Before our campus is blanketed in snow, take a moment to observe two new native pollinator herb gardens designed and planted to support bees, butterflies and other essential pollinators while promoting hands-on learning and sustainability.
Members of the WCC Bee Campus USA Committee, the Center for Sustainability and Resilience, Sustainable Literacy Task Force, and the Students 4 Sustainability (S4S) club began planning the projects in 2024, planted the gardens in April and May and tended to them this fall.
The projects align with the Xerces Society’s Bee Campus USA initiative, which encourages colleges nationwide to create habitats that sustain bees, butterflies, and other essential pollinators. The garden also highlights the importance of native plants. Native plants are defined by MSU Extension as “the indigenous species that have evolved and occur naturally in a particular region, ecosystem and habitat.”
Two campus locations were chosen for the plantings:
— The area surrounding the giant rock behind the LA and GM buildings (above, left) now features re-landscaping and irrigation to support pollinator-friendly native herbs as well as adaptive plants.
— A raised bed near the Family Education Building (above, right) is designed for accessibility and hands-on learning.
The garden design was created by Center for Sustainability & Responsibility (CSR) work study students. The raised bed itself was built from locally milled cedar wood donated by Ziibimijwang, with WCC Facilities preparing the materials and S4S students assembling the structure.
Plant selections near the giant rock include witch hazel, black currant, white sage, bee balm, yarrow, sweetgrass, yellow and purple coneflower, and wild geranium. The raised bed features white sage, nasturtium, yarrow, nodding onions, American ginseng, and poppies. Soil is pesticide-free.
The garden was planted on April 23 and May 22, 2025 — teamwork, learning, and fun. The new signs were designed by a WCC student and identify the gardens.
The two pollinator herb gardens are more than a garden— they represent partnership, and a commitment to ecological stewardship at Washtenaw Community College while supporting all pollinators.
Tags: Bee Campus USA, Campus News