Montana State University students install plants to help tell story of Lewis & Clark

BOZEMAN, Mont. - This summer if you travel up to the Big Sky State you can find hundreds of native plants that Lewis & Clark discovered almost two centuries ago. Students from Montana State University volunteered their time in order to help out the community and get some experience in plant installation. At MSU the students study plant science and plant pathology. When their education is done they will earn a bachelor of science in horticulture with a emphasis in landscape design or horticultural science. MSU professor and landscape architect Dick Pohl currently has about 90 landscape design students. During the fall the seniors in his studio class sought ways to fulfill their community services requirement and helping plant indigenous species at the new Garden of Discovery at the Museum of the Rockies seemed to be a good opportunity. Local Boys Scouts troops also got involved in setting up challenge courses. "This was a group project where we could provide some design services," told Pohl to LASN. "During the spring semester our landscape construction students got involved. One portion of the challenge course was the Discovery Garden, which was the final station where plants went on display." Keel boat replicas of the ones used by Lewis and Clark will be on one display. At another station a corn garden is replicated that was planted by the Manvan Native Americans centuries ago. Signage and brochures direct visitors to the displays. "This is a participatory garden where visitors can outrun a grizzly bear, experience walking out with a keel boat or getting into a dugout canoe," said Pohl. "At the amphitheater they hold discussions about the garden." The exhibit is slated to open in early June this year with display stations staying up for two or three years, said Pohl. Some local nurseries donated the plant materials to be used for the garden, adjacent to the MSU campus. Because some of the students had installation experience and others didn't, Pohl teamed up an inexperienced student with one who had previously had the chance to get their hands dirty. "Spring is a good time of year to do a lot of planting," said Pohl. "The more tender herbaceous plants haven't been installed yet. The woody ones have already been planted. MSU students have been involved in other aspects of the project such as pruning trees, clearing brush, removing burlap from the berms and keeping an eye on native grasses that were planted last fall. Pohl said local nurseries donated all the home-grown plant materials, as the region has developed a greater interest in native plant species, especially with the current drought in the West. Pohl said although several of the plants are native species, but that doesn't necessarily mean that those species are drought-tolerant. Some plants found near streams or lakes may require more water.