Pollinator Habitats
The Pollinator Habitats Program is a community-led effort. We unite residents, volunteers, and partnering organizations to create gardens that provide a healthy habitat for birds, bees, butterflies, and many other pollinators.
Pollinators are extremely important to the health of our environment and our ability to produce food. With air pollution, climate change, pesticides, habitat destruction, diseases, etc., contributing to a significant decline in pollinator species -- it is even more crucial that we cultivate and care for healthy urban habitats.
Over the years, the work of our Pollinator Habitats Program has intersected with other Green Lents programs and has engaged many community partners. Our Latina Community Lead has been instrumental in this program by recruiting Spanish-speaking volunteers and households who have become recipients of residential gardens through the program.
We encourage you to check out the following three feature gardens:
The Malden Court Community Orchard at 7677 SE 87th Ave along the Springwater Corridor. This site was restored by community volunteers in 2015 and has since held monthly work parties to care for the orchard and learn about permaculture. Click here to learn more!
The Butterfly Garden at Lent Elementary at 5105 SE 97th Ave. This 1,100 square foot meadowscape was designed by Blueprint Earth and installed in 2023, at the front entrance of the school on 97th Ave. Weeding and watering are supported by the volunteers of Lent PTA.
Hummingbird Island at the traffic median on SE Powell Ct. This 3,000 square foot xeriscape was designed by Earth Ecology and installed by neighbors in 2024 with support from Urban Forestry who planted 9 native street trees on the perimeter of the garden. See a full plant list here. This site is maintained by neighbors - to help maintain the island, email here.
Some community partners who have collaborated on pollinator habitats include: ROSE Community Development, Portland Public Schools, Lent PTA, Metro, Urban Forestry, Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, Portland Bureau Of Transportation, Portland Parks & Recreation, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, The Xerces Society, East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District, Wisdom of the Elders, The Somali American Council of Oregon, and more.
As of 2025 we have established 20 sites in both residential and public places that have created over 10,000 square feet of pollinator habitat in SE Portland. Several of these have become vibrant community spaces that bring together community members for monthly or seasonal work parties. See below for a map of all pollinator garden sites!