Bee City

Bee on a flower

Kawartha Lakes is officially recognized as a Bee City by Bee City Canada because we support healthy pollinator populations and ongoing efforts to preserve and create pollinator habitat. Being a Bee City reinforces the goals of our Integrated Community Sustainability Plan by encouraging community engagement and supporting healthy ecosystems and healthy food sources.

You can visit the Bee City Canada website to learn more about the program.

Pollinator Pathway Garden Tour on June 22

The first ever Pollinator Pathway Garden Tour will be held on June 22 from 10am-4pm as part of our Bee City Pollinator Week celebrations.

What is a Pollinator garden? How can I help support our declining native bees and other beneficial insects?
On this self-guided tour you can visit up to 12 private gardens and 7 public spaces. Big and small, old and new, in towns and around the countryside.

Sign up at your local Municipal Service Centre or complete our online form to be registered to get a Pollinator Pathway map. Choose where you would like to go and how much time you would like to spend.

Discover the nature in someone else's backyard. Meet your neighbours. Find out where to buy native plants. Discover our fair City. "Bee" inspired to register your own garden on the Kawartha Lakes Pollinator Pathway.

*Pollinator Pathway maps will be made available during the week of June 17.

Pollinator Pathway Tour. Private Garden locations and descriptions

Private Locations:

1. Judy LaRose-Young

What was originally a “weekend garden” at her cottage, now her permanent home, was planted for easy care and low maintenance. In spite of the fact that it takes very little care, peonies, roses, lilies and perennials thrive. Statues here and there, as well as a cherry blossom tree provide pollen, nectar and resting places for butterflies and bees and a water dish filled with rocks provides a cool drink. Now that she has more time to enjoy it, the fact that it is a low maintenance garden allows her time to smell the roses and enjoy the changes through the seasons.

2. Linda McLeod

Linda and her late husband, Craig, spent 30 years tending their 22+ acres of open meadow, pond and forest. Craig was a landscaper and lover of native woodland wildflowers and ferns, some of which can be found in Linda’s artistic and immaculate gardens surrounding her home, which is nestled amongst the trees a comfortable distance from the gravel road, and provides an inviting place for visits from bees, butterflies, birds and forest creatures. Her gardens and surrounding property feature some unusual and interesting garden varieties, as well as many natives, including wild, yellow slipper orchids and trilliums.

3. Julie Moore, Braeside Estate

Julie is an award winning landscape designer and her husband, Bruno Cantiani is a sculptor. Together they transformed a charming, but abandoned old Irish farm with a house and barn built in 1862 by the Junkin family settlers, into a showplace and a blissful retreat to sooth their creative souls. After a total regarding and cleanup of the grounds surrounding the house, new walkways and a patio were created, as well a greenhouse and gardens filled with perennials and native wildflowers. Work is also being done to restore the heritage forest. The barn has been transformed into an artist’s studio and she has recreated her award winning garden display, “Midnight in Paris”, into her own garden, which features Bruno’s “Miss Kawartha” sculpture as a focal point. Her original creation won her the “Tony Di Giovanni Award – Judges Choice Garden of the Year 2018” and “The S.G. Ulbright Award – Outstanding Medium Size Garden 2018” at Canada Blooms.

4. Leslie Dyment

Leslie and her husband, Craig, operate a farm, raising sheep and chickens. Leslie is also a beekeeper and sells her products from her farm and at a local farmers market. They have adapted their farm to be in harmony with the environment, using the guidelines set out under Canada-Ontario “Environmental Farm Plan”. A few of the changes made were installing ground source heating in their home, to reduce the consumption of fossil fuel and the installation of solar panels on their barn roof, from which they receive revenue from the sale of the power generated back into the grid system. The most recent enhancement was the planting of 5 acres of tall grass prairie species, 2 acres of meadow species and 500 native flowering shrubs on marginal land as a safe and reliable food source for their honey bees.

5. Judy Kennedy

Judy and her partner, Robbie Preston, purchased their house in 2012, and have transformed both home and garden, from what was a rental property, surrounded by a grassed wasteland, into a pollinator paradise and haven for wildlife. Large, deep gardens, filled with native shrubs and perennials, both native and garden varieties, flank the sides of the back yard, which is open and backs onto a lakefront street. A raised rock walled garden filled with perennials borders the back deck, where hummingbirds, bees and butterflies are regular visitors. Foundation gardens are packed with a mix of natives, garden varieties and trellised trumpet vine and clematis. Raised Vegetable gardens are tucked away on the sunny south side provide a bounty of summer produce.

