Open Invitation for UWEX/RPMGA Pollinator Project

Mason Bee - the "friendliest" pollinator

The RPMGA Advisory Committee will be holding an organizational meeting for a rather ambitious Pollinator Project on Tuesday, November 22 in the ETN-B Conference room on the second floor of the Rock County Courthouse at 2p.m.  UWEX Horticulture Educator Christy Marsden will be the advisor for this project.

The goal of this meeting is to find out how many MGVs would be interested in getting involved in this project and what they'd like to see happen.

A tentative list of possible activities has been created, but it is only preliminary.  We're waiting for your input to expand on those ideas.

At this time we are considering hands-on workshops to build Solitary Bee Houses and Mason Bee Houses.   We may also do a class on how to build small portable bee houses as kits for children.

We are

Mason Bee House

considering planting two demonstration gardens - one a Monarch Garden, the other a Pollinator Garden.  Gardens could be planted at the homes or properties of MGVs, or in City Parks.

We may do a class on how to propagate milkweed - the fine points of stratification.

We will have lots of  hand-outs available at the meeting about pollinators, solitary bee habitats, appropriate plants for pollinator gardens by hardiness zones and much more.  All of those materials will also be available to you by email as pdfs if you like.

One of the goals of the Advisory Committee has been to bring MGVs together on projects that are not only educational for our members, but are good opportunities for community outreach.

We would be delighted to see all of you who have an interest in pollinators at this meeting.  If you have any questions in the meantime please contact Mary Kay Thompson by email at mastergardenermary@gmail.com, or by phone at 608-322-4800.

Hope to see you at the meeting!

Leaf Cutter Bee at work.

Note:  This is an approved Continuing Education project that will earn you 1 CEU per hour of participation.

Directions to conference room:  Come in Rock County Courthouse by the front door, go up to the second floor, follow the hallway to the door at the end.  Open the door and immediately to the left is the conference room.

MKT