More than a hundred volunteers planted the native plants along the Rio Salado to allow pollinators — like bees, butterflies and birds — to flourish at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center.
Located in the heart of Phoenix’s Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center is a nature center that offers a variety of free programs and events for the community.
The new Audubon pollinator garden project is part of the regional river revitalization initiative, Rio Reimagined. The garden is designed to be a revitalized community use space, climate resistant and drought tolerant, with nature trails and interpretive educational signage.
“Audubon Southwest is delighted to have valuable partners and volunteers to help create this pollinator garden. This initiative will help revitalize the Rio Saldo Audubon Center while growing native plants and supporting the wider community,” said Danny Roper-Jones , Director of the Rio Saldao Audubon Center.
Native plants play a vital role in supporting ecosystems that support nature and people, especially in deserts where native plants are uniquely adapted to the limited availability of water. These plants provide essential food and habitat for native animals and insects, even during dry periods.
This initiative is in collaboration with the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, Arizona State University, the Rio Reimagined, the Arizona Sustainability Alliance and the TigerMountain Foundation. It is supported by the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) in collaboration with Microsoft.
“One of the best things about this partnership is that it supports local organizations like Audubon Southwest and community members, as well as Microsoft employees, to go out and get their hands dirty restoring their backyard. Well-designed, well-implemented green restoration is a positive, empowering, solution-based approach to local and global challenges. Microsoft’s commitment to standards-based restoration shows that they take sustainability seriously,” said the director. SER executive Bethanie Walder.
The Rio Salado Audubon Center welcomes guests of all ages to visit the garden to learn more about local and migratory pollinators and the importance of conserving their habitats.
Visit riosalado.audubon.org for the center hours and to learn more. Watch the video of the planting event here.
