Wet Meadow

Goal:

To provide a small area where plants thrive in continuously-damp soil that receives direct sunlight for only several hours per day. Situated only 10–15 meters from another area on the roof that provides different conditions, students can compare biodiversity in these differing micro-habitats.

Maintenance:

• • Weekly check for any garbage or damage
  • Jewel weed (Impatiens capensis), also known as touch-me-not because when you touch the swollen seed pods they “explode” the seeds into nearby areas, dominates this area. The sprinklers and poor drainage helps this plant thrive.

Interesting Notes:

Humid conditions at ground level and dense plant growth-producing shade create a micro-habitat for invertebrates that need these conditions (e.g. slugs, worms).