Sharing from Columbia Star:
https://www.thecolumbiastar.com/articles/belser-arboretum-celebrates-earth-day/

April 22, 2021

By Arlene Marturano SCGardenLearning on Facebook

In recognition of Earth Day, the W. Gordon Belser Arboretum in Sherwood Forest celebrated receiving certification as a Palmetto Wildlife Habitat. In the outdoor classroom Sara Green, director of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, commended former director Dr. Pat DeCoursey for her restoration of the arboretum and the current director, Dr. Trey Franklin, co-managers Hollis Beach, Gail Wojtowicz, Lynn Yenkey, and the thousands of volunteers who make it possible to maintain a wildlife preserve in the city, an outdoor field laboratory and lecture site for UofSC students and faculty, and a conservation outreach center for visitors.

South Carolina has over 10,000 certified habitats in backyards, schoolyards, parks, churches, libraries, businesses, and agencies. In 2019, the city of Columbia became a certified wildlife community.

Creating a wildlife habitat on your property involves providing the following components: food, water, cover, and places to raise young. The arboretum’s native plants offer nectar, pollen, berries, seeds, nuts, and foliage for wildlife.

Each layer of plants in a habitat is a home to and a protective shelter for insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The floor of the arboretum is where accumulated organic matter decomposes by fungi, bacteria, earthworms, insects, other arthropods, and mammals. The humus formed enriches the soil for groundcovers like partridgeberry and the herbaceous layer of nectar and host plants for butterflies.

The shrub layer of hydrangea, Virginia sweetspire, and sweet shrub provides cover and shelter as well as foliage, seeds, and berries to sustain wildlife. Understory trees like dogwood, redbud, and pawpaw cater to wildlife for food and shelter.

The canopy of the arboretum is the layer where the top of the trees brushes the sky. Pines, black gum, oaks, and yellow poplar are canopy trees in the arboretum and receive the most direct sunlight. Animals inhabiting the canopy include squirrels, raccoons, numerous birds, micro-invertebrates, spiders, katydids, and walking sticks.

Water draws wildlife to it, especially the sound of running water. The arboretum’s streams, wetlands, and waterfall support the hydration of animals. Wetlands are important habitat for frogs, salamanders, and aquatic insects to breed and develop in safety. A birdbath and shallow saucer of fresh water are important water sources also.

Since property management affects the health of the soil, air, water, and habitat for native wildlife and humans, certified habitats must follow sustainable gardening practices including eliminating pesticide use, composting, mulching, capturing rainwater to irrigate, selecting a native plant palette, and controlling invasive species.

To investigate certifying your property as a wildlife habitat, visit www.scwf.org. The process is an educational adventure for the family, classroom, neighborhood or organization.

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Learn more about the Belser Aboretum:

https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/biological_sciences/research/resources_facilities/arboretum/index.php

https://www.facebook.com/uofscarboretum/

Photos by Brantley Bissette., SCWF Education Outreach Intern