All About Bees

The Poe Center is always BUZZING with activity. Thanks to our partnership with BeeDowntown, visitors may see thousands of busy bees buzzing around Poe’s very own apiary complete with three professionally-maintained hives. Adjacent to the fenced apiary is Poe’s pollinator garden, which features native pollinator plants that help attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Inside the Poe Center is an independent learning exhibit dedicated to the importance of bees, what beekeepers do, and showcasing many of the wonderful foods and products that are possible thanks to bees.

Many of the Poe Center’s GrowWELL Garden programs incorporate the apiary and pollinator garden into the lessons. Participants go on scavenger hunts to learn about beneficial insects. Contact us to plan a program.

GrowWELL Garden Programs

Poe offers GrowWELL Garden programs taught in our interactive outdoor classroom.

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Poe & Grow Garden - Online

Explore gardening basics through the growing seasons with Poe’s interactive online garden.

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“Bee” a Pollinator Pal

Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, are very important to people and the environment. Honey bees are responsible for one in every three bites of food we eat. Pollinators help plants live and reproduce by transferring pollen between flowers of the same species. This allows plants to grow fruits and vegetables. Bees need the pollen and nectar of flowers to feed a busy hive. It’s a win-win relationship.

It’s getting harder to survive as a honey bee because of climate change, pesticide use, loss of habitat, and loss of food sources.

Here are 5 great ways you can be a pollinator pal.

  1. Build a vegetable garden.
  2. Plant trees, shrubs, and flowers native to North Carolina.
  3. Avoid using pesticides in your garden.
  4. Provide a fresh, shallow water source for bees.
  5. Plan a garden program with the Poe Center.