Hendersonville, NC – Whether you want tips about pollinator-friendly gardening and farming, to experience a bee hive open house with honey-tasting, to be mesmerized in a butterfly garden, take a guided walk, clear away non-native invasive plants, or hear from national experts on pollinators, there’s sure to be something both children and adults will enjoy during Hendersonville’s 2nd Pollinator Week Celebration June 18-25.
To raise pollinator consciousness, every certified Bee City USA community commits to holding at least one educational event each year, usually during National Pollinator Week in June. Hendersonville became a Bee City USA last year (7th in the nation), just in time to host a few events during 2015 Pollinator Week. This year, however, the city has gone all out, with a week-long schedule of outings, programs, and volunteer opportunities offering something for all ages.
Most people have now learned or observed that pollinator species around the globe are in decline. Yet, the majority of flowering plants on earth need help from pollinators to reproduce. That means that 1 out of every 3 bites of food you eat is there because of pollinators! Pollinator Week is an occasion to learn how we can help out.
Starting with an educational work-day on Saturday, June 18, and continuing through the week with guided walks, a visit on a golf course now turned back to nature, and bee hive and butterfly garden tours, a highlight of the week is back-to-back presentations at the North Carolina Arboretum by Heather Holm on June 21.
Keynote Speaker: Author, Heather Holm
Hendersonville is partnering with Asheville Bee City USA and the N.C. Arboretum to bring an influential lecturer, Heather Holm, to the Arboretum on Tuesday, June 21. Holm will give two presentations: the first – “Gardening for Bees, Butterflies & Beneficial Insects” — starts at 6 p.m. … and the second – “Selecting Native Trees and Shrubs that Support Pollinators” — begins at 7:30. Holm is a frequent presenter at conferences in the Midwest and Northeast; however, this will be a rare opportunity to hear her in the Southeast.
Holm is an environmental educator, landscape designer, and consultant specializing in pollinator landscapes and native landscape restorations. She studied horticulture and biology at the University of Guelph in Canada, and for the past 20 years has worked as a horticulturist and landscape designer in the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions. She is a passionate advocate for the use of native plants to attract and support pollinators, beneficial insects, and wildlife in residential and commercial landscapes, organic farms, and restored landscapes. Her latest book, Pollinators of Native Plants, has received extraordinary reviews.
Because seating is limited, even Arboretum members should pre-register for free tickets for each presentation by clicking on the links at http://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/pollinator-week-events . Non-NC Arboretum members who have not preregistered will be charged $12 for parking. A $5 donation is suggested at the door.
Hendersonville Pollinator Week is coordinated by Hendersonville Bee City USA, a joint program of the City of Hendersonville Tree Board and the Hendersonville Environmental Sustainability Board, with sponsorship from MountainTrue and a number of event presenters and partners listed below.
Hendersonville Pollinator Week Schedule of Events, June 18 – 25, 2016
Saturday, June 18
Oklawaha Greenway Non-Native Invasive Plant Removal
9 a.m. – 12 noon
Patton Park, Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville. (Participants should park at the basketball courts near the park’s entrance.)
We’ll start with a brief session on identifying our target invasive plants and the methods for herbicide application. We’ll walk to a nearby section of the greenway to remove three invasive species, restoring its native wetland habitat. Wear closed-toe shoes or boots, long pants, long sleeve shirt. Bring your water, snacks, and work gloves. Tools will be provided.
Cost: Free!
Audience: Adults and children 12 years or older, with a responsible guardian. Participants should be capable of moderate physical exertion in hot weather.
Registration: Pre-register at http://mountaintrue.org/eventscalendar/
Presenter: MountainTrue
Monday, June 20
Converting a Golf Course Back to Nature
10 a.m. – 12 noon
The Park at Flat Rock, 34 Highland Golf Dr., Flat Rock
When a nearby golf course was going out of business, the Village of Flat Rock stepped up to acquire the 66-acre property. Three years later more than 1,500 trees have been planted, 20 bird boxes and three owl boxes installed, honey bee hive in place, and over 4,000 sq. ft. of pollinator gardens planted. Enjoy this educational stroll through the pollinator gardens and learn more about this golf course conversion.
Cost: Free!
Registration: Pre-register at froane@hotmail.com
Presenter: The Park at Flat Rock
Tuesday, June 21
Pollination Celebration! Keynote Address
5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
North Carolina Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville
Landscape designer, photographer, and acclaimed author of Pollinators of Native Plants, Heather Holm, will give two presentations about creating pollinator-friendly gardens using native flowers, shrubs, and trees.
5:30 p.m. — Doors Open
6 p.m. – “Gardening for Bees, Butterflies & Beneficial Insects”
Most insects have a positive impact in our landscapes. Native plants can be selected to attract specific bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects, including predatory and parasitic wasps, beetles, flies, true bugs, and lacewings. Learn how these flower-visiting insects provide vital pollination services and also help keep problem insect populations in balance. The life cycles, diversity, and nesting habitats of various insect species will be covered along with examples of native plants for different site conditions.
