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Registration is now open for Fall 2022 classes at

Registration is now open for Fall 2022 classes at the Bee Haven. Both classes will follow a hybrid format, with video available ahead of the class and hands-on learning at the UC Davis Bee Haven.

If your gardening skills are limited to knowing how to start your lawnmower, check out I Planted a Bee Garden: Now What? to learn about making the turf to bee garden shift. The hands-on class will be October 29 from 9:00 to 10:30.

Is your garden growing well but you don't know what or how to prune, consider Pruning the Bee Garden. We'll cover the biology and techniques around pruning trees, shrubs, and perennials for maximum bee bloom. This class is November 5 from 9:00 to 11:00.

Registration links are at beegarden.ucdavis.edu or use the QR code in the pictures. The fee is $50 per class, with all class fees supporting the Haven.
#bees #hbhgarden #beegardening #gardening #gardeningclass

As we move into the hottest, driest part of the su

As we move into the hottest, driest part of the summer, many of our gardens are looking a bit worn out. It's easy to stay inside where it's cool and put garden tasks off until the fall.

But the bees are still out there doing their work to bring us food and create habitat for wildlife. What are the plant options for California gardens that will stand up to the heat and be loved by bees? A great choice is our native California aster, Symphyotrichum chilense. Unlike asters native to the eastern US and Europe, this one thrives on low water in our climate. Shown here are two great cultivars, 'Point St. George' (first photo) and 'Purple Haze' (second photo).

'Point St. George' grows low to the ground, while 'Purple Haze' is about 2 feet tall. The latter has deeper purple flowers than in typical for this species. Both need full sun to light shade and will spread (a lot!) to cover an area. Consider yourself warned when choosing an area to plant these in.

Our studies of bee plant preference showed these to be one of the most attractive plants to California native bees, and their late summer flowers are critical to provide nectar and pollen at a time when not a lot is blooming.

Pair these with the native California buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum, shown in the background of the third photo. This tough plant thrives in hot, dry conditions and is attractive to a wide range of insects. The species reaches about 4 feet wide and tall, while the cultivar 'Warriner Lytle' stays a more compact 3 feet wide and 1 foot tall.

Plant both this fall for a show next summer!
#hbhgarden #ucdavis #bees #gardening #pollinatorgarden #california #nativeplants #californianativeplants #symphyotrichum #eriogonum

There's something so exciting about seeing young f

There's something so exciting about seeing young fruit just starting to develop -- maybe it's the anticipation of the goodness to come?

Here at the Haven, the bees have done their job, and now it's up to us to nurture the plants until harvest. The first photo is young kiwi fruits. Kiwi is a vine, and male and female flowers are on separate plants. Be sure to get both if you want fruit!

The second photo is crabapple. These make great jam, or leave the fruit for the birds.

Thanks bees!

#hbhgarden #bees #gardening #pollinatorgarden #pollination #kiwi #crabapple #ucdavis

We're so close! Only one more Give Day gift is nee

We're so close! Only one more Give Day gift is needed to unlock our challenge from Green Acres Nursery & Supply. The challenge ends at 5pm PDT today, April 23.

Your gift will provide much-needed funding to upgrade our irrigation system. This will keep us blooming and feeding the bees.

To donate: https://giveday.ucdavis.edu/giving-day/50382/donate?des=221534&dept=50387

Thank you!

#hbhgarden #bees #gardens #pollinatorgarden #ucdavis #california #ucdavisgiveday

Our irrigation system needs your help! Installed i

Our irrigation system needs your help! Installed in 2009 at the garden's creation, our system is showing its age. Between leaks from rodent damage and the development of new, more efficient systems we are not modeling best practices to our visitors.

Thanks to a generous matching gift from Green Acres Nursery & Supply, we have the chance to make improvements. As part of UC Davis Give Day, we are seeking donations to fund installation of a new, more efficient irrigation system. Better for the plants, the planet, and the bees!

