Thank you for your interest in learning more about this program and becoming a future community partner!

All community partners in the Zoo’s Monarchs & Milkweed Pollinator Habitat Project must adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Community partners will select a site at their organization for consideration in the development of a monarch pollinator habitat.
2. All sites are evaluated by Louisville Zoo staff for necessary requirements such as: hours of sunlight per day and exposure (faces south for PM sun), soil type and moisture, and access to water for maintenance. If the first choice of site is not suitable, the organization would be asked to choose site another for consideration.
3. Size of the site should range from a minimum of  approximately 25 Sq. Ft. (5’ X 5’) up to ~225 Sq. Ft. (15’ X 15’). Shape of the site does not matter.
4. The site needs to be in a location where the public would be able to observe and read any educational signs and access a QR code that links to a Zoo website about the project.
5. The approved site must be maintained continuously for a period of three years from the date of planting and managed according to Zoo guidelines. Maintenance of the habitat is the responsibility of the community partner for the three-year time period. This includes:
   • No spraying of herbicides or insecticides.
   • No autumn cleanup. Leave plants that have died back for the winter and allow to overwinter to provide habitat for other invertebrate species. There will be posted signage when the habitat is developed that will explain this.
   • A once per year clean up each spring is all that is needed. Generally, this would occur in late March and prior to new growth starting.
6. Partners are asked to host the habitat for three consecutive years as it takes three years for the plants and the habitat to fully mature and become ecologically functioning habitats. Sites will be planted with container plants from 1 qt. to 1 gal. in size and not from seed.
7. Community partner habitats may either be fully or partially funded, and this is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
8. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) recognizing the partnership between the Louisville Zoo and the new community partner prganization, including the terms above, will be signed by both parties.

Does your organization meet these requirements? If so email MonarchsAndMilkweed@louisvilleky.gov to apply to be a Monarchs and Milkweed partner today!