7 p.m. — Reception and Book Signing
7:30 p.m. – “Selecting Native Trees and Shrubs that Support Pollinators”
While most trees are wind-pollinated, the ones that are insect-pollinated provide important forage for pollinators, especially in early spring. Learn which canopy trees, small trees, and shrubs are insect-pollinated and the types of pollinators each plant attracts. Factors influencing pollinator visitation including flower structure, flower resources, flowering phenology, and the plant community where the woody plant occurs will also be discussed.
Cost: Free tickets and free parking, if pre-registered. $5 suggested donation at the door.
Audience: All ages
Registration: Pre-register for free tickets/parking at http://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/pollinator-week-events (scroll down to June 21). Because seating is limited, even Arboretum members should pre-register. Non-NC Arboretum members who have not preregistered will be charged $12 for parking.
Presenters: Asheville and Hendersonville affiliates of Bee City USA, and North Carolina Arboretum
Wednesday, June 22
Lewis Creek Preserve Nature Walk
3 – 6 p.m.
Edneyville Community Center, 15 Ida Rogers Dr., Edneyville. Meet at the community center parking lot (up the hill, to the left). We will be shuttled to the Lewis Creek Preserve trailhead a short distance away.
Lewis Creek Preserve is an eight-acre bog and wetland protected and managed by Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy. MountainTrue Ecologist and Public Lands Director Bob Gale will lead a slow hike along the trail, interpreting the plant life, wildflowers, and value of pollinators on this property. From the boardwalk we can see a rare example of the few Southern Appalachian Bog ecosystems still remaining. Bob and MountainTrue have special expertise in managing such bogs and in addressing their threats, including non-native invasive plants.
Cost: Free!
Audience: Middle school age to adults. Hike rating: easy.
Registration: Pre-register at http://mountaintrue.org/eventscalendar/
Presenters: MountainTrue and Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy
Thursday, June 23
Butterfly Garden Tour
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Bullington Gardens, 95 Upper Red Oak Trail, Hendersonville
Visitors can drop by between 10 a.m. and noon to explore Bullington’s Pollinator Garden and Native Woodland Garden at your own pace. Bees and butterflies should be in abundance, and Master Gardeners and Western Carolina Botanical Club volunteers will be there to answer your questions. A selection of pollinator-friendly plants will be available for purchase.
Cost: Free!
Audience: All ages
Registration: None required
Presenters: Bullington Gardens and Western Carolina Botanical Club
Thursday, June 23
Bee Hive Open House and Honey-Tasting
2 – 4 p.m.
Historic Johnson Farm, 3346 Haywood Rd., Hendersonville
Drop by during open house hours to get an up-close and personal look at the productive pollinators in the Johnson Farm apiary. Guided by local beekeepers, this “tour de hives” is sure to engage, educate, and enchant visitors of all ages! Bring your questions about honey bees and beekeeping. And you’ll love our honey tasting, featuring a selection of locally produced honey. Honey will also be available for purchase. In case of rain, the event will be cancelled.
Cost: Free!
Audience: All ages
Registration: None required
Presenters: Henderson County Beekeepers Association and Historic Johnson Farm
Friday, June 24
Pollinators and Their Plants on the Farm
10 – 11:30 a.m.
Green River Preserve, 301 Green River Rd, Cedar Mountain, NC
The Green River Preserve is a summer camp … and the Green River Preserve Farm provides organic produce and fresh eggs for the campers. Few camps in the country have farm to table programs like this one — to help campers learn how to live a more sustainable lifestyle. We’ll take a guided hike around the GRP Farm to see how the plants that grow on a small farm like this one attract, benefit, and are aided by various native pollinators.
Cost: Suggested donation $5
Audience: All ages
Registration: Pre-register at rachel@greenriverpreserve.org
Presenter: Green River Preserve
Saturday, June 25
Bee Hive Open House and Honey-Tasting
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Historic Johnson Farm, 3346 Haywood Rd., Hendersonville
Drop by during open house hours to get an up-close and personal look at the productive pollinators in the Johnson Farm apiary. Guided by local beekeepers, this “tour de hives” is sure to engage, educate, and enchant visitors of all ages! Bring your questions about honey bees and beekeeping. And you’ll love our honey tasting, featuring a selection of locally produced honey. Honey will also be available for purchase. In case of rain, the event will be cancelled.
Cost: Free!
Audience: All ages
Registration: Not required
Presenter: Henderson County Beekeepers Association and Historic Johnson Farm
All week – June 18-25
“Thank you, Pollinators!” Exhibit
During business hours, open every day.
Hendersonville Community Co-op, 60 S. Charleston Lane, Hendersonville
Henderson County Beekeepers Association and the Food Co-op have created a stop-and-take-a-look exhibit that vividly shows the important connection between pollinators and our food supply. One shopping cart will be laden with foods that we enjoy due to activity of our pollinator helpers. A second shopping cart contains the food choices we would have without pollinator helper activity. You may be surprised, and certainly informed!
Presenters: Hendersonville Community Co-op and Henderson County Beekeepers Association
For more information on Hendersonville Bee City USA and upcoming events for Hendersonville Pollinator Week, visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/beecityhendersonville/ or the website at http://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/bee-city.