Bonnie Nance has cultivated her passion for gardening into something with a purpose: a pollinator garden and a certified monarch waystation right in her own yard.
Nance, who lives at 3109 Reid Road, has been gardening for about 40 years — a love she traces back to watching her grandparents and mother tend flowers. Today, she’s focused on helping pollinators thrive, joining a nationwide effort known as the Pollinator Pathway.
“It’s really popular now because people want to help nature and help our pollinators,” Nance said. “I got on the Pollinator Pathway and have a monarch waystation, so I’m all in right now.”
Her garden spans about a fourth of an acre and is filled with native plants known to attract bees, butterflies, and other insects. Some of her favorites include button bush, Joe Pye weed, purple coneflower, salvias, and several species of phlox.
“All of these plants feed bees and butterflies — and we forget how much we rely on them,” Nance said. “One bite of every bit of food we eat is pollinated by bees.”
Nance said Kentucky is home to about 200 species of native bees, along with hummingbirds, wasps, flies, and other insects that help move pollen from plant to plant.
As part of her monarch waystation designation, she grows specific milkweed varieties required for monarch butterflies to lay eggs and feed. The waystation provides food, shelter, and water from spring through fall, giving the iconic butterflies a safe stop along their migration path.
Nance, a master gardener, dedicates significant time to maintaining the garden — weeding, deadheading flowers, and ensuring it remains chemical-free. Using pesticides or herbicides is prohibited for those on the Pollinator Pathway or operating an official monarch waystation.
Though she’s only been on the national pathway list for about a month, her garden has long attracted local visitors.
“We always have lots of folks stop by when it’s in full bloom,” Nance said. “Our gardening group loves to come out, and really anyone is welcome to stop and look anytime.”
Those interested can pull into her driveway at 3109 Reid Road to admire the flowers — and maybe catch a glimpse of the many pollinators at work.
