Pollinator Pathway
Carter County
In Carter County, we’re buzzing with excitement as our Pollinator Pathway takes root! From the new gardens at First Baptist Church Olive Hill,Motor Carrier Solutions, Cosmic Athletics Center, Little Dippers Childcare and Learning Center, and the Olive Hill Arts & Heritage Center, to our established blooms at the Business Cultivation Foundation’s garden at the Grayson Tourism Cabin and the Wonder Kids garden at Grayson Sports Park, we’re stitching together a living quilt of color and habitat.
Our mission is simple: plant more, spray less, and let our county blossom into a haven where bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds can wing it from garden to garden. We hope schools, churches, businesses, nonprofits, and backyard dreamers alike will join us to keep Carter County abuzz with life.
To get involed please email kypollinatorpathway@gmail.com
Wonder Kids
596 Robert and Mary St, Grayson, KY 41143, USA
Our native garden is a living classroom for Wonder Kids designed to showcase the beauty and importance of Kentucky’s native plants.This space is filled with diverse species that provide food and habitat for pollinators, demonstrate traditional uses, and highlight the resilience of local ecosystems.
Children explore the garden to learn how native plants support butterflies, bees, and birds, while also discovering their cultural and practical uses. Through hands-on lessons, they see how these plants once sustained Appalachian families and how they continue to play a vital role in maintaining balance in nature.
A few of the plants you’ll find here include:
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – loved by pollinators and valued for its traditional medicinal uses.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) – a hardy wildflower that brightens the landscape and feeds pollinators.
Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) – a pollinator magnet with historical uses as a tea.
Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) – essential for monarch butterflies.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda didyma) – fragrant and rich in nectar for hummingbirds and bees.
Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) – Kentucky’s state flower, supporting late-season pollinators.
Together, these plants create a vibrant outdoor classroom where children can connect with the land, learn about sustainability, and discover the deep ties between people, plants, and pollinators.
Cultivating Community Garden
200 Carol Malone Blvd, Grayson, KY 41143
Our pollinator pocket garden at the Cultivating Community Garden may be small, but it’s packed with purpose and personality. Nestled beside a historic log structure, this container-based garden features a cheerful mix of native and pollinator-friendly plants including wild petunia, yarrow, bee balm, goldenrod, sunflower, and honeyberry. Each one was chosen for its ability to attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects.
One of our favorite successes is how quickly the pollinators found us—especially the bumblebees that can’t seem to get enough of the bee balm. The tall sunflower has become a neighborhood favorite, and the garden’s playful bee decor makes it a hit with children and passersby. We’ve had some challenges with heat stress and watering in containers, but community teamwork and consistent care have helped keep everything thriving.
This garden shows that even a few pots and a wagon can become a vibrant, educational, and biodiverse space. It’s a joyful part of our larger mission to cultivate community through gardening.
