The California Center for Urban Horticulture and the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology are co-sponsoring a workshop,"Bee-ing a Better Bee Gardener," focusing on pollinators in the garden, on Saturday, Sept. 23 on the UC Davis campus.

The event takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Room 2 of Kleiber Hall. It is a fundraiser for the Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven, the half-acre garden next to the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility on Bee Biology Road, west of the central campus.

Following the program at Kleiber Hall, participants will visit the haven and are invited to purchase plants at a pollinator plant sale.

Organizers said that "you should plan to attend only if you are a Master Gardener, 'keen' gardener, or have an introductory background knowledge to one of the following: entomology, botany, horticulture, or plant/insect morphology or taxonomy."

The agenda includes:

7 a.m. Check In: Pick up materials and enjoy coffee and a light breakfast

7:50 Welcome
        Dave Fujino, director, California Center for Urban Horticulture

8 a.m.: Research Overview of the UC Davis Bee and Pollination Program
        Extension apiculturist Elina Lastro Niño, Department of Entomology and Nematology, UC Davis

8:45: The Role of Floral Traits and Microbial Inhabitants on Pollinator Attraction
         Rachel Vannette, assistant professor, Department of Entomology and Nematology, UC Davis 

9:30-9:45 Break

9:45: Effects of Neonicotinoids on Pollinators
        Maj Rundlof, Department of Biology, Lund University

10:45: Great Garden Plants for Pollinators
       Ellen Zagory, director of horticulture, UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, UC Davis

11:45-12:30 Lunch

12:30: UC Davis Honey Bee Haven Research Update
        Christine Casey, haven manager,  Department of Entomology and Nematology, UC Davis

1:30-3: Open House at Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven Garden
       Questions and answers with Christine Casey
       Pollinator identification presentation
       Special pollinator plant sale with difficult-to-find varieties

For registration and directions, see the CCUH page. The registration fee of $50 includes a continental breakfast and lunch. For more information, contact program manager Eileen Hollett at eahollett@ucdavis.edu or (530)-752 6642.