UNT students present Garden Ridge Boulevard native-plant assessment to Lewisville council

University of North Texas ecology students presented an assessment of the Garden Ridge Boulevard low-mow native-plant project at a Lewisville City Council workshop, describing plant coverage, costs, biodiversity observations and public-outreach ideas.

The students said Garden Ridge Boulevard stretches about 1.5 miles across 19 plots totaling about 19.5 acres near multiple elementary schools and parks. They reported that the project has increased recorded taxa on the city’s iNaturalist page since 2021 and listed common native species observed, including lemon bee balm, tall poppy mallow, Texas bluebonnet and Texas yellow star. The students also reported observations relevant to wildlife habitat, including kestrels that appear to be breeding on the boulevard.

The assessment described three seeding approaches the project has used: conventional mowing and seeding, a solarization trial that smothers existing vegetation before seeding, and later-year plantings that show stronger establishment. The students said…