With spring arriving, it's tempting to begin working on our yards and gardens. But hold on! 🐝
Clearing debris & trimming plants too soon can actually harm bees, butterflies, & other important pollinators. We've curated a list of questions to tell when the time is right ⤵️
How can you make sure the plants you buy are safe for pollinators? And what can nursery growers do to grow plants that won’t harm wildlife? 🌱🌼🐝
We have the answers in our new video, featuring stories and practices from several innovative plant nurseries! ⤵️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcdv...
We want to thank our logo designer Jeremy @jhemberger.bsky.social for this awesome logo! We hope you all joined our neighborhood this weekend. 🐝
Check out more of his work here: jhemberger.github.io/graphic_art/
It's almost time for our block party! Join us tomorrow 1-4pm to learn about and celebrate our plant & pollinator neighbors. 🐝🌻 Won't you be our neighbor? 😊
Bumble bee pollinating blueberry flowers.
Many of Michigan’s summer fruit crops are now being harvested, including blueberries, tart cherries, and peaches. 🍒🍑Did you know that without bee pollination we wouldn’t have many of our favorite fruits and vegetables? It is estimated that ⅓ of all the food we eat is made possible by bees!
In this episode, we will be taking a closer look at the monarch butterfly, but we won’t be talking about milkweed or nectar plants, or the migration and overwintering sites – at least, not directly. No, our focus is on pesticides and monarchs. 🦋🌸🦋
Audio & transcript 🔗 xerces.org/bug-banter/m...
Got any extra school supplies or hygiene items? ✂️📒✏️🧼 Bring them to Bee Palooza 8/24 to support the Lansing community! You can also learn more about the youth, senior, and health programs provided by Southside Community Coalition at their table this Sunday.
“The State of the Bees” A bumble bee feeding on a yellow flower.
How are U.S. bee species faring in light of the major threats they're facing? 🐝
Join our bee experts for this overview of which bees are safe and which are struggling, and how we are studying those questions!
🗓️Aug 14 at 10am PT / 1pm ET
🔗Register for this free event: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
The Bees Knees! If your littles are keen to get a facepaint of their favorite butterfly, bee, or bat then head to the Larvae Lounge where we’ll be providing facepainting for free. The young at heart are also welcome to beecome a pollinator. 🐝🦋🦇
We are collaborating with the South Side Community Coalition, which includes senior and youth programs. Please donate gently used supplies so we can continue supporting and inspiring our neighbors, bees and humans alike. To learn more and support SSCC directly: www.southsidecommunitycoalition.com
Wondering about ways you could be mindful? Visit the Bee Mindful station! Learn about community science projects, community gardens, food bank resources, and more. Reset with a mindfulness activity, connect with your bee neighbors, or donate school supplies! flic.kr/p/9XY1GP
Plants for pollinators🌻🪻
Want to help our native bees flourish in your landscape? We have a station to help you discover native plants that help native pollinators! You can also purchase Michigan plants and make a clay native seed ball to place on bare soil - and watch the native plants grow!
What's the buzz? We have a station to discover different bee behaviors including our mascot, the eastern carpenter bee. Many know this bee as the one sleeping in their decks, but they are also native pollinators of many MI flowers! Take a look inside their home: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wviv...
Why are public lands worth fighting for? They help everyone! 🏞️🐝🦋🪲
A massive public outcry helped stop a recent attempt to sell off public lands. But there are other less-publicized changes that need the same attention. Read on to learn what's going on and what you can do ⤵️
xerces.org/blog/why-pol...
The 9th annual International Monarch Monitoring Blitz starts next week! 🦋
Last year, almost 32,000 observations were collected; will you help us increase that number this year & join the conservation efforts for this North American species?
Get involved 👉 www.cec.org/internationa...
𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒃𝒐𝒓?
We are so happy to announce Bee Palooza 2025! Join us on Aug. 24th from 1-4pm. We will also be posting weekly with sneak peaks of our event and information in case you cant make it!
Happy pollinator week!!! They come in various shapes, sizes, and colors with beautiful and complex relationships with plants. <3 This year, Bee Palooza will highlight the Eastern Carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica. Stay tuned for more details about BP 2025!
📸 by Bill Ravlin
flic.kr/p/2kvRKn6
“Insect Restoration and Conservation: Creating Usable Habitats in Human-Dominated Landscapes” An urban farm in Michigan, with growing vegetable and flowering plants. Tall buildings are in the background.
Join us to learn how we can build wildlife habitat in urban spaces! In this webinar, we are exploring four ways to build invertebrate habitat: restored prairies, greenroofs, urban farms, and solar arrays!
🗓️May 22 at 10am PT / 1pm ET
🔗Register for this free event: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...