In celebration of National Pollinator Week, MSU is hosting the Third Annual Bee Palooza from 1 to 4 p.m. June 22 at the MSU Horticulture Gardens. This interactive event is for people of all ages to learn more about pollinators by visiting a series of seven stations.
Learn about the 400 bee species found in Michigan, view the inner workings of both honey bee and bumble bee colonies, learn how to build your own solitary bee nesting box and about bee-friendly gardening. In addition, there will be pollinator-themed face painting and a scavenger hunt for the young at heart.
Pollinators play an important role in the production of many seed, nut, and fruit crops, including almond, apple, blueberry, cherry, coffee, melon, squash, sunflower and tomato. Some people think only of allergies when they hear about pollen, but pollination — the transfer of pollen grains to fertilize the seed-producing ovaries of flowers — is essential to plant reproduction. Many trees, shrubs, and wildflowers depend on bees and other pollinators to move this pollen between flowers.
This annual event is free and open to the public. More details are available on Bee Palooza’s Facebook event page. Maps to the MSU campus and to the MSU Horticulture Garden, on the west side of Bogue Street, south of Wilson Road, will help you find the gardens and nearby parking.
For more information, contact Julianna Wilson at jkwilson@msu.edu or Rufus Isaacs at isaacsr@msu.edu.