Donations can be made through April 23 at giveday.ucdavis.edu. Scroll down to find 'Bee Haven Garden Challenge'. Your support is greatly appreciated!

#hbhgarden #bees #gardening #irrigation #ucdavis #ucdavisgiveday

Would you like to help promote the use of pollinat

Would you like to help promote the use of pollinator-attractive plants in California landscape? Are you a green industry professional who wants to learn more about production, sales, and maintenance of California pollinator plants? Check out our new Instagram account, californiapollinatorplants.

This project is a follow-on to our recently completed studies of bee attractiveness to common landscape plants. We'll be working with colleagues at UC Cooperative Extension, San Diego to create resource materials and training to expand the use of pollinator plants in the landscape.

Follow our new page to learn about print, web, and video resources in both English and Spanish.

#bees #california #ucdavis #uccesandiego #californiapollinatorplants #hbhgarden

Our spring open house this Saturday, March 19, is

Our spring open house this Saturday, March 19, is cancelled due to the forecast for cool, rainy weather. While it’s a disappointment for sure to cancel, California gardeners will never complain about rain!
#bees #gardening #ucdavis #hbhgarden

Join us at the Haven next Saturday, March 19 for

Join us at the Haven next Saturday, March 19 for our spring open house from 10 to 1. There’s a garden tour at 11, where you can learn about low-water plants for bees like this ‘Ray Hartman’ ceanothus. Maybe you’ll spot a bumble bee queen, too!
Solitary bee houses will be available with a $10 donation, cash or check only please.
Hope to see you there.
#bees #gardening #lowwaterplants #ucdavis

You did it! Our Crowdfund raised more than $2000 t

You did it! Our Crowdfund raised more than $2000 to support Haven field trips for kids who otherwise couldn’t afford it. Donors are Charlotte Alberts, Connie Alexich, Jennifer Baumbach, Kathleen Bettis, Richard Blatchford, James Carey, Alfred Chan, Elvira de Lange, Jenni Dingeldein, Karen Farrel, Shirley Flynn, Kathy Keatly Garvey, Joyce Hirano, Maile Juranits, Diane Kelly, Gayna Lamb-Bang, Leslie Lewis, Jamie Shattuck, Kimberly Srack, Marilyn Vernon, Casey Walsh, Rick Williams, Tabatha Yang, and seven anonymous donors. Thank you!
#bees #gardening #gardenbasedlearning #ucdavis

This is it! It’s the last day to support our Cro

This is it! It’s the last day to support our Crowdfund campaign to fund Haven field trips for kids who couldn’t otherwise afford to visit. Please share and donate if you can. YOUR donation might change a child’s life. Info: crowdfund.ucdavis.edu/project/29773
#bees #gardening #gardenbasedlearning #ucdavis

It’s Twos-day, 2-22-22, and our Crowdfund has al

It’s Twos-day, 2-22-22, and our Crowdfund has almost raised enough to fund two school field trips to the Haven. Can you help us cross the line to two trips on 2-22-22?
To learn more: crowdfund.ucdavis.edu/project/29773
Thanks!
#bees #gardening #gardenbasedlearning #ucdavis

It’s the beginning of weed season in much of Cal

It’s the beginning of weed season in much of California. Encouraged by early rain, it looks like we’ll have bumper crops this year. This is Bermuda buttercup, Oxalis pes-caprae. Native to South Africa, it’s naturalized in Mediterranean climates worldwide.
It spreads by bulb division and is difficult to control. While we don’t have his weed at the Haven, it’s in my home garden. I pull much of it, but keep some for the bees. It provides both nectar and pollen, and also contains oxalic acid, a chemical sold commercially for varroa mite control in honey bee hives. While oxalic acid has been documented to occur in leaves and stems — albeit at concentrations far lower than commercial control products — it’s not been looked for in pollen or nectar. Great project for a future scientist.
#bees #gardening #weeds

