Boston Flora

Tag: Bees

  • Tuesday, June 17 – Bees, Blossoms, and Botanicals: Garden to Glass

    GCA in the City, Boston, launches on June 17th with Bees, Blossoms and Botanicals: Garden to Glass. Join us at a secret historic garden in downtown Boston for a tour and some light botanical foraging, followed by a lecture by gardener and beekeeper Allison Waters. Waters will teach about beekeeping and the art of seasonal botanical mixology. This is one garden party you won’t want to miss! GCA in the City events are fun and interesting opportunities to make new friends and learn about the work of the Garden Club of America. They are open to young, non-members. For more information about the event and receive an invitation, email gcainthecity@gcamerica.org

  • Tuesday, June 18, 6:45 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern – Abuzz About Bees, Online

    Bees are part of the biodiversity on which we all depend for our survival, but some of their activity has been unexplainable—until now. Discover how small observations led to big breakthroughs revealing the secrets behind puzzling honey bee behavior.

    Cornell University biology professor Thomas D. Seeley provides an up-close account of how he and his colleagues solved mysteries about honey bee nature. In deciphering their communicative movements, Seeley reveals insights into these remarkably intelligent insects.His research illuminates how worker bees function as scouts to choose a home site for their colony, furnish their home with beeswax combs, and stock it with brood and food while keeping tens of thousands of colony inhabitants warm and defended from intruders. This Smithsonian Associates lecture takes place on Zoom on June 18 at 6:45 pm. $20 for Smithsonian Associates members, $25 for nonmembers. Register at https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/abuzz-about-bees

    Seeley’s latest book is Piping Hot Bees and Boisterous Buzz-Runners: 20 Mysteries of Honey Bee Behavior Solved

  • Tuesday, January 30, 9:30 am – 1:30 pm Eastern – Online Pollinator Workshop

    Join UMass Extension for this January 30 virtual winter workshop about pollinators. Get the latest buzz on the status of pollinators in Massachusetts from state apiary inspectors as well as researchers at the University of Massachusetts. Aspects of the health of honeybees and bumblebees will be discussed, along with “lesser-known heroes” of the pollinator world: ants, beetles, flies, butterflies, sawflies, and wasps! $35. Registration and a complete itinerary are at https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/events/winter-workshop-pollinator-topics

  • Friday, May 20, 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm – Ask the Expert: Honeybees, Online

    Honeybees are threatened. How can we protect them?  

    Did you know that George Washington was a fan of the honeybee? Travel back to the 18th century with our expert Dr. Christopher White as we dive into the history of liquid gold (better known as honey). We’ll also talk about how to protect honeybees, who face myriad threats today. Bring all of your questions!

    Dr. Christopher White leads multidisciplinary teams focused on sustainability, climate change impact, enterprise risk management and community resilience. He currently serves as a member of the United Nations Environment Program.

    In his spare time, Dr. White is a beekeeper with an apiary along the banks of the Potomac River in Maryland. Along with his wife and three children, Dr. White founded an artisanal honey company, Bee America, in 2011. From its earliest beginnings, Bee America has been committed to sweetening its customers’ lives with the goodness of pure American honey. The company is passionate about preserving the future of honey bees and their place in our world.

    Dr. White founded an artisanal honey company, Bee America, in 2011, committed to sweetening its customers’ lives by preserving the future of honeybees and their special place in our world. Join us on World Bee Day, May 20, at 12pm EDT as Dr. White discusses all of the ways that we can help save the lives of honeybees, despite their extreme daily challenges.  Get your tickets NOW and join the buzz about these busy workers.   Free.

  • Saturday, February 12, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm – The Ecological Benefits of Native Bees and Predatory Wasps, Online

    Native bees and predatory wasps share the same lineage and share many behaviors and habitat requirements. Predatory wasps feed their offspring invertebrates (insects and spiders) and bees diverged from this carnivorous diet to feed their offspring plant-based food (pollen and nectar). Flower-rich landscapes provide critical habitat for both adult bees and wasps because they each consume flower nectar; in addition, wasps need diverse, flower-rich landscapes to hunt for their prey. Heather will highlight many amazing natural history and biology facts about native wasps illustrating their nesting habitat, prey specificity, and the ecosystems services they provide—pest insect population control and pollination.

    This program is part of the Mt. Cuba Center Winter Lecture Series and takes place online Saturday, February 12 at 11 am Eastern. $25. Register at https://mtcubacenter.org/event/the-ecological-benefits-of-native-bees-and-predatory-wasps-online/

    About the Instructor:
    Heather Holm is a biologist, pollinator conservationist, and award-winning author. In addition to assisting with native bee research projects, she informs and educates audiences nationwide about the fascinating world of native pollinators and beneficial insects, and the native plant communities that support them. Her latest book, Wasps, was published in February 2021. Heather’s expertise includes the interactions between native pollinators and native plants, and the natural history and biology of native bees and predatory wasps occurring in the Upper Midwest and Northeast. Heather is a National Honorary Director of Wild Ones. She also serves on the board of the Friends of Cullen Nature Preserve and Bird Sanctuary.

