Operation Wild Lands on the Centennial Greenway

On October 24, 2015, the Open Space Council’s Operation Wild Lands hosted an event planting native species on the Centennial Greenway behind Clayton High School. Our staff were joined by 8 community volunteers and 45 student volunteers from Saint Louis University and Loyola Academy of Saint Louis. Our objective was to plant four native species along the path including spicebush and chokeberry. Learn more about spicebush and chokeberry.

We first laid out a large portion of the plants as a digging guide for our volunteers. The layout is a staggered 4 feet apart and will eventually be 4 total rows. This formation allows enough space for the plants to grow. Area property owners contributed suggestions for plants types and locations.

Once volunteers arrived, we discussed the previous history of the area. This greenway was once part of a rail line, thus making the ground difficult to dig in some locations. Volunteers dug holes two times the diameter of the root system, allowing for future growth. After removing the plants from their pots we loosened the root system from the soil to promote outward growth.

The Loyola Academy students planted while the SLU students removed invasive honeysuckle. Eventually the SLU students also participated in planting.

Thanks to the hard work of all of our volunteers, we made great progress on the Centennial Greenway. Over 190 plants were added to the greenway that day. Would you like to be a part Operation Wild Lands? Sign up today! http://openspacestl.eventbrite.com/