Franklin's Urban Gardening Club was selected to plant a Revitalize, Restore, Replant! pollinator garden on the Franklin Middle School campus near the track and soccer fields.  This Fairfax County government program provides an opportunity for students to be led by ecologists from the Watershed Education and Outreach in a hands-on native plant installation.

The plants are all native and all pollinators.  Plant species include Yarrow and Iris and are expected to attract bees, beetles and butterflies. The Franklin community will be able to see the garden bloom and attract pollinating insects later this spring and into the future.

Many hands made the planting a manageable and enjoyable task.  The county ecologists planned out the garden and pre-drilled holes to position the plants.  Students and staff prepared the plant roots to maximize growth and were instructed to plant at the proper depth in the soil to ensure a good start.  Students from the Urban Gardening Club were assisted by Library Club and NJHS volunteers.  Several FMS staff and School Board Chair and Sully District Representative Stella Pekarsky pitched in as well.