Experts planted four flower beds in the village with plant species commonly found in the wild. “Our goal was to familiarize local residents, students, and visitors to Lednice with what grows in the area and how these species can be used in ornamental gardening,” explained Jarmila Neugebauerová from the Institute of Vegetable Growing and Floriculture at MENDELU’s Faculty of Horticulture. The perennial beds are located near the kindergarten, elementary school, spa, and on the university campus.
In these beds, the research team is observing how plants from the wild behave compared to those commonly cultivated. They are focusing on the plants’ aesthetic value and how their morphology or coloration changes as they develop. They are also developing a methodology for establishing and maintaining these beds. Each bed will feature informational signs and plant labels with QR codes linking to more detailed information. Visitors will learn, for example, what a plant looks like during flowering or what other uses it has.
The final list of plants includes roughly forty species, which are divided into five groups based on the number of plants planted and their percentage representation in the garden bed. Among the selected interesting species are, for example, black mullein and brown mullein, large-flowered black-headed anemone, tuberous sap, and various species of grasses and sedges. “There are several species that are interesting, and we’re really curious to see how they’ll behave. We also used plants from the Fabaceae family—clover and vetch, for example. These species aren’t often used because there’s little experience with them in flower beds,” the expert explained.
The focus of the research is a comparison of cultivation techniques for ornamental species and wild species. The research team is therefore continually evaluating whether to allow the plants to finish flowering and go to seed, or to remove them after flowering. This is because the selected species could significantly expand the range of commonly cultivated ornamental plants. “It is important to us to grow local plants. We know of a large number of amazing native species that have aesthetic value. In addition to knowing their appearance and habitat requirements, the most important factor is creating suitable contrasts—a combination of height, foliage, color, and visual appeal throughout the year,” said the researcher.
In addition to the flower beds, a 20-minute documentary film was also produced, which will be used in educational settings and for public presentations. The film showcases nature not only in the immediate vicinity of Lednice, but also in the Slovak part of the White Carpathians. In these areas, the occurrence of species common to both the Czech and Slovak sides of the project is being monitored. “For example, near Hlohovec—just five kilometers from Lednice—there is the amazing Kamenice Natural Monument, which boasts an immense wealth of significant Pannonian species. The most abundant population is that of spring snowflakes, but species important for pollinators—such as bugleweed, cornflowers, and sage—are also found there,” said Neugebauerová. The film documents the flower beds both after planting in the fall and later during the peak season. The filmmakers also sought to compare the appearance of plants in the wild with those within the village’s built-up area. A significant part of the film also showcases the floral design work of students who use plants from the wild. “Throughout their studies, particularly in the Floral Design program, students are encouraged to use such plants in their day-to-day floral work. The curriculum is designed to help them become familiar with the plants and assess their color, shape, structure, texture, and how they work within a composition,” Neugebauerová noted.
In collaboration with Slovak colleagues, a team from the Faculty of Horticulture participated in the field assessment of sites and the collection of seeds from native plants of the White Carpathians. “The goal was to reintegrate the site with the planted species back into the landscape. Moreover, native species have added value due to their close connection to insects; they not only provide nectar for adult insects but also serve as host species for larval development,” explains the researcher. The reintroduction of plants was preceded by extensive field mapping of species and taxon inventories.
A team from the Faculty of Agriculture at Mendel University (ZF MENDELU) and the municipality of Lednice is collaborating with three other teams to promote biodiversity. The main partner in the project is the National Agricultural and Food Center in Piešťany; other partners include the BROZ conservation association from Bratislava and colleagues from the National Center for Agricultural and Food Research v. v. i. in Olomouc.