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Written By: Satya Akquia, Community Engagement Manager and Marcelle Condevaux, Horticulture Production Coordinator
The idea for community-supported pollinator pathways started in late 2023 to early 2024. DZCA’s Community Engagement team was tasked with creating conservation programs that community members could participate in. The initial idea focused on creating pollinator pathways using wooden pallets—which the Zoo has in excess—as planters. This approach would allow community members to create more pollinator habitats in their own yards, porches, and community centers, wherever they had space!
Two community members offered to test the newly-built pallet planters, along with maintaining Zoo-provided plants and seeds. They learned fairly quickly from this trial run that pallet planters do not work well in Colorado due to our arid climate. In fact, the pallets dried out so fast that most of the plants failed along with all the seed sprouts. For the next round, hanging pots were used that could work with fences or limited-space porches for participants that didn’t have yards. For those with more space, metal rings were used to contain the gardens. These options proved more effective for Colorado’s climate.
In her role as Community Engagement Manager, Satya also attempted to grow plants from seed on her porch but was unsuccessful. It was ultimately determined that, for the Pollinator Pathway to be effective, the Zoo would need to provide semi-mature plants and use different types of planters.
After analyzing community data, the Five Points neighborhoods (80205 and 80216) were identified as the best area for the project. Community Engagement already had connections with the My Outdoor Colorado group and, through them, Neighbors Together.
From January to May 2025, Satya attended the organizations’ meetings to present the Pollinator Pathway Project and hosted an animal meet-and-greet at the Tramway Nonprofit, welcomed community members to the Zoo, and participated in an Easter celebration to reach residents outside of formal organizations. She also looked to community leaders to help spread the word and listed the project in the Nextdoor app.
A key supporter of the work and project was Mrs. Sandy, who personally called her neighbors and advocated for the project. Without Sandy’s endorsement and personal involvement, the project’s success would have been far less likely.
A strong community leader in the Cole neighborhood, Sandy has been one of our greatest success stories! While installing her garden, our Community Engagement team noticed small bugs initially thought to be flies. Upon closer inspection, they found they were ground dwelling stingless bees.
Sandy was quick to suggest getting rid of them, despite the work to install her own pollinator garden! The team asked her to wait until they could identify the insects and determine whether they were dangerous. As suspected, they were harmless stingless bees, and she agreed not to spray them.
Through this pollinator garden process, a community member learned that not all bees sting—and now Sandy wants even more flowers! This level of personal community involvement has already demonstrated the power of education in conservation.
Getting the community involved in growing pollinator-friendly perennials was a priority for the Community Engagement team. When we actively take part in cultivating plants, we develop a sense of pride, ownership, and connection to the plants and to the environment. This pride naturally feeds into investment in our gardens and the insects they support.
In partnership with Community Engagement, DZCA’s Horticulture team was excited to bring community members into their greenhouses to learn how to sow seeds and help the group reach its planting goals for the program. As the greenhouse team carefully tended to the seedlings during delicate germination stages, the community eagerly looked forward to plant pick-up, when they could finally take home the plants they had helped to sow.
In just a few years, these same plants will be well-established in our neighbors’ gardens, reaching maturity and offering their unique full pollinator potential.
Four native perennial species were selected for the project, based on their high pollinator visitation potential: Blanketflower, Bigleaf Lupine, Western Wallflower and Mexican Hat Flower.
Together, these species create a strong foundation for a vibrant, diverse pollinator garden. And because they’re native to Colorado, they support local ecosystems while contributing to low-water, sustainable landscapes. By growing these plants together with care, intention, and community involvement, we’re not just planting flowers, we’re promoting an ecosystem for years to come.