6. Naomi Ecob

Naomi’s garden is a work in progress, having just been enhanced with a very lovely variety of native wildflowers over the last year or two. However, her property is situated on the rural outskirts of Lindsay and backs onto open fields and meadows, where there is an abundance of milkweed and wildflowers. There is an herb garden and a variety of native trees and shrubs that border her yard to provide nectar and nesting sites, and she sets out a bird bath and a water dish containing a few rocks for birds, bees and insects to drink from and bathe in. Many butterflies, dragonflies, insects and birds come to visit her yard to enjoy the variety of herbs new wildflowers she has provided and a family of wrens nested in a little bird house in her yard.

7. The Kawartha Flower Company: Kris Morettie

Kris has taken maximum advantage of her wrap around front yard of her corner lot in a newer subdivision on the northwest side of Lindsay to grow cut flowers for sale. Although she grows many exotic and showy annuals to fulfill the desires of her clientele, all of her fixed foundation and border gardens are planted with native trees, shrubs and native perennial wildflowers. This summer, she even hopes to further reduce her lawn maintenance by opening up a garden between the sidewalk and the street, to further beautify her neighbourhood and her little corner of Lindsay.

8. Christine Szabados

If pollinator habitat could be rated like restaurants or vacation resorts, Christine’s garden would be rated as “Five Star”. The variety of native wildflowers, along with berry bushes and fruit and seed bearing native trees is amazing. In addition to a banquet buffet of pollen and nectar sources, there is a fabulous variety of accommodations, in the form of rotting stumps, wood piles, bee hotels, bare ground in unmowed sections of lawn, as well as a selection of water sources to quench the thirst of a weary winged traveler. Situated on the east shore of Sturgeon Lake, truly, this is a Pollinators’ Paradise.

9. Pat Warren

Pat loves her garden and her veggies and has a great respect for nature. Her gardens are an attractive blend of formal beds around the house, transitioning into a vegetable garden, berry patch and a small natural meadow, filled with milkweed and native wildflowers, and a bee hotel, where bees and butterflies abound.

10. Anna Mizyn, Anna’s Perennials Nursery and Display Gardens

Anna’s a horticulturalist from Poland, and has many years or gardening and her display gardens are a treat, not to be missed. Since 2007, she and her husband, John, have been developing their 97 acre property into a gardener’s dreamscape, A huge scree garden, abounding with miniature ornamental evergreens, shrubs, cacti, succulents and yucca. The garden transitions from there into lush gardens filled with perennials, interesting and unusual shrubs and trees, where butterflies, dragonflies and bees abound. Through the centre of this lush paradise, a small stream trickles between two miniature ponds. A woodland shade garden with countless varieties of hostas and heucheras. Shade houses and tables are overflowing with exciting plants for sale, so take a wallet full of cash with you because you won’t want to come away empty handed.

11. Chris Larmer

As you enter the driveway, you can’t help but notice that the roadside has been left in its natural state providing much needed habitat for wildlife and pollinators. As you progress further, the yard opens up into sunny beds, packed with perennials, a hosta garden filled with 65 varieties, and a fish pond. A large vegetable garden and two pergolas grace the back yard, providing shady restful places to sit enjoy nature that comes to feed and seek refuge in this lovely protected space.

12. Patricia Sheppard

Nestled on the back side of a quiet lakefront community street, Patricia’s garden is designed with easy care and maintenance as a major consideration for this career lady. She and her partner acquired this house only a year ago, so their first summer garden held many secrets and surprises, with lots of plants hidden in the tree line on the west side and a Mulberry tree that is much enjoyed for its blossoms and fruits by bees and wild birds. There is also a large Purple Marten house and bee houses around the yard to provide shelter and nesting habitat. The property is like its own unique little eco system, hosting a beautiful green garter snake under the wooden retaining wall, in addition to bunnies and the world's fattest squirrels, moles and toads, and birds of all colours.

Pollinator Pathway Tour. Public Garden locations

While you are in Lindsay, take some time to visit these public spaces!

