The Pollinator Trail is a new, permanent exhibit which teaches the importance of pollinators. The series of interactive stations were installed at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden on August 5, 2020. They are located throughout Hillside Pollinator Garden, Margaret Lawrence Simon Dogwood Meadow and the Apiary.

Each station features an activity around a theme about pollination. At one, kids move pollen to learn how it can travel by wind or bees. Another station shows how a bee sees differently than a human and how that helps the insects to land on a petal.

At the Apiary, kids of all ages can pretend to be a beekeeper and take a photo in a bee suit. At that station, visitors can see what happens in a beehive and learn more about the tools needed to care for the European honey bee. The Garden’s active beehives are close by to spend time watching them. There also is information on native bees.

The Pollinator Trail is an important part of the Garden’s overall mission to provide nature-based education. Families, tour groups and individuals can travel to each one to explore at their own pace.

The Grable Foundation provided the funding for this educational program. The Garden’s Education staff partnered with Pittsburgh Children’s Museum and its design services department to create and manufacture the displays. It was a wonderful, collaborative project which will benefit the residents of southwest Pennsylvania.