UK Grounds and the Lewis Honors College to transform courtyard into pollinator space

This fall, honors students will transform the space between the University of Kentucky Lewis Honors College and The 90 into a pollinator garden, replacing non-native grasses and shrubs with vibrant native species. 

Lewis Honors College is hosting two events to prepare for the pollinator garden by removing the existing non-native plants, 3-5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, and 9:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, in the Lewis Honors College courtyard. The entire campus community is welcome to participate and should dress for the weather and the work, which will involve digging and uprooting plants. All tools will be provided by UK Grounds in Facilities Management.  

Through a partnership with UK Grounds and the Lewis Honors College, students in this fall’s honors course titled “The Lexington Ecosystem” (HON 301) will take the lead in preparing and planting the pollinator garden, which was designed by students in last spring’s “Urban Restoration Ecology” course, taught by Senior Lewis Lecturer Kenton Sena, Ph.D. 

Students presented their individual work to UK Grounds, and then, as a class, revised the design, based on grounds staff feedback. 

“I’m so excited that the native pollinator garden has been approved. Especially since we are replacing species that are not ecologically vital to our local ecosystem,” said senior Zach McComas. “Local projects like this can prove we can still make an impact.” 

The two non-native plant species — boxwood and Miscanthus — will be replaced with the following eight native species provided by UK Grounds: little bluestem "Standing Ovation," prairie dropseed, butterfly milkweed, goldenrod, smooth aster, “Autumn Joy” sedum, red columbine and bluestar.  

“Students were especially thoughtful in their choices,” Sena said. “They wanted as many species as possible to support native insects, which then strengthens the whole food web. Students included asters and goldenrod to pay homage to a reading many of us do in HON 140 (“Knowledge and Society”) by Robin Wall Kimmerer. 

“The project creates a thriving habitat not only for pollinators and birds, but also for other members of our community — students, staff and faculty," Sena added. 

“I am incredibly excited to see our hard work pay off as our design is implemented, allowing students and faculty to experience the beautiful biodiversity that Kentucky has to offer," said senior Sarah McClellan. “I am honored to be able to leave a lasting impact on campus in my senior year.”  

“The most rewarding aspect of this project has been witnessing the coordination of different skillsets that led to a cohesive, multidisciplinary product that represents the embodiment of the Lewis College,” said senior Emily Simon. 

Once the plants are removed, the public is invited to help plant the pollinator garden 3-5 p.m. Oct. 8. 

The last day of planting on Oct. 9 will be reserved for the Lewis Honors College faculty and staff to foster team building and an opportunity to practice honoring the balance, a vision created by the LHC leadership team to encourage activities that promote health and well-being. 

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.