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As you start working in your garden this spring, b

As you start working in your garden this spring, be on the lookout for frost injury. The temptation is to cut out the dead material, but it's best to hold off a bit. The damaged material can provide some protection for the new growth underneath until it's clear nighttime temperatures will stay above the mid-40s. Shown here are Lantana 'Trailing Purple' and Verbena 'De La Mina'. Once you see new growth at the base of the dead lantana branches it's time to remove them. The verbena is a Southern California native so it is sometimes harmed by frost. It grows quickly and will come back nicely. Both are great bee plants. #hbhgarden #bees #gardens #pollinatorgarden #lowwater

Final reminder! There is still space in our Spring

Final reminder! There is still space in our Spring 2023 classes. Advance your gardening skills while supporting the Haven. Class details at the QR codes or beegarden.ucdavis.edu. Registration closes 3/23 for the 4/1 classes and 4/14 for the 4/22 class. #hbhgarden @#bees #gardening #pollinatorgarden #ucdavis

Spring brings flowers but also pests. It's often b

Spring brings flowers but also pests. It's often best, and safest for bees, to allow natural control to work. If you do opt for pesticides, use the lowest impact choice and never expose bees to direct spray. Visit UC IPM for lots of information about managing pests in the garden. #hbhgarden #bees #integratedpestmanagement #ipm #pollinatorgarden

It's Ceanothus season. These great California nati

It's Ceanothus season. These great California natives are now starting to bloom, and the bees have noticed. Choose different varieties for bloom from February to May; check out the links for more recommendations. There's even a variety that blooms in the shade. #hbhgarden #bees #gardening #california #nativeplants #pollinatorgarden #waterwise

Bees need water. Incorporate bee-friendly water so

Bees need water. Incorporate bee-friendly water sources into your garden now so they'll learn to use these rather than your pool. Our blog post at the QR code has more information. The most common question about bees and water I get is 'what about mosquitoes?' The soaker hose shown here eliminates that concern, as do the shallow pot bottoms that will evaporate before mosquitoes can reproduce. If you use a larger water source like a pond or irrigation ditch, any biological insecticide containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis is safe for bees. #bees #gardens #gardening #water #pollinatorgarden #ucdavis.

As spring approaches, I see many gardening article

As spring approaches, I see many gardening articles about using bee houses. Sadly, too many of these well-meaning authors don't provide the best information. For the healthiest bees, follow the tips here. Scan the QR tag or visit our webpage at beegarden.ucdavis.edu and click on the 'Resources' tab for more information. #bees #gardens #gardening #beehouses #beehotel #pollinatorgarden #ucdavis

Would you like to improve your bee photos? Learn m

Would you like to improve your bee photos? Learn more about making your garden a great bee habitat? Or are you a new gardener who can just about turn on the lawn mower? We've got a class for you!

Registration is now open for 2023 spring classes at the UC Davis Bee Haven. All classes available as either remote-only or hybrid remote/in-person.

We're offering both beginner and advanced gardening class options. For both, in-person registration includes a tour of the Haven with a chance to see the plants and gardening techniques in person.

The bee collecting class will introduce bee identification and behavior as a way to get a better photo collection of bees in your garden. In-person students will have the chance to observe bees closely and practice photo techniques.

Schedule:
Hybrid classes
I Planted a Bee Garden: 4/1/23 9am to 10:30am
Advanced Bee Gardening: 4/22/23 9am to 10:30am
Collecting Bees: 4/1/23 11:30am to 1pm
Remote-only classes will be available the day of the hybrid classes.

The Haven is self-supporting with no UC funding, and all class fees go towards plants, tools, and other garden support.

I hope you can join us either remotely or in-person! See the photo for registration links.

#hbhgarden #ucdavis #bees #gardening

I hope everyone is drying out and that your garden

I hope everyone is drying out and that your gardens and bees didn't suffer too much damage. If you can, let's take advantage of the rain to plant more flowers for bees.

Many of trees were lost during the past month's storms. A great California native tree that is durable and bee-attractive is desert willow, Chilopsis linearis.

At full size it reaches about 20 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide. It does best in full sun but can take a few hours of shade each day. It will take clay soil and will appreciate a deep soaking every 4 to 6 weeks in summer.

The flowers are large and orchid-like and just the right size for honey bees and bigger bees like carpenter bees. It blooms the heaviest in spring but there are often flowers produced into late fall.

This deciduous plant is one of the last to leaf out in spring, so don't be alarmed if you think yours is dead.

We have young specimens in the Haven, with a full-grown plant next door in front of the Laidlaw Research Facility.

#hbhgarden #ucdavis #bees #gardens #california #native plants #waterwisegardening

Our 2022 annual report is now available. Check it

Our 2022 annual report is now available. Check it out and find out what we've been up to this year. Visit our website at beegarden.ucdavis.edu for the link. #hbhgarden #ucdavis #bees #garden #beegarden

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

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