Bee Counting

The Pollinator Garden is a cooperative effort with the Penn State Master Gardener Program and serves as the demonstration garden for pollinator-friendly practices in Erie County.

Design and plant choices revolve around the needs of larval and adult butterflies, honeybees, and native bees. “Host” plants supply caterpillar food and nectar-rich flowers provide adult food from Spring through Fall to help Monarchs along their migration route. Because of this, the garden was designated a Waystation in 2008 by the Monarch Watch organization.

In 2009 and 2013, bees feeding in the garden were counted and identified to provide data for Penn State’s study on native bee populations. Educational signage is provided by funding from the “Haagen Dazs Loves Honey Bees” campaign.