Kicking off with National Honey Bee Day celebrations on August 17 and continuing through September with Monarch Month, Hendersonville Bee City USA and partners have created a schedule of educational events to help citizens learn more about pollinators, bees, and the annual monarch butterfly migration. Across the U.S. during September monarch butterflies gather and begin their annual flight toward Mexico. Across Western North Carolina we will see them flitting about during the course of their southbound migration. Hendersonville Bee City USA is sponsoring the programs at various locations.
August Events
Honey Tasting & Beekeeper Talk
Saturday, August 17, 9 – 9:45 AM
Presented by: The Park at Flat Rock
The Park’s beekeeper, Will Garvey, will present this tasting and talk. He will offer samples of honey harvested from different geographic areas to demonstrate how the flavor of honey can vary based where the bees live and work. Included will be a taste of honey from the Park’s own hive. Garvey will discuss the nectar-gathering cycle of bees and describe how honey is extracted and processed by beekeepers.
Location: Staton Pavilion, The Park at Flat Rock, 55 Highland Golf Drive, Flat Rock
Audience Served: All ages (children must have a parent/guardian present)
Cost: Free
Registration: None required
Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/3102474849792691/
Celebrating the Pawpaw
Saturday, August 17, 9 AM – Noon
Presented by: Bullington Gardens (http://bullingtongardens.org/)
Pawpaws are the largest edible tree fruit native to North America and were a favorite fruit in old-time orchards. The pawpaw is making a resurgence in popularity according to Craig Mauney, Area Specialized Extension Agent, pawpaw aficionado, and farmer. Mauney will celebrate the pawpaw with information on cultivation techniques and various uses for the fruit. A tasting of prepared foods using pawpaw fruit will be offered. Pawpaws are valuable to pollinators because their fetid flowers are pollinated by some of the less appreciated insects such as flies and beetles. The trees are also the sole host plant for gorgeous Zebra Swallowtail butterflies.
Location: Bullington Gardens, 95 Upper Red Oak Trail, Hendersonville
Audience Served: Adults
Cost: $25
Registration: Limited to 50 participants. Call 828- 698-6104 or register online at https://bullingtongardens.org/celebrating-the-pawpaw-2019/
Event Link: https://bullingtongardens.org/celebrating-the-pawpaw-2019-2/
Conserving Carolina Speaker Series: Butterflies in Your Backyard
Presented by: Conserving Carolina (https://conservingcarolina.org/)
Saturday, August 17, 10:30 AM - Noon
Brad Nelson will discuss the life cycle of the monarch butterfly, different types of milkweed common in our area, and which milkweeds and gardening techniques are likely to attract monarchs. An explanation of migration routes and when to expect monarchs in this area will be included. Brad has been involved with Monarch Watch and the University of Kansas tagging program for five years. He raises monarchs from January to September and releases about 150 tagged butterflies for their journey to Mexico.
Location: Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center at Walnut Creek Preserve, 179 Wood Thrush Lane, Mill Spring, NC
Audience Served: All ages
Cost: Free
Registration: None required
Event Link: https://conservingcarolina.org/event/speaker-series-butterflies-in-your-backyard/
Bee Bold Pollinator Festival
Saturday, August 17, 1 - 6 PM
Presented by: Bold Rock Hard Cider (https://boldrock.com/visit/mills-river-cidery/) and Bee City USA – Hendersonville (https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/bee-city) to benefit Bring the Hive Alive! (http://handsonwnc.org/hive)
Celebrate National Honey Bee Day at the inaugural Bee Bold Festival. Bold Rock Hard Cidery in Mills River is partnering with Hendersonville Bee City USA to raise awareness of the role of honey bees and other pollinators, especially as a crucial member of the apple industry in Henderson County. Live music by Jake Burns from 2-5pm, vendors, honey tastings, educational workshops, observation bee hives, plant sale, and other fun activities. Participating partners include Carolina Bee Farm, BeeHaven Gardens, Bullington Gardens, Hands On! Children’s Museum, Cornerstone Tea, Mills River Farmers Market, Henderson County Beekeepers Association, and more. Bold Rock will feature the Ginger Bee Cocktail, a delightful blend of lemon juice, local honey, and Bold Rock’s Ginger Cider. $1 from each cocktail sold will be donated directly to the Bring the Hive Alive initiative. Starting at 1 pm, each guest will receive one complimentary limited edition ‘Bee Bold’ pint glass with the purchase of a cocktail (non-alcoholic available, too). Limit one per guest while supplies last.
Location: Bold Rock Hard Cider - Mills River Cidery, 72 School House Rd., Mills River
Audience Served: All ages
Cost: Free
Registration: None required
Event Link: https://boldrock.com/events/bee-bold-pollinator-festival/
Nature Nuts: Monarchs
Saturday, August 31, 9 – 11 AM
Presented by: Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education (https://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Education-Centers/Pisgah)
Wildlife educators will explore the world of monarch butterflies from a child’s point of view, discussing the incredible annual migration and conservation efforts to aid this extraordinary species of butterfly.
Location: Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, 1401 Fish Hatchery Rd., Pisgah Forest
Audience Served: Ages 4-7
Cost: Free
Registration: Limited to 18 participants. Register online at the event link below.
Eco Explorers: Monarchs
Saturday, August 31, 1 – 3 PM
Presented by: Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education (https://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Education-Centers/Pisgah)
Wildlife educators will explore the world of monarch butterflies from a young person’s point of view, discussing the incredible annual migration and conservation efforts to aid this extraordinary species of butterfly.