  • Saturday & Sunday, September 11 & 12, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm – Field School: Bees and Other Pollinators

    Early fall is a magnificent time to explore outer Cape Cod; empty beaches, agreeable weather and an abundance of pollinating insects.

    Raise your awareness about the vital role bees and other insects play in our environment. Animals pollinate about 75% of all the food, fiber, beverages, and medicine used by humans, and insects, especially bees, are the primary pollinators. Emphasis of this course will be on the natural history, biology, and identification of pollinators including the often unnoticed but hard-working native bees. Learn about their habitat requirements and conservation issues.

    This two-day course on September 11 and 12 from 8 – 4 will include an online evening lecture and time in the field spent searching for the diverse assortment of pollinators found on Cape Cod, including Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and the surrounding natural communities.

    Please be prepared for spending time outside in sunny, open environments and off-trail in search of insects. We recommend wearing light-colored clothing and pack long pants and close-toed shoes for time in the brushy habitats. Bring plenty of drinking water and sunscreen, and possibly even a wide -brimmed hat. Binoculars, a 10X or 20X magnifyling glass (or jeweler’s loupe), and backpack in which to carry items is also recommended. Pack a brown bag lunch for each day, light daytime snacks will be provided. Like bees, we need sustenance!

    * Please note: the hours listed on the schedule may vary from the sample schedule in the field school brochure and are subject to change based on tides, staff, optimal wildlife sightings, and other variables. A detailed schedule will be prepared and sent to registrants in advance.

    Due to COVID protocols, participants will need to provide their own transportation to field trip locations around the Cape.

    This course is one of serveral Cape Cod Field Schools offered. Visit www.massaudubon.org/wellfleetbay/fieldschools.

    Instructions and Directions:

    Advance registration is required and is accepted on-line, over the phone, or through the mail. Payment in full is due upon registration. Upon registration you will receive a confirmation letter, then 2-3 weeks in advance of your course you will receive an email with detailed information related to the class.

    Due to COVID protocols, participants will need to provide their own transportation to field trip locations around the Cape.

    $325 for Mass Audubon members, $350 for nonmembers.

    Cancellation received less than 30 days before starting date may result in forfeit of entire course fee. If we can fill your spot with another registration then your balance is returned, less the $50 nonrefundable administration fee. The sanctuary reserves the right to cancel any course with a full refund to registrants.

    For a complete listing of Field School courses visit http://www.massaudubon.org/wellfleetbay/fieldschools Registration is required. Register now with our secure payment portal.

    For more information, contact:

    Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary P.O. Box 236, State Highway Rte. 6 South Wellfleet, MA 02663 wellfleet@massaudubon.org

  • Sundays, November 15 & 22, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm – Rooted in Place Online: Annual Ecological Gardening Symposium

    Offered online for the first time, Berkshire Botanical Garden’s 5th Annual Rooted in Place Ecological Gardening Symposium invites you to create a new, environmentally sensitive vision by exploring the connection between the surrounding landscape and your home.

    The symposium features four informative lectures over the course of two days, November 15th and November 22nd, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. with sessions offered live through Zoom followed by question and answer periods. Registration deadline is 9 a.m. on November 15. Recordings of the lectures can be accessed until January 1, 2021. 

    Our expert presenters will examine the intersection of the wild and cultivated landscape while exploring ecosystem services offered by native plantings, including the role they play in our gardens.

    Become inspired to plant gardens designed to support diverse and resilient ecological communities in the face of a changing world. Online registration for this program is temporarily unavailable. Please call 413 354-8410 to register. 

    Conference presenters include Heather Holm, Ulrich Lorimer, and Dr. Desiree Narango.

    Heather Holm is an award-winning author and nationally sought-after speaker, spending much of her time passionately educating audiences about the fascinating world of native bees and the native plants that support them. Her first book, Pollinators of Native Plants, was published in 2014, and her latest book, Bees, published in 2017, has won six book awards including the 2018 American Horticultural Society Book Award. Heather’s expertise includes the interactions between native bees and native plants and the natural history and biology of native bees occurring in the Upper Midwest and Northeast. Heather’s presentation, What’s the Buzz About Native Bees explores the nesting habitat, life cycle, pollen collection, brood rearing, and general characteristics of common genera of native bees occurring in the Midwestern, Eastern United States, and southern Canada. The pollination of native plants and the mutualism between native plants and native bees will be highlighted, in addition to the presentation of floral resources and how the physical characteristics of bees can influence their effectiveness as pollinators.

