National Pollinator Week, which began on Monday, June 17 and runs through Sunday, June 23, celebrates the vital role bees, birds, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators play in our environment.
Here are a few ways to support these important creatures this week and beyond.
Upcoming events
Nashville Public Library | Friday, June 21 | 3-4 p.m. | Inglewood Branch, 4312 Gallatin Pk. | Free | Join the Xerces Society as they present a workshop on pollinator conservation.
Nashville Zoo | Saturday, June 29 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | 3777 Nolensville Pk. | Cost of admission | Visit the zoo’s apiary for beekeeper chats, meet the zoo’s monarch and hummingbird teams, and stroll through the pollinator gardens.
Cheekwood | Saturday, June 29 | 9:30 a.m. | 1200 Forrest Park Dr. | $32+ | Join the waitlist for a pollinator-themed class with The Cheekwood Gardening School or sign up for nine other offerings.
Supporting pollinator habitats at home
Project Milkweed | The TDOT-led program offers free milkweed seeds to Tennessee residents for restoring landscapes and preserving habitats for monarch butterflies and other pollinators. Order seed packets while supplies last.
Tennessee Environmental Council | Get involved with the group’s Generate Some Buzz program by starting your own pollinator garden or volunteering in the community.
Nashville Tree Conservation Corps | The organization offers tips on what residents can do at home to attract pollinators, including how to build a bee condo.
Head to the third floor of the Adventure Science Center to say hello to the bees. | Photo via @adventuresci
All things bees
Buying local honey is just one way to support local bees.
With help from the Nashville Area Beekeepers Association, places like the Tennessee Agricultural Museum and Adventure Science Center provide close-up views of bees through live observation hives. Plus, some beekeepers like The Honey Collective can help you start your own apiary.
