by Ruipeng Zeng, Dec 30th, 2024
On December 15, 2024, the Northern California branch of the Student Corps joined forces with the City of Mountain View to enhance the native plant garden located at Sleeper Park along the Stevens Creek Trail. This initiative brought together enthusiastic students and community partners to plant over seven species of native shrubs, including narrow-leaf milkweed, manzanita, thistle, and sunflower.
For two hours, participants worked in teams, digging holes and carefully transferring the plants from their pots into the soil. Their efforts were guided by Ben Martinez, a dedicated park ranger, who shared insights about the ecological benefits of these native plants. Martinez explained that the new additions to the garden would provide essential support to local wildlife and help restore the ecosystem along the trail.
One highlight of the event was learning about the California Buckeye trees, two of which were planted during the project. Martinez shared that these trees would grow to more than 20 feet tall, sparking excitement among the students. Many expressed their eagerness to return in the future to witness the transformation and growth of the garden.
Student Corps 