“Humble Bumble Bees,” by Pam Pace, Caitlin Friedman and Shelly Deisch

July 4, 2024 1:30 am
Native bumble bees are super cute, but more importantly, they are vitally important to our crops and ecosystem. Unfortunately, their numbers are declining. Learn more about what landowners and gardeners on the Olympic Peninsula can do to conserve and enhance habitats for humble bumble bees. Join the bee team, Master Gardeners Pam Pace, Caitlin Friedman and Shelly Deisch, for the Green Thumb Education Series presentation, “Humble Bumble Bees” on Thursday, July 11, noon – 1 p.m. at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 510 E. Park Ave. in Port Angeles. (Illustration by Caitlin Friedman)
Native bumble bees are super cute, but more importantly, they are vitally important to our crops and ecosystem. Unfortunately, their numbers are declining. Learn more about what landowners and gardeners on the Olympic Peninsula can do to conserve and enhance habitats for humble bumble bees. Join the bee team, Master Gardeners Pam Pace, Caitlin Friedman and Shelly Deisch, for the Green Thumb Education Series presentation, “Humble Bumble Bees” on Thursday, July 11, noon – 1 p.m. at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 510 E. Park Ave. in Port Angeles. (Illustration by Caitlin Friedman)

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Did you know that bumble bees shiver to keep themselves warm, do not make much honey and are prolific pollinators—especially greenhouse crops like tomatoes and peppers? Join the bee team, Master Gardeners Pam Pace, Caitlin Friedman and Shelly Deisch, for the Green Thumb Education Series presentation, “Humble Bumble Bees” and learn more about what landowners and gardeners on the Olympic Peninsula can do to conserve and enhance habitats for humble bumble bees.

Washington has a diversity of bumble bee species, but some are declining. Attendees will learn basic bumble bee identification skills and what habitats will attract them. Gardeners will also receive information on how they can contribute to local conservation efforts to help save these critical critters.

Pam has twice earned the title of Master Gardener both in Kootenai County, Idaho and in Clallam County in 2023. She has been gardening in the Pacific Northwest for the last 40 years and enjoys growing flowers, herbs, fruit, vegetables and native pollinator plants, including a vibrant, constantly changing wildflower slope garden.

Caitlin is new to the Olympic Peninsula (and Washington) moving from Florida a few years ago. She enjoys learning about best-practices for encouraging native pollinators in the meadow and forest areas of her property.

Shelly is a recent resident of Clallam County as well, moving from the Black Hills of South Dakota. She is a retired wildlife biologist specializing in habitats from bats to elk. She is learning about native plants on the Olympic Peninsula to convert a disastrous lawn into a native landscape for birds and pollinators, especially bumble bees.

The Green Thumb Education Series presentation “Humble Bumble Bees” will be held in person on Thursday, July 11th from noon – 1:00 p.m. at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 510 E. Park Avenue in Port Angeles.

Or you may join via Zoom from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:

https://wsu.zoom.us/j/93629898830?pwd=UnRkYjdwSGNmTnA4Y2hxVFBuRHVkZz09

Meeting ID: 936 2989 8830

Passcode: 676224

Or join by phone: 253-215-8782

The Green Thumb Education Series, sponsored by the Washington State University Clallam County Master Gardeners, is held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month through October. In November, December, and January, one lecture is offered. Scheduled presentations are subject to change. Visit the WSU Extension Clallam County website calendar for the latest information on upcoming presentations. For questions, call 360-565-2678.