Scene from the Pollinator Demonstration Garden next to the Betty Ehart Senior Activity Center. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladialypost.com
Scene from the Pollinator Demonstration Garden next to the Betty Ehart Senior Activity Center. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladialypost.com
BCLA News:
With the help of many volunteers and dedicated advisory committee members, Bee City Los Alamos (BCLA) has been working diligently all summer. The 2025 Backyard Pollinator Garden Project welcomed applicants in June, and in July BCLA handed out more than 700 native plants to 45 residents in White Rock and Los Alamos.
This year, BCLA Coordinator Britton Donharl provided short in-person sessions to further spread the mission of educational outreach regarding native pollinators and the plants they require to thrive.
Backyard Pollinator Garden Project participants are asked to volunteer 3 hours of their time over the next year to support Bee City’s activities, and to fill out a couple of surveys over the coming months to gather data relating to the success of their backyard garden plantings and visits from pollinators.
Habitat loss is one of the contributing factors to the decline in insects, including pollinators, worldwide and BCLA is working to both educate community members and actively provide ways to expand native pollinator-friendly habitat.
The Pollinator Demonstration Garden, located behind the County Extension Office, is thriving this summer, supported by volunteers who help water it twice a week. The garden is open to all, and county residents are encouraged to stroll through the garden.
Hummingbirds frequently can be seen visiting flowers, and the wildflowers in the center of the garden are heavily foraged by hundreds of bees. One of the best parts of stopping to watch the insect pollinators is to see the variety of native bees, including long-horned bees, a couple of different species of bumble bee, and others that are small and so quick that it’s hard to positively identify them as they’re busy gathering nectar and pollen.
Now that it’s August, it’s time to do some maintenance at the Pollinator Demonstration Garden. Bee City Los Alamos is hosting two upcoming events at the garden.
From 9-11 a.m. Saturday, join Bee City volunteers to do summer maintenance in the Pollinator Demonstration Garden. Sections of the garden need grass dug out and weeds pulled. Some tools will be available, and volunteers can bring their own. Be prepared for sun and bring a water bottle and garden gloves. Come enjoy the current blooms and help us make the garden look even better!
From 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10: Help Bee City celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of the Pollinator Demonstration Garden! Meet at the garden for cookies and watch pollinators as they visit the flowers. Bring gardening gloves and pull some weeds and grasses to help celebrate the garden looking its best.
Also, BCLA is very excited to be working with the County to help seed an area referred to as “The Bermuda Triangle” with a mix of native grasses and pollinator plants. As the improvements at the golf course continue to be implemented, adding pollinator-friendly areas not only provides habitat for native bees and butterflies but also increases the beauty of the area.
Volunteers are invited to help rake and sow seeds Sept. 17 at the golf course. Join Bee City and County volunteers 4:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, at the Golf Course to help create a pollinator area by sowing wildflower seeds in a designated rough area of the front nine between holes 1, 3, and 4. The area is being prepared by Golf Course staff to be ready for sowing. Volunteers will sow seeds and rake the soil, so be prepared for the evening sun and wear appropriate clothing. Rakes will be available or volunteers can bring their own.