Participants

The original plan in the spring of 2023 was to create as many Pollinator Pathway Gardens as possible in the Arivaca townsite's "main street" area.  However, by 2024 the project grew to include two gardens just outside the townsite in an area called "The 40s", and then expanded to include 36 private gardens registered with the Home Gardener Program!

Each public pollinator garden :

• Is in a location where plants and pollinators can be observed by pedestrians;

• 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;

• Most contain 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. The gardens at Marian's Market and Arivaca Sonz Hardware are hand-watered as needed, for the same reason;

• 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 main street public 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;

Between May 2023 and March 2025, the following 12 properties received new pollinator gardens, or major enhancements to their existing gardens: 

• Arivaca Dancehall: An in-ground pollinator garden was already growing strong, then more courtyard plants were added in November 2023, and a brand new nighttime pollinator garden added in April 2024;

• A Gathering Space: an in-ground pollinator garden was created in Nov. 2023;

• Arivaca Human Resource: a raised bed pollinator garden was created in Sept. 2024;

•  La Esquiñita de Arivaca property owner Clara Godfrey and tenant Kelly Y: 

A raised bed pollinator garden was created in Nov. 2023

• La Gitana Cantina: A raised bed pollinator garden was created in May 2023

• Arivaca Sonz Hardware: A raised bed pollinator garden was created in May 2023 (see photo above)

• Arivaca Mercantile: A raised bed pollinator garden was created in June 2023

• Marian's Market property owner Bart Santello and market managers Les Rivett and Sandra Carey: A raised bed pollinator garden was created in Oct. 2024

• Arivaca Schoolhouse Park: A raised bed pollinator garden was created in August 2024 

• Caviglia -Arivaca Public Library: An in-ground pollinator garden was already growing strong, more plants were added in Nov. 2023 and Sept. 2024, and a set of 2 new raised bed planters were added in spring 2025

• Arivaca Community Center:  An in-ground pollinator garden was planted in May 2024 as part of the youth after-school and summer programs, and three raised bed planters were added in spring 2025

• The Early Learning Center at the Arivaca Action Center:  New barrel planters and pollinator plants were added to the playground garden in Oct. 2024, and there is also a well-established pollinator-friendly garden surrounding the rest of the Action Center building

Two property owners have signed up to participate at some point in the future:

• The Monarch Cafe:  An in-ground pollinator garden will be created at this soon-to-be-complete restaurant and coffee roaster in the coming year.

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