If you love flowers now is a great time to visit the El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Last year the Zoo was granted Botanical Garden status through the American Public Garden Association.  Because of our dedication to maintaining a collection of plants for the purposes of public education and enjoyment, conservation, and higher learning, this was a natural next step.  The Zoo continues to dedicate efforts not only to the animals in our care, but also the plants and birds, butterflies and bees that visit our zoo every day.

Many of the plants in the new Chihuahuan Desert Exhibit have graphic labels and plans are underway to add more plant labels across the Zoo.

This year the Zoo started encouraging guests to plant pollinator gardens and as you can see with the help of our garden staff the Zoo is looking very beautiful.
Pollinators like butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and other animals that pollinate plants need our help.  Pollinators support us, but their future is uncertain. Many are in decline worldwide, largely due to habitat loss, pesticide poisoning, disease, and introduced species.

Fruits and seeds come from flowering plants—but only if the flowers can exchange pollen with others of the same species. Because plants cannot travel, they must rely on wind or animals to move pollen for them. Helping pollinators is easy and fun. You can help pollinators by creating a pollinator habitat at home focusing as much as possible on native plants.

To get started in planning and planting a pollinator garden check out the resource page and video on our education partner website hosted by the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition.   There you can find links to information on the best native plants to grow at home, where to purchase them and how to make a plan (check out the 9 minute video).

Photos by Rick LoBello