the native plant beds outside of the restaurant to weed and prepare the beds for winter.
The weeding in the fall deliberately leaves behind the year’s plant growth to provide seeds and cover for the birds and other creatures. It also leaves some of the plants that provide beauty and interest even though they are dormant, such as SwitchGrass and Baptisia.
In late winter/early spring the group will return to remove last year’s growth and to get the beds ready for new growth after temperatures consistently reach highs of 50 degrees. Deliberately waiting to mow and weed benefits pollinators, like native bees, who winter in the ground in plant stems or under leaf debris. They use the pollen and consume the nectar provided by plants in your lawn and yard from early spring flowers. Check out the state tips at tnpollinators.org.
Both nonprofit groups emphasize the value of using native plants and the natural filling in look of plants. They encourage everyone to add these plant species to your yard in order to help pollinators like monarch butterflies and bees. Come and visit CMSP and see the native plant beds and their winter interest at the office, restaurant and museum.
If you want to help make Cumberland Mountain State Park look nice, there will be volunteer opportunities next spring at a date and time to be determined. To get involved check out the events calendar for OWCA at obedwatershed.com or the Friends of CMSP at cmspfriends.com.