Since the opening of the O’Hara Nature Center, volunteers have been hard at work creating the gardens that will be located around the O’Hara Nature Center. In different ways, each garden will work harmoniously with the environment to preserve the water resources, provide a natural habitat for pollinators, and create a visually pleasing area for visitors.

The Objectives of the Gardens

• Use, to the extent possible, native plants, shrubs and trees in the landscape.
• Choose low maintenance options, given the limited resources of the Village and the reliance on volunteers to sustain the landscape.
• Incorporate deer resistant plants, shrubs, and trees.
• Demonstrate ideas and uses for homeowners in the suburban landscape.
• Provide curriculum rich content for schools, environmental and horticultural organizations, and other nature-related groups.

Lasagna Mulching at the O’Hara Nature Center

Mulching is an important aspect in the creation of the gardens at the O’Hara Nature Center. Mulching improves nutrient and water retention in the soil, and suppresses weed growth. Mulch is a layer of decaying organic matter on the ground, and it occurs naturally in all forests. Mulch forms a necessary link in nutrient cycling that is vital for our soils.