Bumblebee Jamboree- (National Pollinator Week!)

Bumblebee Jamboree is metro Richmond’s premier National Pollinator Week event hosted by the Chesterfield County Master Gardeners and Virginia Cooperative Extension, along with other community partners tied to pollinator conservation.

Location: Follow the Pollinator path at Maymont by taking a self-guided stroll through the Children’s Farm.  

Activities From Past Events

Check out some of the activities from past events:

• Enjoy making pollinator puppets
• Get up close and personal to pollinators in the Virginia butterfly safari tents
• Meet Virginia native plants that pollinators love
• Play the pollinator game and help birds, bees, and bats find the best flower
• Vote for your favorite entry in the Container Gardening Competition
• Plant seeds at the Flower Power tent
• Check out VCU’s Bug Lab table and touch real live insects!
• Receive practical advice for mosquito control around the home
• See inside sealed observation bee hives with Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers
• Snack on foods produced through pollination
• Watch pollinator-themed puppet shows from Fischer Sundae Puppets

View photos on our Facebook from our 2019 Bumblebee Jamboree events.

Pollinator Tips: What You Can Do To Help Pollinators in Your Area

Avoid Chemical Misuse

If you have a pest or plant disease problem in your landscape, call your local extension office for free research-based advice. Contact your local extension office can help you solve common issues involving insects and diseases using Integrated Pest Management (PDF). Note: Always read and follow label directions before using a pesticide, just as you would with prescription medicine.

Reduce Your Area of Lawn Grass

Grass lawns offer little food or shelter for most wildlife, including pollinators. Replace grass with a wild meadow or prairie plants. Make a perennial border with native plants.

Select Plants Native to Your Area

Native plants are adapted to our soil type, climate, precipitation, and local pollinators! Check out Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Virginia Native Plant finder online to search for native plants by the type of pollinator you would like to attract. Using this tool, search for the perfect plant according to your site’s characteristics and by the mature plant size.

Provide Water

All wildlife, including pollinators, need water. Include a water feature in your yard such as a birdbath or fountain. Provide water in a shallow dish on the ground next to your blooming plants. Some butterfly species sip water from muddy puddles to quench their thirst and get important minerals.