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 |
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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.
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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 livesWith 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 CanadaBobcaygeon'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 PollinatorsSusan 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 ProjectThe 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. Fenelon Falls Landfill - site map photo
Fenelon Falls Landfill - before 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.
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Bee-friendly community initiatives |
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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.
Congratulations to Langton Public School in Fenelon Falls on being designated the 14th Bee School in Canada. In their acceptance letter Bee City Canada states: |
Citizen Science |
Learn to identify Pollinators and support scientific research:
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Get involved |
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Upcoming events |
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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 nativeChoose native shrubs, trees and perennial flowers rich in pollen and nectar. Locally grown and pesticide free are best. Mass plantingsPlanting multiples of the same plant together in large groupings makes it easier for pollinators to find and collect pollen. Choose single bloomsDouble or triple bloom flowering varieties with lots of petals can block access to pollen and nectar. Continuous bloomPollinators need a continuous source of pollen and nectar; so choose a variety of plants that will bloom from spring to fall. Plant host plantsButterflies 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 waterA bird bath or shallow dish of water with half-submerged rocks will help bees and butterflies quench their thirst. Provide sunButterflies like to bask in the sun, so place a few flat rocks in sunny, sheltered locations. Keep it naturalConverting a lawn or garden to concrete, gravel, mulch or artificial turf reduces valuable food and nesting sites. Bare groundMany native bees build nests in soil, so leave some bare patches and limit your use of mulch. Leave dead stemsSome 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 leavesLeave the leaves where they fall or rake them into your garden to provide overwintering habitat for butterflies. Prune and deadheadRemove dead flower heads to encourage new growth and extend the flowering season. Reduce mowingTo avoid disturbing ground nesting bees, mow your lawn less often and set the blade at the highest level possible. Avoid pesticidesAvoid plants/seeds treated with systemic insecticides, such as neonicotinoids. And don't spray pesticides. Pesticide Bylaw bans the cosmetic use of pesticides. Native plantsKawartha 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. Help build our Pollinator Pathways and get on the map! Register your Bee City Kawartha Lakes Pollinator Pathway. |
Local Native Plant List and Where to Get Them |
Native Wildflowers and Shrubs for Pollinators and ButterfliesSpring
Summer
Fall
Native Plant and Pollinator ResourcesPaul Heydon 3784 Highway 7 Omemee, ON K0L 2W0 (705) 799-2619
Douglas Kennedy 121 Grassy Rd. Omemee, On K0L 2W0 (289) 892-2827
Ashburnham Drive C/o Peterborough Green-Up 378 Aylmer St. N., Unit 4 Peterborough, On K9H 3V8 (888) 745-3238 (705) 745-3238 X212
4965 Westney Road Pickering (Claremont), Ontario L1Y 1A2 905-649-8176 Email: info@nativeplants.ca
10195 Hwy 12 West, R.R.#2 Coldwater, ON L0K 1E0 (866) 476-9453 Instructions for Growing Native Wildflowers from seed
Florabunda Seeds Fax: (705) 295-4035
Other Resources North American Native Plant Society Instructions for building a Pollinator Patch |
Message to Aspiring New Beekeepers |
The next meeting of the Central Ontario Beekeepers is April 20 Advice from a veteran beekeeper:Plan to study beekeeping for at least a year before even thinking about getting your own bees.
1) Take a beekeeping course 2) Join the Central Ontario Beekeepers Association 3) Subscribe to a magazine 4) Team up and work with an experienced beekeeper |
More Pollinator Information Resources |
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