“Plant for Pollinators” is a program of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and was launched in 2019 as a public engagement campaign designed to increase pollinator habitat in the greater Cincinnati area. The goal was to register at least 500 pollinator gardens annually, and as of this year, the program has more than 4,000 gardens spread throughout the region! The program makes it easy for gardeners to help pollinators — from plentiful web resources and an annual of sale of pollinator kits, to simple requirements. Part of the beauty of “Plant for Pollinators,” and one reason it won the Daisy Sticksel award, is that participants don’t need to create a large new garden; as long as they use one pollinator plant and one nectar plant, their “garden” can be as simple as a window box! The message that every little bit helps, and even a small garden can have a positive impact on the environment, resonated with us at OAGC, and made for a clear choice this year. Congratulations to the Cincinnati Zoo’s “Plant for Pollinators” program on winning the 2025 Daisy Sticksel Conservation Award!

Before and after photos of the Rockdale Urban Learning Garden, a Cincinnati Zoo project that was the inspiration for its award-winning “Plant for Pollinators” program.