In October 2011, students, led by Professors Thomas Roose and
Abbie Schrotenboer, collected wildflower seed to later sow in
the new basin by the Trinity Athletics and Recreation Complex
and at the site of the Rt. 83 athletic fields. Schrotenboer’s
students then planted the seeds, which were germinated in the
Heritage Science Center’s greenhouse. This month, a group of
professors and other participants, transplanted the wildflowers
into the campus basins. Prairie plants for the drier edges of
the basin included wild bergamot, New England aster, and black-
eyed susan. Wetland plants for the bottom of the basin where the
soil stays moist included swamp milkweed, blue vervain, and
swamp rose mallow, said Schrotenboer. “As part of our
stewardship of God’s creation, the basins help us deal with the
impact our campus has on the environment and also provide a
small space for restoration by bringing native plants and other
species back in,” said Schrotenboer. The wildflower basins were
created to deal with storm water