Bees and other pollinators play a crucial role in nature, pollinating fruits, vegetables, grains, and flowers that are essential to both human agriculture and wild ecosystems. But these important pollinators are facing challenges from habitat and food supply decline, pesticides, and more.
Round Rock Public Library received a #PlantWildflowers Campaign grant to help our community support the native pollinators in our area. We’ll be highlighting the critical role bees and other pollinators play in healthy ecosystems.
These events are a great companion to the City of Round Rock’s Bee City USA initiative.
Special events at the library
RRPL will continue to support our local pollinators over the next couple of months with fun activities for the whole family, including:
- pollinator-themed activities at the city’s Pop-Up Play Day events
- a city-wide scavenger hunt for local pollinators
- two performances of The Green Concert featuring Laura Freeman
- pollinator-themed activities and storytimes for young children
- new books for the library collection PLUS lists of library materials to help you dig deeper
- opportunities to pick up native wildflower seeds at #PlantWildflower events or the Children’s Reference Desk
- pollinator-themed scavenger hunts
- science and art activities for elementary students
- a #PlantWildflowers display of library materials, do-at-home activities, and opportunities for self-directed learning
- opportunities to stream or check out My Garden of a Thousand Bees
- a gardening program for adults
- a BioBlitz where as a community we join with other citizen scientists to count local pollinators
Resources at your own pace
My Garden of a Thousand Bees
When the film My Garden of a Thousand Bees was completed, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and PBS Nature launched the #PlantWildflowers campaign. This campaign encourages communities across the U.S. to better understand the importance of native bees and other pollinators.
They hope this understanding will lead communities to create new pollinator habitats where pollinators can thrive.
“We hope this film astonishes and delights audiences as they watch never before seen footage documenting the daily lives of different species of bees, said Dr. Sean B. Carroll, Head of HHMI Tangled Bank Studios.
“And we want everyone who sees this film to realize that wherever they are, they can make a difference for native bees like the ones in the film by planting their own pollinator-friendly wildflowers.”
Watch the library’s online calendar and social media channels July – October to learn more about these events.
Free local wildflower seeds
RRPL’s grant included 2,000 packets of local wildflower seeds, as well as $1000 for programming and educational materials.
Each packet of wildflower seeds should provide approximately one square foot of habitat for local pollinators.
Grow your seeds in a pot, in your garden, in a protected area of your lawn, or adopt some open land where you can tend to your seedlings as they get established.
The seeds are part of the One Square Foot initiative from the WWF and Airwick.
About PBS Nature
Nature pioneered a television genre that brings the natural world to millions of viewers. The series has won more than 700 honors from the television industry, the international wildlife film communities, and environmental organizations. These honors include 20 Emmys and three Peabodys.
Nature is among the most-watched prime time series on PBS. It is committed to innovation through original digital programming. It also works to convert viewers into doers.
Nature is a production of the WNET Group for PBS.
About HHMI Tangled Bank Studios
HHMI Tangled Bank Studios is a mission-driven production company that crafts films about science and scientists for broadcast, theatrical, and digital distribution.
As storytellers within a dedicated science organization, the studio has a unique voice. It uses its voice to educate communities about significant scientific challenges and breakthroughs.
To deepen the learning and extend the reach of each film project, the studio undertakes educational and public outreach efforts in partnership with mission-driven organizations.
The #PlantWildflowers initiative is one such educational and public outreach effort.
About Martin Dohrn and Passion Pictures
To produce the documentary My Garden of a Thousand Bees, wildlife filmmaker Martin Dohrn teamed up with producer and director David Allen at Passion Pictures.
Passion Pictures specializes in both feature documentary productions and landmark natural history productions. It has won two Academy Awards for its work.
Martin Dohrn is an Emmy award-winning, three-time Bafta-nominated filmmaker who has been producing natural history films for more than 30 years.
He is an innovator in low-light and macro filming techniques. which allows audiences a unique look into the natural world.
David Allen is a five-time Emmy award winner. He creates a wide range of science and natural history documentaries.
