The native plant demonstration pollinator garden, initiated in 2015 through a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Illinois Extension and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake, engages Franklin County Master Gardeners and local volunteers in maintaining the garden, providing interpretative programming, and harvesting native seeds for public distribution. Between 2017 and 2020, grants, including Plant America, funded educational efforts, and signage was developed.
In 2019, planning began for 7-acre pollinator plots around Catfish Cove Pond, with input from the Illinois Native Plant Society. Since 2021, the project has focused on volunteer recruitment and community engagement through monthly Rend Lake Pollinator Garden Stewardship Days, featuring educational sessions on successful pollinator gardening. The project has increased awareness, engaged the community, created pollinator habitat, secured grant funding, and fostered collaborative partnerships between local organizations. These efforts contribute to pollinator health and biodiversity and empower individuals to create their own habitats.
Learn more about the Master Naturalists in Franklin County.
