Great ready for National Honeybee Day!

Join us for a day of live music, activities for all ages, food trucks, giveaways and more- a true pollinator party! Come celebrate with us!

One of the most-asked questions at Butterfly Pavilion used to be, “How do I attract butterflies to my yard without attracting bees?” The staff heard that question just slightly less often than “How long do butterflies live?” and “Where are the restrooms?” And it made sense – no one likes getting stung, and people were trying to be careful. I’ve noticed a sea change (or is it a bee change?) in the last couple of decades in the public’s understanding of bees and what they contribute to our lives. These days, we are more likely to hear questions about helping bees or about the challenges their populations are facing.

Colorado has 946 native species of bees – bees of various shapes, sizes, and colors. Bees that come out in early spring, bees that are out all year long. One of our most commonly spotted bees, the honeybee (Apis mellifera) is not originally from North America but now plays a huge role in the pollination of agricultural crops. We also have honey and beeswax, thanks to the tireless efforts of the 2.7 million honeybee hives across the United States. When people think of bees, the honeybee is probably what comes into their minds first. After all, we can relate to an insect that has a complicated social structure and division of labor, like we do. They symbolize persistence and industriousness, flying miles in search of food, sometimes at speeds of 20 miles per hour. Plus, they dance to communicate – what’s not to love?

But shouldn’t we love the other kinds of bees in the state? Or the hundreds of species of wasps, flies, beetles, butterflies, and moths that also provide pollination services? These species are well-adapted to both our climate and our native plant communities and are key in ensuring the continuing health of our natural areas. They may not be able to fly as long or build massive colonies, but they each have their special relationships that make them worth conserving. Responsible beekeeping practices and plentiful habitat are key to promoting the coexistence of honeybees and wild pollinators, so that we can continue to have healthy food systems and healthy ecosystems. Butterfly Pavilion is working closely with communities like Baseline to be certified as Pollinator Districts, so that we can ensure that pollinators will live among us over the long term.

This year, Butterfly Pavilion is excited to be participating in Baseline’s 2nd Annual Honey Bee Day on August 20 from 10:30 am – 2 pm at Checkers Square (16555 Shoshone Street, Broomfield 80023). Honey Bee Day celebrates honeybees and all the other pollinators that make our environment fruitful and beautiful. We will be leading a pollinator tour of Checkers Square and sharing preliminary results from this year’s pollinator survey of the Baseline Pollinator District. We will also have all sorts of information about how you can get involved in making the world better for pollinators and for people. The event also features live music, crafts, face painting, giveaways, and more – a true pollinator party! Come celebrate with us!