The Pine Street Firehouse meeting space was filled to near capacity on March 18 as enthusiastic residents of Montclair and neighboring towns gathered for the Montclair Bee City Kickoff. “Bee City USA” is an initiative of the Xerces Society, a national nonprofit focused on invertebrate research and conservation; Montclair officially joined this movement last fall.
David Wasmuth of the Northeast Earth Coalition (NEEC), the official Montclair Bee City facilitator, shared information about Bee City goals, the ecology of native bees and other key pollinators, NEEC pollinator habitat projects, and steps residents can take to create pollinator habitat in their own yards.
Wasmuth was joined by representatives of other organizations affiliated with Montclair Bee City. Deb Ellis of the Native Plant Society of NJ (NPSNJ) shared slides and information about the beautiful native plant meadow that the NPSNJ, along with the Essex County Master Gardeners, maintains at Eagle Rock. Violet Agoos of Montclair Community Farms pointed out how MCF includes pollinator habitat alongside their vegetable gardens. Karen Fricke of the Garden Club of Montclair discussed how the Club has transformed the planters along the Church Street sidewalks with beautiful, pollinator-friendly native plants, showing what can be accomplished even in small spaces.
Sarah Paulsen and Drury Thorpe shared an inspiring account of their “Connected Courtyard” pollinator garden project at Watchung School, which gets students out of the classroom and into the garden for active, hands-on lessons ranging from ecology and science to art.
The meeting also included information about the threats to pollinators and other beneficial insects from home pesticide use, especially mosquito spraying.
Participants left the event with an enhanced understanding of the Bee City initiative, appreciation of the ongoing pollinator projects in Montclair, and practical ideas about steps they could take to improve pollinator habitat in their own yards by using native plants and reducing pesticide use. They were also given a lists of native plant sources and upcoming native plant sale, curtesy of the NPSNJ.
For those who missed the Bee City kickoff, the NEEC and Montclair Bee City are planning a series of workshops, garden tours, and other events focused on pollinators and pollinator habits. These include the screening of the award-nominated documentary “The Little Things That Run the World” about the vital importance of flying insects, the threats they are facing, and steps we can take to conserve them. The film will be shown on April 22 at 7:00pm at 40 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair.

Upcoming garden tours:

• Home native plant garden tour: May 9, 2:30-5:30pm at 69 Grove St., Montclair.
• Spring Meadow Walk at the Eagle Rock Meadow, May 30, 10-11am.

For information about upcoming native plant sales, visit the NPSNJ website.