In Spring 2022, a small team of students used the Patriot Green Fund to enhance the diversity of The Honeybee Pollinator Garden. This garden sits outside of Roberts House on the Mason Fairfax Campus and is collaboratively supported by the Office of Sustainability’s Greenhouse & Gardens Program and Facilities Management’s Grounds Department. This space serves as a biodiverse pollinator haven, including the bees currently residing in the Honeybee Initiative’s apiary.
To further compliment this initiative, student volunteers interested in learning about Mason’s trees and gardens, assisted in planting three native American Persimmon trees on April 8, 2022. The trees will be included as new additions to the Mason Arboretum - a nationally accredited collection of trees and woody plants, which can be spotted on Mason’s campuses with labeled signs that include scannable barcodes to its online catalogue. Once the trees reach maturity they will have vibrant blossoms in the spring, and with the help of the pollinators, produce sweet and edible fruit in the fall.
The trees, supplies, and coordination for this planting event were donated by Facilities Management in support of the Arboretum’s mission: “To cultivate curiosity, education, and wellbeing through stewardship of its trees, gardens, and other natural spaces.”
“Student and community planting events such as this are crucial to our programming here at Mason, as they ensure our responsibility to provide continued education, awareness, and stewardship of our natural environment,” said Erich Miller, Certified Arborist and Mason Facilities Management Grounds Program Manager. “We hope that the skills and information passed on to the students will resonate, not only here on our campus grounds, but wherever their paths may lead.”
You can support future tree planting events at Mason by donating or giving your time to help. Reach out to learn more at arbor@gmu.edu.