Kerr Center welcomed thirty gardeners, farmers and ranchers from around Oklahoma to the 3 Bs (Bees, Butterflies and Beneficials) Workshop on Saturday, June 6.

Anne Stine from the Xerces Society presented information about bees and other pollinators, Monarch butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Topics included: Pollination Economics, Pollination Biology, Value of Beneficial Insects, Basic Bee Biology and Pollinator Friendly Agriculture.

David Redhage of the Kerr Center summarized the center’s pollinator project and led a tour of our pollinator-friendly landscape. Over the last three years the center tore out its old landscape and planted a variety of native pollinator plants native to eastern Oklahoma in the landscape beds around the Kerr Center offices, labelling them for visitors. Many were started from seeds gathered on the Kerr Ranch.

Josh Ketchum of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) explained some of the agency’s programs and distributed information. Scott Thompson from the News on 6 (Tulsa) was on hand to cover the event for his upcoming (July 9) special report on the plight of honey bees.

Attendees went home with books and other resources to use in planning their own pollinator gardens!

To learn more about pollinators and planting for pollinators and other beneficial insects, visit the Kerr Center’s native pollinator pages and check out the free resources there.