From the plants in the courtyard to the students in classrooms, the flora (plants) and fauna (animals) of Tumwater High School play an important role at the school.
Interestingly, all or almost all of the flora are not native species. Notice how all of the trees on campus look nothing like how most trees in Washington look. These species were not chosen for benefit to the environment, but most likely chosen because they are easier to plant and maintain.
When asked what he thinks about the flora, Justin Allen wishes there was more color.
This sentiment was shared by student Kaylan Bertram who said, “The greenery is nice, but I want more flowers.”
When asked about the fauna, Justin said he likes all of the fauna except for a student by the name of Jack David Gregor. Justin did not elaborate further on this.
Kaylan’s opinion on the fauna(specifically the students) at THS can be summed up in her quote, “Everyone here is stupid and lacks common sense.” The bluntness of this quote truly makes it a powerful one and, sometimes, I couldn’t agree more.
Native plant species require less maintenance, support wildlife (especially birds), and are already adapted to the local environment (“Why Native Plants Matter.”) According to Audubon.org, “Native plants are those that occur naturally in a region in which they evolved. They are the ecological basis upon which life depends, including birds and people. Without them and the insects that co-evolved with them, local birds cannot survive.”
If you compare the trees at THS to those just a few blocks down, you will see a massive difference in species. Unfortunately, many nurseries only have non-native species that do not support the local environment. This can make it challenging to landscape with local plant species.
When asked about his opinion on native vs. non-native flora, Justin said he “hates the plants in Washington” and wants tropical plants and coconut trees at THS. He also wishes we had a school thunderbird as a pet. His idea for this is to obtain a bald eagle and dress him up as a thunderbird.
When asked if she wishes she could change anything specifically she said, “as long as it’s not cactus I don’t really care.” Though, she remembers the hibiscus trees from when she lived in California and wishes we had some here.
There are some flora and fauna that I haven’t mentioned yet. For example, during cross country, some other runners showed me an apple tree on campus and I got an apple before a run. I’ve seen ants outside the weight room on the concrete, I’ve heard reports of praying mantises being found, and apparently there have been caterpillars sightings in Mr. Sarai’s room.
In the end, even though the species may not be native, it’s better to have a campus with trees and plants than without.
Sources:
“Why Native Plants Matter.” Audubon, 6 Nov. 2024, www.audubon.org/content/why-native-plants-matter. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
