While poet Robert Frost made us aware that “good fences make good neighbors,” teachers in South Carolina are discovering that fences make good bridges to instruction. The Carolina Fence™ is one model used to enliven and integrate social studies, math, science, and physical education through a teaching garden.
The design and construction of a Carolina Fence™ creates a garden with a split rail fence as the foundation and centerpiece for combining elements of a state’s natural, historical and cultural heritage. Split rail fences were common to farms and estates in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Students can compare fences over time to contemporary fence materials, styles, and functions.
South Carolina State Symbols
South Carolina natural, historical and cultural symbols are featured throughout the garden. The state flower of South Carolina is Carolina yellow jessamine, a vine easily propagated in the home or classroom. The vine is usually the first native plant to twine upon the rails. Flowering coincides with the advent of spring. It is also a perfect plant to use to exemplify the concept of “tropism.”
Native Plants Bring Native Animals
After research on native plants, students install native shrubs and wildflowers to attract wildlife. The SC state grass, Indian grass, Sorgastrum nutans, provides safe cover and seeds for birds. Goldenrod, the state wildflower, brings bees and butterflies seeking nectar as well as goldfinches seeking seeds. The passion vine, Passiflora incarnata, is a host plant for the gulf fritillary butterfly and provides a delicious maypop fruit for wildlife and humans. Butterfly weed, Aesclepias tuberosa, is often added for its dual role as a nectar plant for butterflies and the specific host plant for monarchs.
Native shrubs and trees are selected which provide fruit for song and game birds and browse for deer and other mammals. The stand alone zigzag split rail fence is often anchored on both sides by the following natives:
- American beautyberry – Callicarpa americana
- Carolina allspice – Callicanthus floridus
- Clethra – Clethra alnifolia
- Mapleleaf viburnum – Viburnum acerfolium
- Wax myrtle – Myrica cerifera
Adding a tulip poplar tree, Liriodendron tulipfera, attracts the state butterfly, the eastern tiger swallowtail. The female eastern swallowtail lays her eggs on the underside of tulip poplar leaves. The life cycle of plants and animals is easily observed within the fence garden.
The Carolina Fence™ garden is not only a cafeteria for wildlife but also a nursery. Students can build and mount nesting boxes for the SC state bird, the Carolina wren, and the lovely eastern bluebird. Through digital photography students will be able to document examples of loss of bird habitat in their neighborhoods and discuss how fence garden nesting boxes contribute to habitat rehab. Later in the season they will have the opportunity to photograph nesting and raising of young.
Carolina Rocks!
Each state has a geologic history written in the rocks and soil. Blue granite, the state stone of South Carolina, is a construction material used for building facades, paving stones and curbing, monuments, countertops and flooring. In the garden blue granite may provide stepping stones, a bench, or garden marker but most often a large chunk of raw granite is added for the historic and aesthetic purposes. Granite stones are used as basking spots for butterflies too.
The process of building a Carolina Fence™ with students not only creates a valuable habitat for native plants and animals but also demonstrates the positive influence humans can have on the natural history of the habitat we share with plants and animals.
The Carolina Fence™ is applicable and adaptable to any state.
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