The UGA EcoScapes Program native plant demonstration garden was “buzzing” with activity at the fourth annual celebration of National Pollinator Week. Despite the scorching heat, more than 60 people attended the event at UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Brunswick Station. Activities included garden tours, a live honeybee observation hive, pollinator resources, a honey-tasting, children’s activities and beekeeper demonstrations.
EcoScapes manager, Keren Giovengo, spoke to 20 people during her sustainable pollinator-friendly landscape presentation.
Partner organizations included the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Keep Golden Isles Beautiful, and Glynn County Farm Bureau’s Beekeeper’s Committee.
National Pollinator Week is a celebration of the ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, beetles, bats and other animals.
“Pollinators are critical both to the environment and to human health,” Giovengo said. “They transfer pollen between flowers, ensuring the growth of seeds and fruits. The work of pollinators touches our lives every day through the food we eat. In the United States, approximately one out of every three bites of food you eat and beverages you drink depends on the work of a pollinating animal. This event will be an excellent opportunity to learn about pollinators, explore the garden, watch pollinators in action and observe many of the native plants that local pollinators depend upon.”