The picture says it all….it doesn’t take much

The picture says it all….it doesn’t take much to do good. Please help us spread the word about our Crowdfund campaign. Thanks!
#bees #gardening #ucdavis #gardenbasedlearning

It’s the second week of the Haven’s Crowdfund,

It’s the second week of the Haven’s Crowdfund, and we’re behind where I’d hoped to be. Please spread the word about our effort to raise funds for a scholarship program to bring kids who couldn’t otherwise afford it to the Haven to learn about bees, plants, and nature. To learn more and to donate, please visit crowdfund.ucdavis.edu/project/29773. Thanks!
#bees #gardening #ucdavis #gardenbasedlearning #optoutside

I’m sure many of us can recall a memorable child

I’m sure many of us can recall a memorable childhood experience that set us on the path to being a nature-lover. Or perhaps it even inspired a career choice. It’s important to us at the Haven that these opportunities are available to all kids. Sadly, many schools don’t have the resources for outdoor learning field trips to unique places like the Haven. Where else can you be greeted by a male valley carpenter bee? That’s right, this guy poked his head out of his nest during a Haven tour to see what was going on.
To help overcome this barrier, we’re raising money during February to support field trip scholarships for school and youth groups that couldn’t otherwise afford to visit. Please visit crowdfund.ucdavis.edu/project/29773 to learn more. I hope you can help us with a donation and by spreading the word. Thanks!
#hbhgarden #ucdavis #bees #gardens #gardenbasedlearning

I’m pleased to announce our 2022 fundraising cam

I’m pleased to announce our 2022 fundraising campaign through UC Davis Crowdfund. Our goal is $3000 to provide scholarships to Title I schools to cover the costs for a class to take a field trip to the Haven. Children learn so much from our garden, and it’s always concerned me that not everyone has the resources to visit us. I hope you’ll consider a donation if possible (donor levels start at $5). Please share this message as well. The campaign will be open from February 1 to 28; look for more messages and updates throughout the month. Thanks!
#hbhgarden #ucdavis #gardenbasedlearning

This has been a challenging year for so many of us

This has been a challenging year for so many of us, including here at the Haven. We’re so grateful we were able to remain open to provide a welcome outdoor setting for education and escape. Find out more about what we did this year in our 2021 annual report, now available on our website http://beegarden.ucdavis.edu. We look forward to a return to normal programming in 2022.
Thanks to everyone who supported us this year. May your bee gardens blossom beautifully next year!
#hbhgarden #ucdavis #bees #gardening #gardensofinstagram

Just a reminder that there is a pruning class taki

Just a reminder that there is a pruning class taking place in the Haven on November 6 from 8 to noon. The garden will remain open, but visitors are requested to maintain social distancing around the class participants. Thank you. #hbhgarden

After a two-month layoff due to lack of funds, I’m pleased to say that we’re back in action at the Haven. Recent rain means full speed ahead for fall planting. Our newest plant display is based on the outcome of our 4-year study of bee preferences for common landscape plants. The Haven remains open daily, so stop by and check it out!
#hbhgarden #bees #beesofinstagram

Now open for registration is our fall class, Pruni

Now open for registration is our fall class, Pruning the Bee Garden, to be held November 6. Bee gardens are all about flowers, and pruning the Haven’s plants is an essential part of creating flowers for our bees. This class will review the science behind pruning, discuss pruning strategies, and provide hands-on experience in the Honey Bee Haven garden. The lecture portion of the class will be available as a pre-recorded video and the rest of the class will take place outside. All UC Davis COVID protocols will be followed. For more details and to register, use the link in the photo or visit our website at beegarden.ucdavis.edu. Cost is $50, with all proceeds supporting the Haven.
#hbhgarden #bees #ucdavis #gardening #pruning

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Problems? Contact George Terry. Copyright © UC Regents, Davis campus. All rights reserved. Last Major Site Update: 6 June 2014