    Ulrich Lorimer is Director of Horticulture at Native Plant Trust. A longtime advocate for native plants in designed landscapes, Uli firmly believes that ecological gardening can help heal our planet and bolster biodiversity in all its forms. His work as a native plant and biodiversity advocate is informed by years of work in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Native Flora Garden, in the woodland garden at Wave Hill in the Bronx and even earlier at the US Botanic Garden. Uli’s presentation, What I have Learned from Observing Plants in Nature, engages gardeners and horticulturists to turn outdoor hikes into inspiring, learning experiences — an approach which fosters inspiration, reinforces the ecoregion concept, shows how ecosystems and their components function, and emphasizes how plant communities are connected with all other forms of life, humans included. This talk will explore how observations made from nature can help expand our plant choices, inform design decisions, and result in gardens that support biodiversity, aesthetics and ecosystem function. 

    Dr. Desiree Narango is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and current David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellow. Her research interests include ecology and conservation in human-dominated landscapes, plant-animal interactions and community-driven science. Desiree has a PhD in Entomology and Wildlife Ecology from University of Delaware, an MS in Natural Resources from The Ohio State University, a BS in Environmental Biology from SUNY: ESF and nearly 15 years experience studying wildlife. She’s also an active birder and gardener who enjoys getting others excited about the natural world in their own yards. Dr. Narango’s presentation, Native Plants in Gardening Practices, addresses her research on how native plants and gardening practices influence birds, bees, butterflies and moths in residential yards, addressing the specialized relationships between native plants and insects, why insects matter to birds, and steps you can take to improve habitat for wildlife at home. She will also share resources to find more information about native plants, nature-friendly gardening and participating in community-driven science. 

    There will also be a panel discussion with Bridghe McCracken, Drew Monthie, and Rebekah Lamphere. Full details may be found at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/rooted-place-online-annual-ecological-gardening-symposium

  • Wednesday, September 23, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Native Bees: Our Pollination Powerhouses

    Grow Native Massachusetts is proud to present our 2020 Evenings with Experts lecture series. These talks at the Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, are free and open to all.

    Join us for this September 23 talk beginning at 7 pm with Heather Holm, the author of Bees: An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide. This program was originally scheduled for May but had to be rescheduled due to Covid-19.

    Native bees are the most important and effective pollinators for our flowering plants. Although they play a crucial role in sustaining biodiversity, they are poorly understood and under threat from human activity.

    Heather Holm will teach us how to recognize common bee genera, and enlighten us about their fascinating life cycles, nesting habitat, and foraging needs. Come learn more about the mutualistic relationships that they have with native plants – a powerful reminder that the salvation of one is inextricably linked to the proper stewardship of the other.

    Heather Holm is an expert on pollinators whose first book, Pollinators of Native Plants, brought her national attention. She is a sought-after speaker who is passionate about educating audiences. Her recent book, Bees: An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide, won the 2018 American Horticultural Society Book Award.

    Thank you to our community partners, the Cambridge Public Library, Mount Auburn Cemetery and the Boston Society of Landscape Architects, for their support of this series.

  • Wednesday, July 1, 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm – Specialist Bees Webinar

    The monarch butterfly is probably the most famous insect specialist (the caterpillars only feed on milkweed), but did you know that many native bees are also specialists?

    Female native bee specialists or oligoleges, only collect pollen from a narrow range of native plants; this could mean just one plant genus or many genera that belong to one plant family. During this Walk in the Garden Ecological Landscape Alliance webinar on July 1 at noon, Heather Holm will highlight many of these native plant-bee specializations as well as the overlapping habitat requirements of the bees and plants.

    The presentation will also include the threats to specialist bees such as habitat loss and climate change. Heather Holm had an avid interest in natural history and botany at a young age and spent much of her childhood exploring the woodlands and prairie on the family property. She studied horticulture and biology at the University of Guelph and later web programming and digital design at Seneca college, Canada.

    Heather is an award-winning author and nationally sought-after speaker spending much of her time passionately educating audiences about the fascinating world of native bees and the native plants that support them. Her first book, Pollinators of Native Plants, was published in 2014, and her latest book, Bees, published in 2017, has won six book awards including the 2018 American Horticultural Society Book Award. Heather’s expertise includes the interactions between native bees and native plants, and the natural history and biology of native bees occurring in the upper Midwest and Northeast.

    Heather currently lives in Minnesota with her husband. She is a self-employed author, designer, and publisher. For the past few years, she has been assisting with native bee research projects. In her spare time, Heather is an active community supporter, writing grants and coordinating neighborhood volunteer landscape restoration projects. Currently, she is working on three projects with volunteers, restoring approximately ten acres of city-owned land in her neighborhood for pollinators and people.

    Free but registration required at https://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/webinar-specialist-bees/

  • Saturday, July 13, 9:00 am – 10:00 am – Buzz Around The Garden Tour

    As a kick-off to our day celebrating pollinators, join the Massachusetts Horticultural Society on July 13 for a morning tour of the The Gardens at Elm Bank. Sip a mimosa as your guide leads you through the gardens exploring the plants and gardening techniques which attract and support pollinators. 21 and over. $5 for Mass Hort members, $15 general admission. Register at www.masshort.org.