Did you know that there are approximately 4,000 different species of native bees in the U.S? Did you know that Virginia is home to approximately 400 of the 900 species of birds? Did you know pollinators require food, water and shelter much like people?

Join us on June 13 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Bee Berry Farm in Giles County (beeberryfarm.net) to learn more about attracting pollinators and creating perennial gardens that bring the pollinators. This program will focus on creating an inviting habitat with plants that work in our area. Dr. Holly Scoggins, Associate Professor of Horticulture will host our event and will be our speaker. Dr. Scoggins teaches courses in ornamental plant production, herbaceous landscape plants, greenhouse management, and public gardens maintenance and management at Virginia Tech.

There is no fee for this program and the program is open to all garden lovers! Bee Berry Farm is a you-pick blueberry farm located on route 42 in Giles County. Participants will have the opportunity to bring home new perennials from the pollinator gardens at the farm.

The Go Grow Giles program will continue to run throughout the summer from now until October.  Upcoming meetings beyond June 13 are scheduled for July 17 (Garden Harvesting), August 14 (All About Herbs September 11 (Save Your Seeds), and October 16 (Putting Your Garden to Bed).

Please call the Giles County Extension Office at (540) 921-3455 or email Christy at cmutter@vt.edu to register or for more information.

-Submitted by Jeannie Layton-Dudding, ANR Agent serving Giles & Bland Counties