A new pollinator garden was funded in 2022 by individual donors, by a grant from the Ada Soil and Water Conservation District, and by contributions from Idaho Fish and Game and the Idaho Native Plant Society Pahove Chapter. The MK Nature Center staff is managing this project.

This new pollinator garden is a total overhaul of the current garden, and will showcase many beautiful pollinating plants that are native to Idaho. These plants require less water, do not attract deer and other grazing animals, but do attract and feed important native pollinators, making them ideal for many home and business landscapes.

Idaho’s native plants and pollinators are in decline due to population sprawl, climate forces, pesticide use, and more. Educating the public about these plants and pollinators is a critical part of protecting Idaho’s wild species and food chains. For this reason, two interpretive signs will be added – one specifically about the role of Idaho native insect and animal pollinators in ecosystems and food chains, and a second about the many benefits of using native plants in home and business landscapes. The new pollinator garden will be well-integrated into the educational programming at the MK Nature Center.

The new garden site prep was started in the fall of 2022, and planting and the irrigation system installation commenced in spring 2023. An art sculpture created by a local artist was also added in 2023.