In dense, urban neighborhoods like Mission Hill, pollinators rely on connected green spaces to survive. By adding a small pollinator patch to a front yard, porch, or window box, you can help create a pollinator pathway that leads insects and birds to the Kevin W. Fitzgerald Park Arboretum!

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Creating a patch is simple. Window boxes and planters with petunias, Angelonia, million bells, lobelia, and marigolds thrive in sunny spots. If you have a shady area, begonia, impatiens, ipomoea, fuchsia, and coleus work well. In Fitz Park, we grow a variety of native pollinators, like milkweed, coneflower, black eyed susan, and winterberry. Bee hotels, though not plantings, can also strengthen the path between home gardens and the Arboretum. All you need is a small planting or habitat to act as a stepping stone for pollinators, extending the park’s impact, strengthening biodiversity, and supporting a healthier ecosystem for everyone!