First Volunteer Workday at Southwest Library Garden is on February 10

Published on January 25, 2024

By Melissa Walker, Environmental Education Specialist

The City of Arlington’s Bee City USA committee and Stormwater Management Division are partnering with Tarrant Regional Water District for a new Native Plant and Pollinator Garden at the Southwest Branch Library at 3311 SW Green Oaks Blvd.

The Bee City USA mission is to encourage the creation of new pollinator habitat in the City of Arlington, promote integrated pest management concepts to reduce pesticide use and provide educational programs on water conservation, native plant communities and native pollinator protection. Our new demonstration garden will add 1,000 square feet of new habitat for our native bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, birds, and other pollinators and will provide the following ecosystem services:

• Native plant diversity provides food and shelter for birds and other wildlife.
• Pollinator habitat helps remove pollutants from stormwater runoff improving local water quality.
• Native plants are naturally, drought tolerant and pest resistant.
• Diverse plant communities prevent erosion and maintain healthy watersheds.
• Flowering plants help return moisture to the atmosphere which is integral to the water cycle.
• Flowering plants utilize carbon dioxide to produce oxygen.

The Southwest Library Garden will have its first volunteer workday at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024. If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information about the Southwest Branch Library Garden please visit www.arlingtontx.gov/swlg or contact the Stormwater Education Specialist, Melissa Walker, at 817-459-6572 or Melissa.Walker@arlingtontx.gov.