Step 2 of the planter box project has been completed, and several different kinds have plants have been planted in planter boxes so that they can begin growing. As stated before, these plants will deflect sunlight away from the front wall of the biodiesel building, helping to keep the building cooler, which reduce cooling costs of the building. The cistern group is now working on installing the cistern so that it can begin collecting rainwater to water these plants.

This is Wild Coffee plant (Psychotria grandiflora) is native to the Hawaiian of Kauai and is one of the largest species of coffee plants.

 

This plant is a twinberry tree called the Simpson's Stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans), it typically grows to about 10 or 20 feet, but because of our location, it is expected to grow taller.

This plant is of the lantana genus, and while it will only grow to about 2 feet tall, its bright flowers are known to attract butterflies.

This is a firebush (hamelia patens) also of the coffee family. It will grow to the size of a small tree and its flowers are extremely attractive to humming birds, which why it is sometimes nicknamed the hummingbird bush.

The last type of plant that has been put in the planter boxes are silver buttonwood trees (Conocarpus erectus). They are expected to be the largest of the Centers plants, as silver buttonwoods can grow over 60 feet tall.