Liberty Christian School in Argyle was awarded $500 for its Outdoor Learning Center.
The Trinity Forks Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) donated $350 in response to a grant written by Liberty’s Lower School science program.
A personal donation of $150 was also made by Fonda Fox (NSPOT president) and husband, Marshall, in memory of Lora Lee Peters and Patrick Maguire, friends of the NPSOT.
“We are so thankful to partner with NPSOT to help develop a love of nature in our students,” said Amanda McGlothlin, a Liberty science teacher.
The funds will be used to purchase mature native plants, provided at cost by Painted Flower Farm, and seeds to be planted by students throughout the school year.
Liberty’s science program applied for the grant to fund a mass planting of natives in its Outdoor Learning Center, which will provide habitat and food for birds, butterflies, bees, and other wildlife, and help students maintain biological diversity in their gardens. Natives also naturally conserve water resources, require less work to maintain, don’t require fertilization for survival, and are just as colorful as more common exotics often planted by landscapers and home gardeners.
Mrs. McGlothlin added, “Planting natives in our learning center will allow our children to learn the names and faces of our non-human neighbors, which gives them a better appreciation for our local environment and allows them to experience the plants and creatures that God created specifically for our region.”
NSPOT is a nonprofit organization that aims to promote research, conservation, and utilization of native plants and plant habitats of Texas through education, outreach, and example.
Vivian Nichols oversees communications for Liberty Christian School.
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