A Student-Led Journey Toward Ecological Stewardship, Native Plants, and Sustainable Gardening
Toms River High School South (TRHS South) has proudly completed its Jersey-Friendly Yards (JFY) School Certification, marking the culmination of a year-long learning journey grounded in ecology, stewardship, and hands-on environmental science. Working in partnership with Caroline McFarland, Stewardship Specialist and Nina Sassano, Associate Director of Outreach with the Barnegat Bay Partnership (BBP) and Becky Laboy, Education Coordinator for the Ocean County Soil Conservation District (OCSCD), and guided by Garden Club Advisor Kate Fevola, students designed, planted, and tested their way through a full sustainability project that will benefit the school grounds—and local wildlife—for years to come.
The final garden installation was completed this fall, 2025, with native plants generously donated by the Master Gardeners of Ocean County. The garden features species found within the Jersey-Friendly Yards Plant Database, selected not only for their beauty and seasonal interest, but for their essential ecological functions. With careful design, partners ensured that something is in bloom during every season, providing year-round food and habitat for insects, birds, and other wildlife, and seasonal beauty for students and school visitors.
Learning Through a Jersey-Friendly Lens
In completing the JFY School Certification Program, students experienced each of the program’s four steps firsthand:
Students used the Jersey-Friendly Yards website to research native plants, understand their ecological functions, and explore plant–wildlife relationships. They sketched garden design concepts, analyzed light and moisture conditions, and thoughtfully selected plants that support pollinators and thrive in the school’s growing conditions.
They also conducted soil tests—examining texture, nutrients (N-P-K), and pH—to understand how soil health influences plant growth. This foundation guided their plant choices and informed their long-term garden management plan.
Students learned how native plants naturally reduce the need for irrigation through deep, resilient root systems. Native plants are well-adapted to our local soils and grow extensive root systems to find water and nutrients. Their roots create spaces in the soil to hold moisture and air, and they help prevent erosion by holding soil in place and increasing the movement of rainwater into the ground. Scientists are also finding that native plant roots release important nutrients needed by soil-building organisms.
Their garden design incorporates plants that improve infiltration, reduce runoff, and help naturally filter stormwater before it enters local waterways. These principles support both watershed protection and sustainable landscaping.
The garden was intentionally designed to support biodiversity. With native plants that bloom from early spring through late fall—and provide winter structure—the space offers nectar, seeds, cover, and host plants for butterflies, bees, birds, and beneficial insects. (See below for a list of species planted in the TRHS South garden.)
Students gained an understanding of how even small habitat patches contribute to wildlife conservation when planted with regionally appropriate species.
4. Complete a Jersey-Friendly Project
The culminating step brought everything together. Guided by what they learned and informed by their soil testing, plant research, and design sketches, the TRHS South Garden Club installed a fully realized Jersey-Friendly Yards certified garden. The new space exemplifies ecological stewardship and shows what students can accomplish when they combine science with creativity and care for their local environment.
The work completed by TRHS South beautifully demonstrates the ecological advantages of Jersey-Friendly landscaping:
Healthy Soil
- Increases organic matter and microbial life
- Builds soil structure that resists erosion
- Develops deep-rooting systems for long-term stability
Cleaner Water
- Improves stormwater infiltration
- Reduces runoff and filters pollutants
- Decreases reliance on irrigation
More Biodiversity
- Provides nectar through all seasons
- Offers host plants for caterpillars
- Supports birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects
- Creates shelter and overwintering habitat
Thanks to the dedication of the TRHS South Garden Club, the guidance of Advisor Kate Fevola, the partnership between BBP and OCSCD, and the generosity of the Master Gardeners of Ocean County, this JFY-certified school garden will continue to grow—supporting soil, water, wildlife, and student learning for many seasons to come.
A Garden of Native Plants – and The Wildlife That Depends On Them
The TRHS South garden features an array of locally native species, each selected for both beauty and ecological value. Below are some of the key plants incorporated, along with their ecological role and wildlife associations:
Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)
- Ecological Role: A major fall nectar source.
- Wildlife: Supports dozens of specialist bees and serves as a larval host for moths such as the Brown-hooded Owlet (Cucullia convexipennis).
Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
- Ecological Role: Offers late-season nectar.
- Wildlife: Highly attractive to bumble bees, its primary pollinators.
Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)
- Ecological Role: Summer–fall nectar source.
- Wildlife: Visited by hummingbirds, butterflies, and strong-flying bees.
Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
- Ecological Role: Critical early-season bloom.
- Wildlife: Used by bumble bees, miner bees, and other early pollinators.
Blue Mistflower / Purple Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)
- Ecological Role: A late-season pollinator magnet.
- Wildlife: Especially attractive to monarchs and migrating butterflies.
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
- Ecological Role: A warm-season grass with deep roots that stabilize soil.
- Wildlife: Host plant for several skipper butterflies, including the Dusted Skipper (Atrytonopsis hianna), Little Glassywing (Vernia verna), and Crossline Skipper (Polites origenes).
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
- Ecological Role: Nectar-rich, aromatic plant with long bloom periods.
- Wildlife: Draws monarchs, swallowtails, bumble bees, and hummingbirds.