A. The Seeds of Kindness Orchard: 36 Applewood Crescent, Lindsay
B. St. Mary’s Elementary School Pollinator Garden: 16 St. Lawrence Street, Lindsay
C. The Bee Hotel commissioned by the Lindsay Garden Club: Major Flynn Park, 28 Edwin Street, Lindsay

And these other locations as well:
D. Lock 34 Pollinator Garden: Enter from the stairs leading down from the parking lot behind the Red Apple store at 14 Colborne St., Fenelon Falls.
E. Rosedale Parkette Pollinator Garden: 10 Coldstream Road, Rosedale
F. Bobcaygeon Wilderness Park: Wilderness Park Road, Bobcaygeon

News

City celebrates its first year as a “Bee City”

The City of Kawartha Lakes is celebrating the one year anniversary this July of its designation as a Bee City. The City would like to recognize the hard work and effort that has been made by City residents, communities and organizations towards raising awareness about the importance of pollination. Read the full release under the City's news section.

Bobcaygeon's Jerry Jerrard is responsible for millions of lives

With roughly 500 hives spread out between several locations in the Kawartha Lakes, Jerrard enjoys sharing the ‘buzz’ on Earth’s sweetest pollinator. Please visit MyKawaratha's website to read more.

Kawartha Settlers' Village designated as a Bee Business by Bee City Canada

Bobcaygeon's Kawartha Settlers' Village was recently designated as a Bee Business by Bee City Canada. Guests who visit Kawartha Settlers’ Village will now be able to learn about traditional beekeeping and enjoy garden areas that include wildflowers, shrubs and trees that are important to pollinators.

Fenelon Falls resident wants you to celebrate Bee City Pollinators

Susan Blayney, a 10 year resident of the Fenelon Falls area is proud to have led the Environmental Advisory Committee's Bee City initiative and is now the Chair of Fenelon Falls' very own Pollinator Action Committee.

We have a Facebook page. Like us!

Please like the City of Kawartha Lakes' Bee City Facebook page here.

Bee-friendly City initiatives

Fenelon Landfill Pollinator Project

The Fenelon Landfill Pollinator Project is an ongoing pilot started by the Environmental Advisory Committee and approved by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. 1.5 acres of final cover on a decommissioned cell at the Fenelon Falls landfill has been replaced with a pollinator-friendly seed mix. This project is monitored by Fleming College students.
See below for some photos of the project.

Fenelon Falls Landfill Site Map Photo

Fenelon Falls Landfill - site map photo

Fenelon Falls Landfill before photo

Fenelon Falls Landfill - before photo

Fenelon Falls Landfill in bloom photo

Fenelon Falls Landfill - "in bloom" after photo

An Interactive Pollinator Map is in the planning stages. Once complete it will show locations of pollinator projects, citizen initiated pollinator gardens and patches.

Bee-friendly community initiatives

Bobcaygeon Wilderness Park Pollinator Garden
Rosedale Pollinator Garden
Lindsay Community Gardens
Lilac Gardens of Lindsay
Fleming College's Frost Campus Butterfly Garden
Fenelon Falls Lock 34, Pollinator Garden
The Rosedale Pollinator Garden in the Trent-Severn Parkette
Seeds of Kindness Fruit Trees, Orchard Park, Lindsay
Lindsay Garden Club Bee Hotel, Mayor Flynn Park, Lindsay

Bee Schools

Individual schools can become part of the Bee City family by making a pledge to protect pollinators and their habitats. Learn the 3 Simple Steps to becoming a Bee School.

Langton Public School - Bee City

Congratulations to Langton Public School in Fenelon Falls on being designated the 14th Bee School in Canada.
This is the accomplishment of the school's Green Team and teacher Candice Milroy.

In their acceptance letter Bee City Canada states:
I am simply amazed by all that you have accomplished in such a short period of time. From composting at your school (not many schools I know of in Toronto compost), to getting involved with the local horticultural group, to growing organic food, building bee homes, to partnering with a local MP and getting the Blue Dot program into Fenelon Falls, to sharing the food you are growing with others in need, and a host of so many other initiatives that you have undertaken, I must applaud all
of you!

