Protecting bees, indigenous plants are buzzwords of Native Plant Symposium

Carpenter bee on spotted bee balm. (Contributed Photo)

A lot of awareness has been raised by gardening organizations in the last couple of years about the decline of honeybees and how to reverse that problem.

Honeybees will again be among the buzzwords at "What's The Buzz," the seventh annual Native Plant Symposium on Saturday, March 17. But symposium organizers are expanding this year's focus to cover pollinators in general.

"There has been a lot of attention paid honeybees, but we want to get out the word that there are many native bees in this area and tell people what they can do to support them," says Sally Wencel, who is co-chair of the symposium with Bill Moll.

"Bumblebees are actually natives, there are four or more common bumblebee species in this area," Wencel points out.

"Sweat bees are pollinators and they are native bees. Carpenter bees are natives that have gotten a bad rap. There are a little under 4,000 native bees in the U.S. and they don't get much attention."

The Tennessee Valley chapter of Wild Ones has planned a day of learning for rookies as well as experienced gardeners and landscapers. Three well-known speakers will be featured and a native plant marketplace will be held in the UTC University Center.

The marketplace will offer native plants for sale as well as botanical art and garden art. Two dozen vendors will be on hand with wares and information. Visitors don't have to be registered for the symposium to visit the marketplace; the marketplace will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Prior to Saturday's symposium, two seminars will be offered Friday, March 16, designed to provide more detailed information that will supplement the symposium. Each seminar is $25 for Wild Ones members, $30 general admission.

Phyllis Stiles, founder of Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA, will speak on "Why and How America's Cities and Campuses are Becoming Pollinator Conscious" at 10 a.m. Friday.

Heather Holm will speak on "Designing and Managing Landscapes for Native Bees" at 1:30 p.m.

Symposium registration is required by today in order to get the $10 discount for any adult not a Wild Ones member. Walk-ups will be accepted at the door, but will pay the higher price. Lunch is included in the admission fee.

To register for either Friday session or for the symposium: www.tennesseevalley.wildones.org.

SATURDAY SCHEDULE

8 a.m. Registration, native plant marketplace and expo opens

9 a.m. Welcome

9:20 a.m. "Pollination of Native Plants" by Heather Holm

10:20 a.m. Book signing

11:05 a.m. "Bee City USA & Bee Campus USA" by Phyllis Stiles

Noon. Lunch break

1:30 p.m. Chattanooga Area Pollinator Partnership, a project of Wild Ones in collaboration with other organizations to expand pollinator protection north and east of the city

1:45 p.m. Landscape awards announcement

2 p.m. "Sex in the Garden" by Carol Reese

2:55 p.m. Plants of Promise, door prizes

3:30-4:30 p.m. Marketplace and expo