- Author: Denise Godbout-Avant
Bees are pollinators. Pollinators are crucial to the success of flowering plants by transporting pollen, thus allowing fertilization to occur. We would not have fruits and vegetables on our kitchen tables without them. They are vital to California's agriculture industry.
California's wide diversity of habitats supports a corresponding diversity of pollinators. Bees are the main pollinators with butterflies, other insects, and some birds such as hummingbirds also playing important roles. California has an estimated 1,200 – 1,500 native bees and over 200 species of butterflies.
What do Pollinators Require?
Due to climate change, the reduction of native habitats, and environmental chemicals, many pollinators are struggling. Providing plants in our gardens that attract pollinators can produce lovely, colorful landscapes while also benefiting pollinators.
Visit La Loma Native Plant Garden's Festival
You can see native plants that attract pollinators by visiting La Loma's Native plant garden on 1805 Encina Avenue in Modesto anytime. Or attend the Pollinator Festival, a free event held by the North San Joaquin Chapter of the California Native Plant Society on Saturday, April 13th 2024 from 10am – 2pm. Stop by the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardener booth to see our insect collection and get a free packet of flower seeds.
The event will have a pollinator parade at 10:15, as well as face painting, music, food, and more! You can also hear from an entomologist on the importance of pollinators.
Learn More In-Depth Information About Pollinators at Library Talks
Denise Godbout-Avant has been a UC Cooperative Extension Master Garden in Stanislaus County since 2020.
On April 1, 2023, the La Loma Native Garden held its 3rd annual Pollinator Festival. Participants stopped by the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardener booth to spin our “Pollinator Wheel” and learn about native insects and best landscaping practices to protect them.
If you are interested in learning more about native insects and pollinator plants, you can watch our classes on these topics on our YouTube Channel at http://ucanr.edu/youtube/ucmgstanislaus
All photos by Rachel Bahn, Master Gardener from the 2022 Class.
Did you know? Fruit trees can be kept under 6' tall so you can easily access the fruit. Surprisingly, although the trees are small, you will still get plenty of fruit!
UCCE Stanislaus County Master Gardeners hope to see you at a local Stanislaus County library branch to learn more.
- Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. – Salida Library
- Monday, December 12, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. - Ceres Library
- Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. - Patterson Library
- Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. - Turlock Library
Backyard Orchard:Growing deciduous fruit trees is not for the faint-hearted. Trees such as apples, apricots, plums, pears, peaches, cherries, are not all pruned or managed the same way. Winter is the best time to plant a fruit tree, as you can purchase them as “bare root” fruit trees at a lower cost. You will learn how to correctly plant a bare root fruit tree, and how to prune it in the future to keep it small. This class does not include citrus, a separate class taught next spring.
Due to holidays conflicting with class dates, this class won't be offered at Riverbank, Oakdale, and Modesto Library locations.
Contact your local library branch to find out more. Missed a class you wanted to take? Watch it on our YouTube Channel! http://ucanr.edu/youtube/ucmgstanislaus
*Unfortunately, deciduous fruit trees that lose their leaves like apple, plum, pear, apricot, and cherry, have root systems that grow too large for containers. Luckily, you can plant many citrus tree varieties in containers.
- Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. – Salida Library
- Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. – Patterson
- Monday, November 14, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. – Ceres Library
- Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. – Oakdale Library
- Monday, November 28, 2022 at 6:15 p.m. - Modesto Library
Gardening on a Dime
Prices for everything are going up, including plants, seeds, and supplies. Take this class to learn some creative ways to garden reusing items you may already have, learn how to save your own seeds, and how to propagate (make more of) plants. In a hands-on exercise, you will learn how to harvest, save, and label pepper seeds, and then take them home to plant next spring!
Due to holidays conflicting with class dates, this class won't be offered at Riverbank or Turlock Library locations.
Contact your local library branch to find out more. Missed a class you wanted to take? Look for it at another library branch in the future.
- Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Vermicomposting - Riverbank Library
- Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Pollinators in Your Backyard - Oakdale Library
- Monday, May 23, 2022 at 6:15 p.m. Pests in Your Vegetable Garden - Modesto Library
Class Descriptions:
Attracting Native Pollinators to Your Backyard: Learn how to identify helpful native bees, wasps, bumble bees, flies, and other pollinators that live in your garden! We'll also teach you about which plants these pollinators prefer.
Pest Management in Vegetable Gardens: Wondering what chewed your plant or if your vegetable plant has a disease? Take this class to get better at identifying pests as well as beneficial insects, and learn about less toxic ways to manage pests.
Vermicomposting: Did you know some worms can help eat kitchen waste? See a "worm hotel" and learn more about these fascinating critters. Take home a list of instructions on how to create your own. Fun for the whole family!
Contact your local library branch to find out more. Missed a class you'd like to take? Look for it at another library branch in the future.
