March Update From the Honey Bee Haven

It's that time of year: hurricane-force winds one day and beautiful spring weather the next. Here's what's happening in the Haven in March:

Garden maintenance

We've finished our winter pruning and are eagerly awaiting the flowers that will follow. Our winter-blooming plants are going strong, providing vital food for the honey bees at the Laidlaw Honey Bee Research Facility next to the Haven. Some top winter-blooming plants for bees include rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus -- yes, rosemary is now a salvia!), germander (Teucrium fruticans),

Germander, Teucrium fruticans, in full bloom

Chaparral currant, Ribes malvaceum 'Dancing Tassels'

Golden currant, Ribes aureum

California native annual wildflowers, such as golden lupine (Lupinus microcarpus densiflorus) and California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) are great March blooming plants for the bee garden. The purple flower is the non-native perennial, tall verbena (Verbena bonariensis).

Garden irrigation

Our irrigation system is always given a going-over in the winter to ensure there are no leaks and that the precious water is being used as efficiently as our system will permit. We'll be working on this throughout March.

Garden plantings

This is the start of the time when the Haven changes almost weekly. If you're planning a visit, things really get going in late March, and the garden remains at its best through the end of May. Thanks to a generous donor, we had the funds to replant one of our display beds this winter. We'll be using additional support from our Crowdfund campaign to refresh our demonstration orchard.

If you'd like to plan your own bee garden, you'll find a searchable plant list on our website. The list includes bloom time, bee resources provided, Sunset growing zones, and water and light requirements. In addition to our full plant list, you'll find several targeted (e.g. low-water, shade, etc.) bee plant lists here.

 Garden education

Yolo County has moved into a lower COVID tier, and we hope to resume guided tours by the last week of March. Pending approval by the University and COVID restrictions on group size, we look forward to welcoming tours back to the Haven. The garden remains open for individual visitors.

In the meantime, we've loaded more videos to our YouTube channel; look for more throughout March.

Fundraising February

Thanks to everyone who donated, shared, or otherwise supported our February fundraising effort through Crowdfund UC Davis. We've nearly reached our goal of $2500. Contributions may be made here through February 28.  Thank you!