SPRINGFIELD — A simple wave of the hand or nod of the head isn't good enough for Owen Mercer.
The Senior 4-H'er, upon the suggestion of an Extension agent, started welcoming people to town Saturday with a landscaping project at one of Springfield's gateways — the intersection of Hwys 21 and 119. It is part of a 4-H lesson in plant and soil science.
"I actually made three different types (of plans) — a succulent garden, an herb garden and a pollinator garden, which is this one right here," Mercer said. "I submitted it in a PowerPoint presentation to the City of Springfield and they chose the pollinator garden."
Pollinator gardens feature flowers that attract bees and butterflies. Mercer used pink and red verbina, yellow and orange lantana, liriope, dwarf red fountain grass and white pampas grass.
See the May 2 edition of the Effingham Herald for more details.