Participants

The original plan was to create as many Pollinator Pathway Gardens as possible in the Arivaca townsite's "main street" area (Arivaca Road, W. 5th St, and nearby side streets).  However, the project has now grown to include properties just outside the townsite in an area called "The 40s"... and who knows how far this pathway will grow in the future!

Each pollinator garden :

• Is in a public location where plants and pollinators can be observed from a walkway;

• Contains an appropriate soil and amendment mixture for SW native plants;

• Contains native, flowering shrubs and perennials that attract and nurture pollinators, have year-round interest, and are low-water-use and low-maintenance;

• Contains a simple and efficient drip irrigation system and timer, so that watering will be a low-cost expense for property owners and have a low-impact on Arivaca’s aquifer;

• Features colorful and artful signage;

• Is built by a team of volunteers, including its property owner or a representative who takes on the responsibility of maintaining it from then on.  Consultation or other help from project volunteers is provided if needed.

Steel stock tanks are being used as raised beds for some of the new main street pollinator gardens, for these reasons:

• These sites have very compacted soil, and/or nearby water lines or other utilities, so it's best to not create an in-ground garden;

• These sites have fences that make a raised bed much more visible from the street or sidewalk than an in-ground bed.  One other benefit of raised beds is that maintenance can be done from a standing or sitting position, making them more accessible for all ages and abilities;

As of March 2024, the owners and renters of the following properties have signed up to participate:

• Arivaca Dancehall - in-ground pollinator garden already growing strong, with more plants added in November 2023 and a new nighttime pollinator garden was planted on April 20th, 2024!

• A Gathering Space - in-ground pollinator garden created in November 2023!

• Plaza de la Amistad park project - a large, in-ground pollinator garden will be featured in the design of this future park, located in the heart of main street and sponsored by Arivaca Human Resource.

•  La Esquiñita de Arivaca property owner Clara Godfrey - raised bed pollinator garden created in November 2023!

• La Gitana Cantina - raised bed pollinator garden created in May 2023!

• Arivaca Sonz Hardware - raised bed pollinator garden created in May 2023!

• Arivaca Mercantile - raised bed pollinator garden created in June 2023!

• Arivaca Helping Hearts - in-ground pollinator garden to be created in fall 2024.

• Caviglia -Arivaca Public Library - in-ground pollinator garden already growing strong, and more plants were added in November 2023!

• Arivaca Community Center -  is in the process of creating a new, in-ground, combination pollinator garden/food garden in spring 2024 as part of their youth afterschool and summer programs!

• Monarch Cafe - in-ground pollinator plantings will be created in fall 2024 to surround this future coffee shop/restaurant's outdoor patio seating area.

In addition, The Arivaca Action Center Early Learning Center has benefited from seeds and information to bring more pollinators to their little ones' garden beds, and there are also established pollinator-friendly plants in various areas of the Action Center grounds!