Pollinator Power

The O‘ahu Urban Garden Center (UGC) will be promoting pollinator-protection awareness and strategies at its Second Saturday at the Garden event on June 9 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. The program is coordinated by the Bee Hui, a group of trained volunteers who raise bees at the UGC and who provide community education and outreach about bees’ and other pollinators’ essential services. Activities include hands-on honeybee stations with members of the UH Beelab; a native pollinators station featuring endemic yellow-faced bees, Kamehameha butterflies, and mamaki plants for sale; a monarch butterfly tent; and a photo booth. Keiki will be able to make a bee house (pictured). There will be a sale of pollinator-themed plants grown and contributed by the O‘ahu Master Gardeners, and a tour of the Center’s pollinator garden to offer ideas and tips. Participants will be able to contribute to a mural pledging to protect pollinators. The Plant Doctor booth will answer plant and garden questions and will educate visitors about how to prevent pollinator poisoning.