Native Plant Gardens on Campus

GUTS currently has 5 garden location on campus that we own and maintain ourselves. We also assist 4 other native plant gardens on campus by providing plants, labor, guidance and help in any way we can. GUTS site locations campus map (PDF)

Guts campus garden location map 2021

Bowman Oddy Courtyard - maintained by GUTS

The southern interior courtyard of Bowman Oddy provides a unique garden location as it is visible by multiple people, but wildlife visitation is limited to only those with the ability to fly - therefore the garden was designed to attract pollinators. The surrounding building can also prevent sunshine from entering so the garden was designed as a shade garden, rain garden and sun garden, depending on the location within the courtyard. This garden was also created as a Department of Environmental Sciences Senior Capstone project with funding through the Student Green Fund.

Bowman Oddy South Wall - maintained by GUTS

The largest native planting on campus by size, the Bowman Oddy South Prairie is a short prairie mix with a formal perimeter to transition from grass to prairie. Also included in this planting is a sculpture, “Current Forces”, created by Judith Greavu, Professor Emeritus at Ohio Northern University.

Center for Performing Arts Prairie - owner: Dr. Crail with assistance from GUTS

A rain garden is meant to collect water during a rain event to allow the water to soak in, instead of running off directly into the nearest storm drain or body of water. Rain gardens are planted with plants that can handle flood events but do not require standing water all the time. This location is also focused on plants that pollinators use for food and shelter.

University Hall Courtyards

Lot 3 Bioswale (Area 3/Savage Arena Bioswale) - owner: BOSEF with assistance from GUTS

A bioswale is a landscape area designed to retain water and filter out pollutants and remove debris before entering the water and are most commonly used in conjunction with parking lots.

This prairie is located at the "bottom" of the Savage Arena parking lot. It is placed with purpose, collecting all the rain water that runs off of the entire parking lot. This area was covered in turf grass and debris of all kinds. Today, the natives block any debris from moving into the pipeline that runs directly into the river behind it and stores a large majority of the water. The water that isn't stored is filtered through the natives and their roots, ridding the "waste water" of oils, chemicals, or petroleum based products, from making their way into the river water.

This is a HUGE feat, and essential to doing our part right here at home when we consider the industrial impacts on our local environment due to how large our campus is. We love the Lot 3 Bioswale and can't wait to implement this concept anywhere and everywhere we can!

Academic House Prairie - owner: Dr. Krantz with assistance from GUTS

The academic house prairie is a mix of a formal planting, while also having more natural growing areas. In 2017, this area started out as a barren dirt patch that created a mess when wet. This is a collaborative effort in upkeep/installation and is just bountiful when its' benefits are mentioned. This area is always buzzing with insects and birds when in bloom, and does wonders to brighten up the area between the buildings! This prairie is classified as a mixed type and favors pollinators and the plants they need.

The Flatlands Watering Hole - maintained by GUTS

Located between Parks Tower and Academic house, this naturally occurring low spot is where a basketball court used to be located. Currently a floodplain, the pollinator garden was planted to break up the soil compaction and plans to expand the garden are in progress. This prairie is still a work in process and there has not been a full flowering bloom at this location but the students who worked hard to create this garden are patiently waiting for its first bloom. (The Flatlands is also home to the UToledo "spirit rock"!)

Carlson Library Gardens - owner: Carlson Library with assistance from GUTS

The garden at Carlson Library was installed in the Spring and Summer of 2019. It is a mixed height pollinator garden with more formal landscaping elements.

Lot/Area 10 Carolyn Edwards Memorial Rain Garden

Thank you to the UToledo grounds crew for assisting with moving material and these beautiful border rocks, the Student Green Fund for supplemental funding, and of course the donors, without you all- this would cease to exist.

Right now we have a blank canvas that is prepped and ready for planting. Once the 2021 fall semester starts here at UToledo, the service learners from the Department of Environmental Sciences will come out here to plant our first plugs with the help of the GUTS team.

Greening UToledo Through Service Learning (GUTS)