As you see colorful wildflowers shooting up around Battle Point ballfields this summer, you have Montessori Country School to thank.
Montessori students recently spread hundreds of “seed bombs” near the ballfields – handmade balls of powdered clay, compost, wildflower seeds like Lupin and yarrow, and water. No planting required – just throw them around, and nature does the rest.
“They have all the things they need to germinate inside the ball,” says Morgan Houk of the Park District. “They ‘explode’ out into wildflowers.”
The flowers will add color and healthy pollinator habitat to the park.
Montessori Country School is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and wanted to involve students in a community service project for that milestone, says Dorothy Mak Thompson, communications and development manager for the school.
“Our students enjoy Battle Point park regularly, often on Fridays for outdoor education, so we are excited to collaborate with the Park District on this project,” she says. “In addition to the wildflower seed spreading, our school is also looking forward to a commemorative tree planting as part of our gift to the park and community this fall.”
