Garden EcosystemThis page examines the non-human residents of the Cherry Street Community Garden. Every garden has a complex living ecology made up of plants, birds, insects, worms, and microbes that create a harmonious ecosystem. All these non-human participants help each other — and the garden— to live and grow.
The Cherry Street Community Garden has a wide variety of plants. We organized these botanical specimens into many categories: 1. shade trees, 2. fruit trees, 3. vegetable beds, 4. flowering plants, and 5. weeds. All these plants create a habitat for a variety of birds, animals, and insects. We need your help to add stories of the many living residents of this garden. Contact us if you have stories and information on the plants and animals of the Cherry Street Community Garden. |
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Shade TreesOn the south side of the garden, there are two big walnut trees, two boxelder maple trees (Acer negundo), and two green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) trees. Walnut trees are related to the hickory family of trees. They are valued for their tasty and nutrient-rich nuts. Walnut trees are known to be a renowned source of food and cover for many wildlife species, particularly birds and squirrels. The Walnut and Green Ash, are common trees found in urban landscapes. Green ash seeds are eaten by birds, squirrels, and other small mammals. Green ash is a host plant for butterflies and moths. Butterflies and moths are pollinators and help gardens bloom. Boxelder trees are widely planted as an ornamental tree. A common bug found in these trees is called boxelder bugs.
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Fruit TreesThe Cherry Street Community Garden houses a row of cherry, apple, and a few plum trees. Leaves on cherry and plum trees provide food for caterpillars. In spring, bees find early nectar in cherry flowers. Like butterflies, bees work as pollinators. Songbirds, game birds, chipmunks, and squirrels eat cherries, apples, and plums.
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Garden plants (vegetable and flower beds)This garden has thirty-six garden beds with vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Gardeners who maintained garden beds in summer 2022, grew diverse species of tomatoes, peppers, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, collard, cucumber, green bean, kale, mustard, okra, onion, pea, squash, Swiss chard, zucchini, corn, sweet potato, runner bean, soybean, peanut, cauliflower, peas, spinach, sage, cilantro, and dill. There is a Kid's Garden bed that has Swiss chard, parsley, basil, lemon basil, Thai basil, and celery. Additionally, there are a few shared garden beds (cared for by BloomMKE) that have strawberries and ground cherries.
Most garden beds have nasturtium and marigold flowers. Gardeners save from these seeds every year and plant them the next season. Sunflower and zinnia seeds are also saved for planting next year. The strong fragrance of marigold flowers keeps the squirrels and rabbits away. There are dedicated flower beds which grow bright and fragrant flowers in order to attract butterflies and bees. These beds are located on the north east corner of the garden and serve as a memorial garden. This triangular patch of flowers commemorate those elderly growers who have passed and whose legacy remains. The garden soil is rich with microbes and nutrients that come from the compost. White butterflies, bees, beetles, dragonflies, grasshoppers, ants, mantis, and worms are also found in the garden. |
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Anatomy of a garden bed
Fig 2: Layout of Ms. Carolyn Smith's garden
This is Ms. Carolyn Smith's garden in July of 2022. Ms. Carolyn is one of the most diligent gardeners at the Cherry Street Community Garden. She comes to the garden every other day, sometimes daily, to water her bed. This year she has planted carrots, jalapeños, swiss chard, yellow squash, mustard greens, lima beans, and brandy wine heirloom tomatoes.
This is Ms. Carolyn Smith's garden in July of 2022. Ms. Carolyn is one of the most diligent gardeners at the Cherry Street Community Garden. She comes to the garden every other day, sometimes daily, to water her bed. This year she has planted carrots, jalapeños, swiss chard, yellow squash, mustard greens, lima beans, and brandy wine heirloom tomatoes.