Church Pollinator Garden
Creating an urban habitat for butterflies and bees
After speaking with many parents, teachers, and residents during the restoration of the church walkway garden, I realized the adjoining garden space could become so much more than a place for pretty flowers. My focus became to transform the space into a garden designed for pollinators, including host plants for caterpillars, along with pollen and nectar sources for butterflies and bees. Nearly 75% of the world’s flowering plants depend on animal pollinators to reproduce, but many of the butterflies and bees which fill that role are in significant decline. The plant selections are intended to help the recovery of Monarch and Yellowtail butterflies in our environment, as well as provide the children at the pre-school and in this urban neighborhood with a nature lesson on the life cycle of these beautiful creatures. In March of 2024 the National Wildlife Federation designated the space a Certified Wildlife Habitat and the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens certified the space as a Plant For Pollinator Garden.
A collection of pollinator favorites, including, Angelonia, Phlox, and Daisies
The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens designated the garden in March 2024 as one of their “Pollinator Gardens”. To qualify a garden must include certain features, including a water source, like the butterfly puddler pictured above.
Pictured above is a grouping of Butterfly Bushes, Phlox, and Angelonias in full bloom. The bees and butterflies love these nectar rich plants.
The National Wildlife Federation designated the garden as a Certified Wildlife Habitat in April 2024. We celebrated by installing a butterfly house in the space.
