Baskin Elementary School in San Antonio, Texas, was recently awarded a $1,000 grant to establish a pollinator garden on campus. The money was provided by the Feed-A-Bee program grant by the Bayer CropScience Division, part of a larger grant given to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension to fund pollinator initiatives.

The pollinator garden will be a teaching garden geared towards third grade students, but it won't be limited to only third graders. Students from other grade levels will be able to participate and learn as well. It will be established in a raised-bed garden area already on the school grounds.

During winter, cold-tolerant ornamentals including delphinium, ruellia, blackfoot daisy, rosemary, and Mexican heather will be planted to attract pollinators. In spring and warmer months, the school will plant milkweed for monarchs and flowering ornamental plants for other pollinators.

Teachers hope that the garden will help students learn why pollinators are important, and provide them with practical experience in STEM subjects.