Garden is currently going through a transition period and we thank our visitors for their patience while we are going through this process. The UC Davis Bee Haven IS OPEN dawn to dusk for self-guided tours. While the gate does have a chain on it, the garden is NOT LOCKED so please feel free to come on in and explore. Staff-led tours will resume in the future. Please check back here for any updates.
Hours and Directions
The Haven is open daily at no charge from dawn to dusk. Hours on Google Maps and Facebook may not be correct. We’re located next to the Harry H. Laidlaw, Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility on Bee Biology Road in Davis. Directions are here or find us on the UC Davis campus map or Google Maps. There is no charge for parking; please note that the space immediately to the right of the garden entrance is reserved for vehicles with a valid handicapped placard or license plates.
If you’re not able to visit us in person, please visit us virtually through our blog, The Bee Gardener, as well as our social media (links at the top right of this page) for updates.
Bee and plant photography are encouraged at the Haven. Please review our photography policies before taking pictures or videos.
Our Mission
The Haven is a unique outdoor museum that provides resources for local bee pollinators, inspires and educates visitors to create pollinator habitat gardens, and provides a site for the observation and study of bees and the plants that support them.
What is the Haven?
The UC Davis Bee Haven is a unique outdoor museum where visitors can observe and learn about bees and the plants that support them. Located next to the Harry H. Laidlaw, Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility on Bee Biology Road, UC Davis, it was planted in Fall 2009 thanks to a generous gift from Häagen-Dazs. The garden is open year-round during daylight hours. Admission is free. For more directions and details to ensure an enjoyable visit, please see “Planning Your Visit.”
Why Does the Haven Matter?
Like to eat? Thank a bee! Bees are responsible for pollinating about 1/3 of all the food we eat, including most of the fruits, nuts, and vegetable that make our diets tasty and nutritious. Bees also pollinate many of our wild plants that in turn provide food and habitat for other wildlife.
Yet many bee species (California has about 1600 native bee species) are in decline. While we don’t know all the reasons why this is occurring, one thing is clear: bees need flowers. We can all plant bee gardens, from a few flower pots to several acres. The Haven is a unique location where visitors can see bees and learn what they can do to help.
Can’t make it to the garden? If you’re not able to visit us in person, please visit us virtually through our blog, The Bee Gardener, as well as our social media (links at the top right of this page) for updates.
Garden News
Garden videos: for those who cannot make it to the Haven, we’ll bring the Haven to you. Please check out our videos by clicking on the YouTube link here or on the sidebar.
Annual Reports: our 2024 Annual Report is now available. Reports for 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014 are also available.
Contact information
Please contact us via email. We do not have a telephone number.
A friendly reminder from our risk management folks: there are bees in the garden! If in your excitement to view our bees up close you should forget the Haven’s walk-only-on-the-path policy you might step on a bee. And if she reminds you she’s there by stinging you, please take a bee sting flyer from the box on the shed. You can also view the flyer here.
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