"We wanted to celebrate the opening of the garden that we’ve been working on for almost a full calendar year now and bringing in native pollinators to our college space is really important for us," Miles said. 

Miles said the garden incentivizes visits from native pollinators, some of which are endangered, and helps with water retention. The wood chips suppress weeds and the flowers will be more colorful than previous ones in the area, beautifying the courtyard.

Miles gave an opening speech shouting out the Campus Landscape Stewardship Committee for allowing this project. The Beal Garden and MSU’s infrastructure, planning and facilities are involved in the committee.  

Carolyn Miller, a member of this committee and the invasive species coordinator for the Beal Garden, said ESSU pitched the idea to them and she knew she wanted to be involved. 

"This is near and dear to my heart because I love pollinators and love native plants," Miller said. "I would love to see more of this across campus."

Over 300 plants from five different species were planted, each chosen for specific reasons. The five species include: nodding onion, bee balm, beardtongue, butterfly weed and prairie dropseed. 

"Our herbaceous layer is going to provide food for pollinators and hopefully be host plants for monarchs," Miller said. "They have deep roots, so they’ll hold the soil. This is an area that will not have to have herbicide or pesticides and doesn’t need to be mowed."

According to Miller, large bees like beardtongue, monarchs like butterfly weed, all pollinators love bee balm and the nodding onion’s flowers will droop over the sides of the plant which is "excellent" for the target insects. 

Rachel Hamilton, a recent graduate with a degree in environmental studies and sustainability, is one of the founders and co-chairs of the garden committee through ESSU. Hamilton showed up to see the opening of the project she helped start. Miles included her in the opening speech, attributing the idea to her. 

"I feel really proud of (the garden) and how the rest of the committee was able to continue on the project and really make it happen," Hamilton said. 

Another committee member, environmental studies and sustainability sophomore Jaden Smutz Van Dyken, said she has been in the club since the start of the project. 

"Our main goal for this project was just to incorporate more native plants in the area, especially in front of the natural resources building," Smutz Van Dyken said. "There’s a good amount of plants here but not a lot of native plants, especially not for pollinators."  

She said the Natural Resources Building courtyard was chosen because environmental studies and sustainability majors often have classes in the building and she knows they will appreciate the garden. 

Upkeep of the garden is the responsibility of the ESSU, and they plan to add bee hotels and signs to the garden later.

"I’m kind of sad that it’s over, but we are planning on creating more," Smutz Van Dyken said. "This is just the beginning."