UCO's John F. Barthell Pollinator Garden to be Featured on 'Oklahoma Gardening'

Sept. 17, 2024

The University of Central Oklahoma College of Mathematics and Science’s John F. Barthell Pollinator Garden will be showcased on the popular television show “Oklahoma Gardening.”

The episode, set to air Sept. 21, will highlight the garden’s ecological importance in supporting native pollinators while also serving as an educational resource for students and the community as an outdoor classroom, as well as its contribution to UCO’s broader sustainability initiatives.

“This garden lets students imagine the biodiversity of Oklahoma's natural landscape before so much of it was destroyed,” said Gloria Caddell, Ph.D., dean of the UCO College of Mathematics and Science and collaborator on the garden project.

“Our students are documenting the plant-pollinator interactions in the garden, and even middle school students have collected data on types of pollinators visiting different types of flowers. The garden inspires students, faculty and staff to grow native plants at home to support pollinators.”

Named in honor of John F. Barthell, Ph.D., former UCO provost and renowned pollination ecology researcher, the 4,000-square-foot garden is home to more than 60 plant species native to Oklahoma. The garden was designed by CLS & Associates, a landscape architecture firm dedicated to sustainable designs using native plants, ensuring resilience to Oklahoma's climate while fostering biodiversity.

The garden is part of UCO’s continued efforts to engage the public in environmental stewardship.

Watch “Oklahoma Gardening” on Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) stations Sept. 21 to learn more.

For more information about the College of Mathematics and Science, visit www.uco.edu/cms/.

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Tami Jackson

Tami Jackson

Marketing and Development Coordinator, UCO College of Mathematics and Science

Cutline: The University of Central Oklahoma College of Mathematics and Science’s John F. Barthell Pollinator Garden will be showcased on the popular television show “Oklahoma Gardening.” This episode, set to air Sept. 21, will highlight the garden’s role in supporting native pollinators while also serving as an educational resource for students and the community. Pictured is the John F. Barthell Pollinator Garden at the University of Central Oklahoma.

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About University of Central Oklahoma

The University of Central Oklahoma is a campus community in motion—leading, innovating and creating transformative learning opportunities that foster success for our students. As Oklahoma’s largest metropolitan university, we provide high-quality, nationally recognized programs that are always evolving and adapting to the needs of our students and the community. This commitment is rooted in our founding in 1890 as the state’s teacher’s college, training those who would educate the next generation of leaders and innovators. We remain dedicated to offering an accessible, affordable education, earning national accolades for social mobility, veterans’ outreach and first-generation student programs.

Guided by the motto “ubi motus est” – which translates to “where movement is” – the university continues to evolve and grow, offering 119 undergraduate and 81 graduate programs to our more than 12,000 students from our main campus in Edmond, Oklahoma, and facilities throughout the Oklahoma City metro. Our colors were the first adopted of any university in the state, and our Bronze and Blue symbolize our greatest strengths—the illumination of new ideas and the endless expanse of a clear sky above. At UCO, anything is possible.

The university is governed by the Regional University System of Oklahoma Board of Regents and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Contact

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405-974-2307

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www.uco.edu