As winter gives way to spring, many Wyoming residents are looking forward to working in the gardens. Whether they grow vegetables or flowers, every gardener depends on pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to help their plants thrive. That’s the topic of the “Gardens With Wings Workshop” that will be presented at the Wyoming Civic Center, Saturday March 30 from 9 to 11 am, free of charge.
“Pollinator gardens are not only beautiful, they’re important to the health of our ecosystem,” says Bobbi Strangfeld of the Urban Forestry and Beautification Commission, the hosts of the workshop.
The workshop will feature two presentations. Ray Babcock, a Wyoming resident and President of the Southwestern Ohio Beekeepers Association, will speak about “Honey Bees and the Plants They Love.” Mr. Babcock has been a beekeeper for 14 years and sells his honey with the label “Andy’s Backyard Bees.”
“Much of what we eat is dependent on many different pollinators, including honeybees, and their continued health is critical to our agricultural system,” Babcock says. “If every homeowner planted a few pollinator-friendly plants, it would make a big difference in their survival.”
The second presentation of the day will come from Fred Miller and Patty Bigner of Gardens With Wings. They will discuss “The Elements of Butterfly Gardening,” including what plants do well in the Wyoming area that are also attractive to butterflies. Gardens With Wings has been assisting home gardeners and public parks since 2008.
No registration is needed to attend the workshop.
