FTCC’s Science Club works in the pollinator garden near the Health Technologies Building.
Signs were installed in the garden designating FTCC as a pitstop on the Butterfly Highway.
Fayetteville Technical Community College has added a second pollinator garden to its campus, planting a host of bee-friendly vegetation last week.
Pollinator gardens are landscapes that attract pollinating insects, including bees, butterflies, beetles, and moths. The insects’ work pollinating plants is vital to maintaining healthy ecosystems.
FTCC added the garden Friday near the pond in front of the Health Technologies Center at the corner of Hull Road and Devers Street. The first garden, which was established this spring, is on Hull Road in front of the Neill Currie Building.
FTCC faculty, staff, and students planted the campus’ second pollinator garden and installed signs earlier this month.
FTCC biology instructor Dr. Grant Pilkay; Science Club advisor Jenie Chute; students Arabella Capino, Robert Whiting, Landen Hunt, and Elijah Pabon; grounds technician Katelyn Harvey, and staff financial accountant Anke Turner all worked on the gardens.
“The students were enthusiastic and will continue working with us to take care of the pollinator gardens and study various pollinators throughout the year,” Turner said. “The Science Club has been looking for a project and garden location and is excited for the funding and support from the Foundation.”
In addition to the vegetation, FTCC students, faculty, and staff installed informational signs in both gardens to educate visitors about pollinators, their habitats, and FTCC’s status as Pollinator Pitstop No. 3533 on the Butterfly Highway, a statewide conservation restoration initiative from the North Carolina Wildlife Federation aimed at restoring native pollinator habitats in areas affected by urbanization, land use change, and agriculture.
Friday’s efforts were made possible through a mini grant from FTCC Foundation, Inc. The Foundation offers mini grants to faculty and staff for activities and resources that are creative, innovative, and beneficial to students.
A moth sits in the pollinator garden in front of the Neill Currie Building.
The first pollinator garden on FTCC’s Fayetteville Campus was added in Spring 2024.
