Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators aren’t just pretty visitors to our gardens — they’re essential for growing food, protecting biodiversity, and keeping ecosystems healthy. That’s why Howard County became one of the first counties in the nation to be designated a “Bee City” in 2019 .

The County set a goal of creating 75 acres of registered pollinator habitat by 2025. Instead, the community nearly doubled it. As of 2025, 144 acres of registered pollinator-friendly land exists across the county. These meadows, native plantings, and no-mow areas give pollinators safe spaces while also cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

The growth has been steady — from 7.6 acres in 2020 to nearly 20 acres added in 2023, and then another big jump in 2024 to reach today’s total. The Howard County Bee City program, which includes County conversions of public land and residents registering habitat on private property, fueled this success .

These efforts go hand-in-hand with tree planting. Through the Trees for Bees program alone, residents have planted more than 5,600 pollinator-friendly native trees and shrubs since 2022.

Every new garden, every tree planted, and every acre of habitat strengthens Howard County’s resilience. In the long term, protecting pollinators means protecting food supplies, reducing flooding, improving water quality, and cooling neighborhoods.