On a trip to Asheville, North Carolina in May 2016, Peggy MacLeod had a “wake up moment” when she saw a sign in a garden outside the city’s visitors center that read: “Pollinator Friendly Habitat.” Asheville, she discovered, is one of around 50 cities in the country that have signed on as “Bee Cities.”
MacLeod, a community organizer who lives in Florence, said she had known about honey bees being endangered, but had not known much about dangers to all the other pollinators. “I was inspired in my heart and spirit to get involved,” she said.
In November 2016, she held a meeting in the basement of Forbes Library in Northampton for people interested in pollinator protection efforts. “Eighteen people came out in the sleet and snow. I was so pleased. People came to join up, not just to learn.”
The success of that meeting prompted MacLeod and Amy Pulley of Cummington, who grows organic, pollinator-friendly plants, to found a nonprofit organization to raise awareness about the environmental dangers to pollinators and to promote pollinator-friendly practices. The organization, Western Mass Pollinator Network, known informally as “Western Mass Bees” is a collaborative effort, explained MacLeod. “We’re engaging all the existing experts to spread information about pollinator protection. There are lots of people who are knowledgeable about stressors to pollinators and what local towns might need to support pollinator-friendly practices.”
These experts include members of the Western Mass Master Gardeners’ Association, who have developed a “best practice” guide for building pollinator gardens, and also landscape designers with expertise in creating pollinator-friendly environments.
“We want to be a hub for information,” said MacLeod. We want to connect people so that nobody has to reinvent the wheel. It feels great to have support across the four western Massachusetts counties” (Hampshire, Hampden, Berkshire and Franklin). The organization has more than 200 people on its listserv, in addition to a core group of around 20 people. “You have to have drive and passion,” said MacLeod. “Nobody’s getting paid for this. We are fired up!”
One of the organization’s biggest efforts is to raise public awareness about the dangers posed by neonicotinoids, a common group of insecticides widely used in agriculture and by commercial growers who sell plants to retailers. These chemicals are absorbed by plants and can be present in pollen and nectar, making them toxic to bees. Neonicotinoids also spread throughout the atmosphere and leach into ground water, poisoning wildflowers and other plants not treated with the chemicals. To make matters worse, the chemicals persist in the environment over a long period.
Three of the most common neonicotinoids, clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, were banned by the EU in 2013, and a complete ban of all neonicotinoids is under consideration.
Unfortunately, said MacLeod, the public and many growers are unaware of the dangers posed by neonicotinoids. “Our job is to educate people and increase demand for organically grown plants.”
To this end, Western Mass Bees is hosting a series of classes this fall to inform people about creating pollinator-friendly gardens. For detailed information about these classes, see below. For more information about the organization, go to: www.wmassbees.org.
The Western Mass. Master Gardeners’ Association class scheduled for Sunday filled up so quickly that its offering a second class Oct. 1, 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Northampton Community Gardens. This class is free, but limited to 25 people, so everyone can hear and have time to ask questions. Anyone who’d like to attend should contact Larri Cochran at llcochran@gmail.com to register.
On Saturday, from 1 to 2 p.m., at the Belchertown Fair exhibition hall, Amy Pulley, co-founder of Western Mass Bees, will talk about using best practices for creating a pollinator-friendly garden. From 2 to 4 p.m., the owners of That’s a Plenty Farm, 80 Honey Pot Road, Hadley, will invite the public to tour their pesticide-free, widely diverse meadows and gardens designed specifically for pollinators.
On Sept. 27, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Meekins Library, 2 Williams Road in Williamsburg, Western Mass Bees co-founder Peggy MacLeod will give an educational talk about creating pollinator-friendly gardens. Her talk will include information about “bee-safe” plants, reliable local sources for pesticide-free plants and how to participate in the project “1,001 Pollinator Gardens in Western Mass.”
Dahlia delights
The New England Dahlia Society will present its second annual Dahlia Show at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those attending will join dahlia enthusiasts of all ages and abilities, from novices to experienced growers, who all share an interest in these beautiful and diverse blooms. They will see hundreds of colorful blooms in every size imaginable — from silver dollar to dinner plate. Free with admission
Celebrate garlic in all its glory at the 19th annual Garlic and Arts Festival, 60 Chestnut Hill Road in Orange.
The family-friendly festival featuring food, music and other live performances, will take place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at Forster’s Farm.
There will be more than 100 booths featuring activities, demos, tastings and lots more. Rain or shine. Cost: $5 for adults; $10 for weekend pass. Children 12 and under free. For more information, go to: garlicandarts.org.
2017 marks the 200th anniversary of Henry David Thoreau, the great American naturalist, writer, philosopher and social reformer.
Born on July 12, 1817 in Concord, Thoreau is being celebrated nationwide this year in many ways. Kestrel Land Trust is holding an inspirational nature walk and will be sharing his words Sept. 30, 9 to 11 a.m., at Scarborough Brook Conservation Area in Belchertown. Space is limited to 20 participants. Reservations required; donations welcome. For more information and to register, go to kestreltrust.org.
For a new and different pick-your-own experience, Birdhaven Blueberry Farm in Southampton has chemical-free Asian pears and fluffy hydrangea blossoms perfect for drying. Asian pears are extremely versatile — delicious to eat right off the tree. They’re also a wonderful addition to salads and make fantastic chutney, too. Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 59 Gunn Road, Southampton. (406)207-2643. Birdhavenblueberries@gmail.com
Mickey Rathbun can be reached at foxglover8@gmail.com.