Share This Article
The Baxter County Conservation District will mark Pollinator Week with a free outdoor event in Mountain Home next month, drawing families and curious visitors to a working pollinator garden for a morning of hands-on learning.
The Mountain Buzz Pollinator Event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, at the district’s office at 406 W. Wade Avenue. The event is open to the public and welcomes both adults and children.
Pollinator Week is a national observance recognizing the role bees, butterflies, moths, beetles and other species play in food production and ecosystem health. The U.S. Senate first designated the observance in 2006, and the first Pollinator Week was held in June 2007. This year’s national Pollinator Week falls June 22 through 28, three weeks after the Mountain Home event.
Visitors to the Mountain Home event will get a close look at a live honey bee colony through an observation hive, where the inner workings of the colony are visible behind glass without disturbing the bees.
A self-guided tour of the district’s pollinator garden will be open throughout the event. The garden features plants selected to support native pollinators across the growing season, and visitors can walk the paths at their own pace.
Conservation experts will be on hand to answer questions and walk visitors through hand-outs and project displays. The materials cover everything from backyard pollinator habitat to broader conservation work in the area.
The Baxter County Library is partnering with the district on two children’s activities. Library staff will read “Caterpillar’s Wish” by Mary Murphy and “Waiting for Wings” by Lois Ehlert, and a craft and coloring table will be set up for younger guests.
Refreshments will be available throughout the event. Organizers said the food and drinks are made with items grown or produced with the help of pollinators, tying the menu directly to the work the event celebrates.
The district is encouraging guests to register in advance so organizers can plan for refreshments and handouts. Registration is not required to attend.
To register, call the district office at 870-425-3527, extension 3. Registration is also available online at www.baxtercountycd.com or by scanning the QR code on the event flyer.
The Baxter County Conservation District is one of 75 conservation districts in Arkansas. The districts, created by Act 197 of 1937, work with landowners, farmers and the public on soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat and conservation education.
Pollinators have faced steady population pressure in recent decades from habitat loss, pesticide exposure and disease. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates pollinators contribute roughly $34 billion to the American economy each year.
The district’s office at 406 W. Wade Avenue sits just west of downtown Mountain Home. Parking is available on site.