Location: Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, 1401 Fish Hatchery Rd., Pisgah Forest
Audience Served: Ages 8-13.
Cost: Free
Registration: Limited to 18 participants. Register online at the event link below.
Butterflies and Monarchs Nature Walk
Saturday, August 31, 9 AM
Presented by: The Park at Flat Rock (https://flatrocknc.govoffice3.com/?SEC=A7A15169-388E-4CEE-8BD9-439C4236F2C9)
The Park’s naturalist will host an informative nature walk focusing on butterflies and monarchs.
Location: The Park at Flat Rock, 55 Highland Golf Drive, Flat Rock
Audience Served: All ages (children must have a parent/guardian present)
Cost: Free
Registration: None required
Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2018846758216220/
September Events
Pollinator Workshop: Monarchs, Milkweed & More!
Tuesday, September 10, 6 – 7:30 PM
Presented by: Sow True Seed (https://sowtrueseed.com) and Milkweed Meadows Farm, Fruitland
As part of Sow True Seed's 2019 Educational Series, Milkweed Meadows Farm presents a workshop on the life cycle and habitat needs of monarch butterflies. Learn about the unique flower structure of milkweeds, identify native milkweed species in western NC, see milkweed seed harvesting and propagating methods, and discover other species in the milkweed community.
Location: Sow True Seed, 243 Haywood St, Asheville
Audience Served: Adults
Cost: TBA
Registration: TBA
Event Link: https://sowtrueseed.com/collections/events
Planting for Pollinators (Henderson County Beekeepers Association Monthly Meeting. Open to the Public)
Monday, September 16, 7 – 9 PM
Presented by: Henderson County Beekeepers Association (http://hcbeekeepers.org/) and Bee City USA – Hendersonville (https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/bee-city)
During the program portion of the meeting, Bee City USA – Hendersonville Coordinator Kim Bailey, will show how to create gardens to meet the habitat needs of honey bees, native bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. Using native and locally suited plants as examples, Kim will discuss specific characteristics (shape, structure, color, odor, bloom time, nectar composition, pollen traits, etc.) of flowers adapted to attract particular types of pollinators. Also learn how to support pollinators year-round and throughout their various life stages by planting host plants for local butterfly species including monarchs, swallowtails, and fritillaries; creating nesting sites for native bees; and providing overwintering habitats.
Location: Henderson County Center, NC Cooperative Extension, 100 Jackson Park Rd, Hendersonville
Audience Served: All ages
Cost: Free
Registration: None required
Event Link: http://hcbeekeepers.org/hcba-calendar-of-events/
Monarch Butterfly Day
Saturday, September 28, 10 AM – 4 PM
Presented by: The North Carolina Arboretum (https://www.ncarboretum.org/)
Millions of monarch butterflies travel more than 2,000 miles from across North America to Mexico each fall, where they cluster in about a dozen small areas. Unfortunately, the monarch population declined from 556 million in 2004 to a historic low of 33.5 million in 2014. This is due to the butterflies’ dramatic loss of habitat and food sources, including the milkweed plant. As part of a national effort to reverse the decline of monarch butterflies, The North Carolina Arboretum will host its fifth annual Monarch Butterfly Day on Saturday, September 28, inside the Education Center and throughout the gardens. Participants will learn ways to help monarch butterflies, may purchase milkweed plants, can create make-and-take butterfly crafts, and witness monarch butterfly releases.
Location: The North Carolina Arboretum Education Center, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville
Audience Served: All ages
Cost: Free event. Standard Arboretum parking fees apply ($14 per personal vehicle). Parking is free for Arboretum Society members.
Registration: None required
Event Link: https://www.ncarboretum.org/event/monarch-butterfly-day/
Pollinator Exploration Kit (Available for Loan)
Ongoing
Presented by: Bee City USA – Hendersonville (https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/bee-city)
The kit is available for loan at no charge for educators, teachers, naturalists, gardeners, park rangers, camp counselors, outdoor/environmental educators, home-school parents, childcare professionals, and more! Bee City USA – Hendersonville wants to share the wonder of pollinators with children and their teachers. Appropriate for exploring your backyard, schoolyard, or local park. The Pollinator Exploration Kit includes sets of 12 child-size insect nets, special bug capture bubbles, bug boxes with magnifying lids, and magnifying glasses. Two pop-up insect habitats and two sets of laminated field guides are also included. As available, the kit is available for loan for up to a week.
Location: Kit may be picked up (reservation required) and returned on weekdays from 9 AM - 5 PM at the City of Hendersonville Operations Center, 305 Williams Street, Hendersonville
Audience: Educators of all kinds
Cost: Free
Registration: Please email
Bring the Hive Alive! Downtown Bee Mural Initiative
Ongoing
Presented by: Bee City USA – Hendersonville (https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/bee-city) Hands On! Children’s Museum (http://handsonwnc.org/) and the community.
Funds are being raised to create a way-larger-than-life-size bee mural on the downtown building of Hands On! Children’s Museum in Hendersonville. The mural will be painted by the nonprofit national organization The Good of the Hive. Bee City USA - Hendersonville is partnering with Hands On! Children’s Museum, local businesses, nonprofit organizations, community members and The Good of the Hive (www.thegoodofthehive.com) to make this happen. Donations are tax-deductible. Donate securely at http://handsonwnc.org/hive or mail checks (payable to HANDS ON!) to 318 North Main Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792. Bee mural sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Location: The mural will be painted on the Hands On! Building facing the Azalea Parking Lot.
Questions: Email
