Master Gardener Lunch & Learn

Today the Cherry Creek Pollinator Habitat hosted a Master Gardener Lunch & Learn.  Master Gardeners brought their lunch, toured the habitat and learn more about our bee structures and plant selection for pollinators.  They constructed a solitary bee nest to place in their home landscape next year from recycled and repurposed items. Master Gardeners also made nature journals and spent time in the pollinator habitat observing nature.  The Cherry Creek Habitat is the perfect place to lunch and learn.

MJ

Master Gardeners make solitary bee nests.

Native Grasses

At the Cherry Creek Pollinator Habitat we have included many native grasses.  We have established Indiangrass, little bluestem, big bluestem, switchgrass and sideoats grama.  The fall color and seed heads are at their best now.  If you plan to add ornamental grasses to your landscape, consider native grasses.  You will not be disappointed.
MJ

Native grasses, like Indiangrass, established in the pollinator habitat.

UNL and Pollinators

Last week I attended the UNL Entomology, Agronomy and Horticulture Pollinator Garden and Outdoor Classroom open house. This new garden is located on East Campus in the teaching gardens. Dr. Doug Golick, from the UNL Entomology Department led the tour. Pollinator plots have been seeded with native plants. A water wise garden area, pollinator food plot and larval habitat are also part of this pollinator garden. We viewed many pollinators while we toured the garden.

Nebraska Extension is in the process of forming nineteen new issue teams. I joined the “Protect beneficial insect ecosystems including pollinators” Team. In November this new state wide team will meet for the first time to discuss and plan our mission for the coming year. This team was organized because Nebraskans see beneficial insects and pollinators as a priority.
MJ

Pollinator Garden and Outdoor Classroom on East Campus.

Water wise garden.

Honeycomb structure in pollinator garden.

Open house for UNL Entomology, Agronomy and Horticulture Pollinator Garden and Outdoor Classroom.

Southern Plains bumblebee on purple cone flower.