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Bee City USA
Gloucester is officially an affiliate of Bee City USA!!
Gloucester County Clean Community sponsors the Bee City USA – Gloucester County program. The mission of Bee City USA is to galvanize communities to sustain pollinators, responsible for the reproduction of almost 90% of the world’s flowering plant species, by providing them with healthy habitat, rich in a variety of native plants, and free to nearly free of pesticides.
Why Gloucester makes a great affiliate for Bee City USA
-Maintaining habitat and forage for bees and other pollinators is essential to the sustainability and resilience of our local environment.
-Resources for bees include many flowering plants, thus enhancing the natural beauty of Gloucester.
-Maintaining habitats conducive to bees and other pollinators will support local farm and garden efforts by increasing pollination of fruits and vegetables, as well as flowers.
Bee City USA – Gloucester County Committee
Programs and activities are planned and implemented by the Bee City USA – Gloucester County Committee, which meets quarterly. Membership on the committee is voluntary and widespread among supporters of pollinators. Among the organizations that support Gloucester’s Bee City USA initiative are the Middle Peninsula Master Gardeners, Pollinator Partners, and Master Naturalists. The initiative is sponsored by the Gloucester Clean Community department.
Among activities being planned are pollinator plantings, developing a list of locally native pollinator plants for Gloucester, encouraging the use of integrated pest management, educational efforts that include a Pollinator Week celebration, and tracking results throughout the county.
Meet our current Bee City USA – Gloucester County Committee members:
Henry "Hurricane" Thompson, Chair
Susan Walton, Vice Chair
Rose Sullivan
Beverly Holmberg
Ginny Miller
Alexis Powell
Chris Conley
*Two Vacancies* (If you are interested, contact Clean Community at 804-693-5370)
Sherry Kosakowski - County Liaison
Events
June 19-23 - Pollinator Week - Be sure to sign up for Pollinator Power Party Click here! #PowerinPollinators
August 5th- Preparedness Expo Home Depot
Stay tuned for future educational events!
Resources:
https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/nativeplants
https://www.plantvirginianatives.org/plant-southeast-virginia-natives
Native Plants for Southeast Virginia including Hampton Roads Region, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (PDF)
Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden, US Fish and Wildlife Service (PDF)
Habitat Assessment Guide for Pollinators in Yards, Gardens, and Parks, Xerces Society (PDF)
Checklist of Actions to Promote Pollinators in Yards, Gardens, and Parks, Xerces Society (PDF)
Monarch Nectar Plants, Xerces Society (PDF)
Common Native Trees of Virginia, Virginia Department of Forestry (PDF)
https://www.plantvirginianatives.org/