Cairn Corner: Leaning Tower of Plant Pots

Alex Schupp • October 3, 2024

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September 2024

Cairn students and mentors kicked off the 2024-2025 Cairn season by returning to the High Plains Environmental Center (HPEC) in Loveland! For many years, VOC has been aiding in HPEC's mission to restore habitat to improve watershed health and create a safe haven for native flora and fauna. Cairn participants continued this tradition by pulling invasive Russian Thistle (think tumbleweed plant from those old Western films) to make room for native Rabbitbrush to thrive.

The leaning tower of plant pots represents the 344 native seedlings grown at HPEC's own nursery on-site that Cairn participants planted around their Visitor Center. These plants will be food sources for the nearly 100 native bee species that can be found on HPEC's 76 acre property (that's about 10% of Colorado's total bee species!).

We thank HPEC for continuing to be a welcoming partner throughout the years and inspiring our future stewards!

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