Drought-Tolerant Pollinator Plants PPOOLLLLIINNAATTOROR Pollinators positively affect all our lives! Not only will these plants feed bees, WWEEKEEK they'll help support birds, butter昀氀ies and JJUUNNEE 1 177--2233 Let's SAVE them and bene昀椀cial insects. These hardy, drought- CELEBRATE them! tolerant perennials need little care and come back year after year. (Protect the health of Pollinator Week Celebration! All Ages pollinators by using plants grown without pesticides. ) Sunday, June 23, 1-4 p.m. Sedum is in the succulent Lost Valley Visitor Center, Glacial Park, Ringwood family. The tiny, star-shaped Fee: Free 昀氀owers attract bees well Did you know that along with bees and butter昀氀ies, beetles, moths, and 昀氀ies are into the fall. also pollinators to this region? Explore their life cycle, how they pollinate, and what you can do to support them now and into the future. Let's celebrate the last day of Pollinator Week with this family-friendly event with crafts, a guided nature Joe Pye Weed commands hike and games! Indoor and outdoor options available. attention as it can reach over 7 feet tall, and its pink Native and Natural Landscaping Ages 14+ blooms are magnets for bees. Wednesday, June 19, 7-8:30 p.m. Prairieview Education Center, Crystal Lake Fee: R Free / NR $5.00 Code: 9250 Cone昀氀owers bene昀椀t many Presented by members of the Wild昀氀ower Preservation and Propagation Committee pollinators, attract bees Learn how to use native plants around your home to beautify your property, provide and butter昀氀ies, and become habitat for butter昀氀ies, birds and bees, and improve storm water drainage and a seed source for birds. healthy soil. See examples from the WPPC's Native Garden in Your Yard program for inspiration, encouragement and assistance to homeowners who wish to transform their traditional lawn and garden spaces into havens for native wild昀氀owers and other plants. We will also discuss using native plants on a larger scale, such as restoration Butter昀氀y weed serves as projects on McHenry County Conservation District sites. a host plant to monarch Visit thewppc.org for more info about the organization. butter昀氀ies and deserves a spot in every garden! Pollinators A Plenty Ages 14+ virtual program via zoom Thursday, June 20, 7-8 p.m. Bee Balm's bright color Fee: R Free / NR $5.00 Code: 9238 and spiky shape is known Learn about local research on pollinators of the region! to attract butter昀氀ies. And Melissa Duda, graduate student of the Plant Biology and the plant already has Conservation program at Northwestern University/Chicago bee in its name! Botanic Garden will share her observations of what occurs when pollinators visit both gentian species, as well as their hybrid, Gentiana x billingtonii. She conducted pollinator Asters o昀昀er a pop of color observations to analyze the role of pollinators in hybridization. and late summer source of nectar, just as other 昀氀owers Biologist Alma C. Schrage will discuss current research by the U.S. are starting to fade. Geological Survey focused on the endangered rusty-patched bumble bee that is occurring in McHenry County and the greater Midwest. Alma is Good pollinator plants also include white part of a research team that developed e昀昀ective rapid survey methods for indigo, lead plant, blazing star, beard 昀椀nding rusty-patched bumble bees in previously unrecorded locations, tongue, bell昀氀owers, hollyhocks, foxglove, detecting their DNA on 昀氀owers and testing the roll-out of larger scale rapid larkspur and milkweeds. Many herbs also monitoring of bumble bee communities in partnership with McHenry County Conservation District and others in the Chicago region. can tolerate dry conditions and bees will be a-buzz. Plant lavender, thyme, marjoram, sage and rosemary to provide a valuable food source for bees early in the year when Bumblebee Talk Ages 14+ foraging opportunities are scarce. Saturday, July 20, 1-3 p.m. Learn more at MCCD.me/Plants. Prairieview Education Center, Crystal Lake Fee: R Free / NR $5.00 Code: 9242 Join District Wildlife Biologist Cindi Jablonski for talks, hands-on activities, and a PHOTO CREDITS (top to bottom): Megan Klatt / Fritillary Butterfly, chance to celebrate the vital role of bumblebees in our ecosystems and their impact Kevin Horner / Swallowtail Butterfly on Coneflower, Brad Wackerlin / on biodiversity in a fun and friendly atmosphere. Don't miss this unique opportunity to Bee, Weg Thomas / Bee Balm, Abby Leeper / Clearwing Moth connect with nature and deepen your understanding of these industrious creatures! Landscapes | Summer 2024 7