Citizen Science

Learn to identify Pollinators and support scientific research:

Submit Bumble Bee sightings to www.bumblebeewatch.org
Other bees and insects sightings can be submitted to www.inaturalist.org
Participate in our local Butterfly Count on July 22. Contact dan.bone13@gmail.com

Get involved

Get on the Bee City mailing list. Email us at beecitykawartha@gmail.com.
The Pollinator Action Committee meets on the second Wednesday of the month, usually at the Lindsay Public Library. If you would like to attend please email us at beecitykawartha@gmail.com

Upcoming events

Earth Week in April: "Seed Ball Making" at the Library
Friday April 26, Bobcaygeon Library, from 11am to 1pm.
Saturday April 27, Little Britian Library, from 10am to 12pm.
Saturday April 27, Lindsay Library, from 2pm to 4pm.
May 25, 2019. Fenelon Horticultural Society "Spring into Gardening" plant sale. 10am to 4pm.
The Bee City Road Show will have a display table
June 9, 2019. Settlers Day at the Settler's Village in Bobcaygeon. The Bee City Road Show will have a display table and will be hosting a Pollinator Film Festival, Bee Nest and Seed Ball Making.
Pollinatory Week events:
June 17, 2019. Official Kick-off at Memorial Park with the Bee City Logo Signature Garden
June 22, 2019. Pollinator Pathway Garden Tour, 10am to 4pm. Passports will be available at our Municipal Service Centres. Please contact beecitykawartha@gmail.com for more information.

Important dates

Pollinator-friendly gardens

You can help pollinators by creating foraging and nesting opportunities in your garden. Here are some tips to attract bees and butterflies to your garden.

Plant native

Choose native shrubs, trees and perennial flowers rich in pollen and nectar. Locally grown and pesticide free are best.

Mass plantings

Planting multiples of the same plant together in large groupings makes it easier for pollinators to find and collect pollen.

Choose single blooms

Double or triple bloom flowering varieties with lots of petals can block access to pollen and nectar.

Continuous bloom

Pollinators need a continuous source of pollen and nectar; so choose a variety of plants that will bloom from spring to fall.

Plant host plants

Butterflies lay their eggs on specific plants. Monarch butterflies, for example, will only lay their eggs on milkweed, the sole food source for their larva.

Provide water

A bird bath or shallow dish of water with half-submerged rocks will help bees and butterflies quench their thirst.

Provide sun

Butterflies like to bask in the sun, so place a few flat rocks in sunny, sheltered locations.

Keep it natural

Converting a lawn or garden to concrete, gravel, mulch or artificial turf reduces valuable food and nesting sites.

Bare ground

Many native bees build nests in soil, so leave some bare patches and limit your use of mulch.

Leave dead stems

Some bees hibernate and lay eggs in hollow stems. If you do cut, leave the bottom 8 inches or bundle the stems and place them in your garden.

Leave the leaves

Leave the leaves where they fall or rake them into your garden to provide overwintering habitat for butterflies.

Prune and deadhead

Remove dead flower heads to encourage new growth and extend the flowering season.

Reduce mowing

To avoid disturbing ground nesting bees, mow your lawn less often and set the blade at the highest level possible.

Avoid pesticides

Avoid plants/seeds treated with systemic insecticides, such as neonicotinoids. And don't spray pesticides. Pesticide Bylaw bans the cosmetic use of pesticides.

Native plants

Kawartha Conservation native plants.

Register Your Pollinator Pathway

A pollinator garden takes into account the needs of pollinators - bees, moths, beetles, butterflies and hummingbirds - by providing nectar and pollen. It is pesticide free and offers a variety of native species that bloom from spring through fall with flowers of different colours, shapes and sizes to suit all pollinators' tastes. Its habitat features can include a small water source, bee nesting sites and larval plants such as milkweed for Monarch Butterfly caterpillars. Your pollinator garden can begin as a container or span a full yard.

Anyone can participate: residents, schools, churches, businesses and farms. By planting pollinator-friendly plants, we are building a corridor across CKL. The database you are helping to create can be used to ascertain what our pollinator corridor looks like, what plant species are doing well here and what seasonal gaps are occurring so we can encourage planting of a wider variety of plants.

Help build our Pollinator Pathways and get on the map! Register your Bee City Kawartha Lakes Pollinator Pathway.