Celebrate National Pollinator Week by heading to Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center for a Pollinators workshop Saturday, June 20 at 10 a.m.
Jones Park’s Horticulture Coordinator Teri MacArthur leads this class on some of Texas’ most prevalent pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Local entomologists and bee specialists will offer details on why pollinators are so important, how to attract them, and methods to ensure their survival.
“Bees are incredibly important to plant pollination, but their populations are in serious decline,” said MacArthur. “About one third of the food we eat is directly related to honeybees and other pollinators. The USDA estimates they are worth about $10 to $15 billion a year in the United States.”
Participants will also have the opportunity to see bees in action at Jones Parks’ new demonstration beehive in the Nature Center. The hive is equipped with glass to allow observation from inside the Nature Center and a pipe leading outdoors to allow the bees to come and go freely. A tour of the Nature Center landscape is also included.
In addition, attendees will receive seed packets from the National Park Service to start their own backyard pollinator habitat. The seed packets include a colorful three-season blend of annual and perennial plants chosen for their nectar and pollen supply, as well as their proven ability to bloom in the lower 48 states. Milkweed is also included in the mix to attract monarch butterflies.
With leadership from Commissioner R. Jack Cagle, Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center is a Harris County Precinct 4 facility located at 20634 Kenswick Drive in Humble. All programs are free of charge and open to the public. Harris County Precinct 4 programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, sex, religion, national origin, or physical ability. Jesse Jones Park Volunteers (JJPV) welcomes applications from interested participants. For more information about the park or any of the activities and programs offered, please call 281-446-8588 or visit www.hcp4.net/community/parks/jones.
