Campus Initiatives – Native Nursery

Throughout 2025, the turfed area uniquely enclosed by the Hyphen, Umbria Square Conference Room, and St. Joe’s Hall received a thoughtful makeover. This once-unused space was transformed into an area designed to support native plants and pollinators, creating a future haven for local wildlife.

The long stretch of grass visible from the Umbria Square Conference Room was converted into a native prairie. This space became known as the Native Nursery, where native plants such as Black eyed Susans, Spiderwort, Early Goldenrod, and Penstemon were planted to thrive. The Native Nursery is designed to provide food and habitat for native pollinators while improving soil health through the plants’ deep root systems.

To begin the project, the existing grass was cleared using a non-chemical approach. The area was temporarily tarped to deprive the grass of resources, allowing native plants to establish themselves naturally. This method was intentionally trialed to avoid the use of chemical removal techniques and support a more sustainable transition.

We will approach this transformation as a gradual process, with the understanding that it could take several years before flowers fully emerge. During the first year, the native plantings will be mowed to encourage strong root development and help outcompete weeds. While patience is required, the long-term ecological benefits make this effort worthwhile.

As the Native Nursery continues to establish itself, this space will evolve year by year—growing stronger, more diverse, and more vibrant with each season. Native prairies take time to reveal their full beauty, but the wait is part of the process. With continued care and patience, this once-simple lawn will become a thriving landscape, offering lasting beauty, ecological resilience, and a living reminder that meaningful sustainability work unfolds over time.

In 2025, sustainability took root in a bold and beautiful way through a zero-waste eco-art installation celebrating creativity, reuse, and care for creation. Originally showcased outside the Franciscan Center for our Annual Zero-Waste Luncheon, the installation featured eight towering sunflowers crafted entirely from repurposed materials.

Each sunflower tells a story of renewal. The textured seed heads were created from reclaimed turf once used on the athletic fields, while the vibrant petals were reimagined from wire brushes previously used by a street sweeper. Together, these materials form a striking visual reminder of how discarded items can be transformed into something meaningful and enduring.

The installation was a collaborative effort led by Art Curator and artist Christine Deemer, Maintenance Supervisor and artist Kevin Quire, and Grounds Supervisor Josh Maciejewski. The project was proudly sponsored by the Love of Creation Pillar of Sylvania Franciscan Connections.

True to its zero-waste mission, the sunflower installation continues its journey of sustainability. After its debut, the artwork now finds new life as garden features in the Native Nursery near the beehives—where art, habitat restoration, and pollinator support come together to inspire stewardship of the land.