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<H3>Enjoy "National Pollinator Week" at Missouri Botanical
Garden</H3><FONT size=1><FONT color=#aaaaaa><SPAN class=footer>Thu,
4/29/2010 - 8:54 AM</SPAN><BR></FONT></FONT>
<P><FONT color=#aaaaaa size=1><IMG height=140 alt="" hspace=10 src="http://www.zandavisitor.com/dailynews/Image//1004/3455/R200_1aaa%20mobot%20tulip.jpg" width=200 align=left vspace=10 border=2></FONT>By Karen Hagenow</P>
<P>St. Louis, MO - The Missouri Botanical Garden wouldn’t exist if it
wasn’t for pollinators.</P>
<P>To pay much-deserved tribute to the birds, bees, butterflies and other
pollinators of the planet, the Garden is encouraging individuals to
celebrate, connect with, care about and conserve these special creatures.
In honor of the fourth annual National Pollinator Week, June 21 through
27, the Garden, Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, Shaw Nature Reserve and
EarthWays Center are dedicating the entire month of June to celebrating
Picture-Perfect Pollinators. Submit your pollinator photos in a community
photo montage, take a beekeeping class, join drop-in programs or visit any
of the Garden’s attractions to learn about and celebrate pollinators in
action.</P>
<P>“Picture-Perfect Pollinators” Campaign<BR>Help the Garden achieve its
goal of collecting 1,000 photos of “picture-perfect pollinators” on its
Flickr site throughout June. Capture snapshots of butterflies, birds, bees
and other pollinators in your own backyard, neighborhood or favorite
locale. Visit the Garden’s Flickr page online at
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1381284@N20/ to upload and share your photos
in the “Picture-Perfect Pollinators” group. (Please note: You must have or
create a free Yahoo! log in to submit photos via the Flickr.)
“Cross-pollinate” by encouraging your family, friends and neighbors to do
the same! A selection of the submissions will be used to create a
“Picture-Perfect Pollinators” tribute video, narrated by Garden President
Dr. Peter Raven and available to enjoy and share starting in July on the
Garden’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/mobotvideo.<BR>Individuals can
also celebrate pollinators throughout the month of June at the Garden’s
area attractions:<BR><BR>Missouri Botanical Garden<BR>On Saturday, June 12
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Jefferson County Beekeepers’ Association will
be available at the Garden’s Kemper Center for Home Gardening. Visitors
can ask the experts about bees and beekeeping, get an up-close look at
beekeeping equipment and gear, and learn more about this increasingly
popular hobby.</P>
<P>Families can stop by the Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden anytime in
June to explore the power of pollination at three drop-in Germination
Stations. “Pollination Pals” invites children to dress up like their
favorite pollinator and visit large flowers in the Pollination Garden.
Discuss which flowers you like best and learn which flowers are favored by
certain pollinators. “Pollination Picnic” takes a closer look at foods
that we owe to pollinators, and what would happen if these pollinators
disappeared. “Traveling Pollen” features hand puppets that kids can use to
“feed” on nectar in flowers. Learn how bees carry pollen on their legs and
discover the other ways pollinators help pollen travel. Germination
Stations are included with Children’s Garden admission of $5 for ages 3 to
12; adults are included with general Garden admission.</P>
<P>Join Great Green Adventures on Saturday, June 19 at 10:30 a.m. and
again at 1:30 p.m. for “What’s All the Buzz About?” Explore the benefits
of insects, search for them in the Garden and learn ways to help them at
home. Great Green Adventures are $3 per child, in addition to general
Garden admission.</P>
<P>Adults can join their favorite youngster age 4 to 6 for Pitzman Nature
Study: “Busy Birds” on Saturday, June 26 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Discover
why birds find the Garden such a wonderful place to live and decorate a
birdhouse to take home. Class cost is $18 and includes one child and one
adult; register online at www.mobot.org/classes.</P>
<P>The Missouri Botanical Garden open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, located at
4344 Shaw Blvd. in south St. Louis. General admission is $8; St. Louis
City and County residents enjoy discounted admission of $4 and free
admission on Wednesday and Saturday mornings until noon. Children ages 12
and under and Garden members are free. For more information, visit <A href="http://www.mobot.org/"><FONT color=#43773c>www.mobot.org</FONT></A> or call (314)
5775100.<BR><BR>Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House<BR>Pollinators are the
star attraction at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House everyday! Witness
more than 1,000 tropical butterflies in free-flight inside the
8,000-square-foot tropical conservatory. Step outside to the backyard
Butterfly Garden to learn about nectar sources that attract butterflies
and get planting inspiration for your own backyard.</P>
<P>Children ages 2 to 4 with an adult can enjoy a special Bugaloo class on
“Celebrating Seasons: Spring.” Explore the new blossoms and babies that
the spring season brings through age-appropriate games and activities on
Friday, June 11 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. or Sunday, June 13 from 12:30 to 2
p.m. Cost is $18 per class and includes one child and one adult; register
at <A href="http://www.mobot.org/classes"><FONT color=#43773c>www.mobot.org/classes</FONT></A>.</P>
<P>The Butterfly House is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, located at
15193 Olive Blvd. at Faust Park in Chesterfield, Mo. Admission is $6 for
adults and $4 for children ages 3 to 12. For more information, visit <A href="http://www.butterflyhouse.org/"><FONT color=#43773c>www.butterflyhouse.org</FONT></A> or call (636)
530-0076.<BR><BR>Shaw Nature Reserve<BR>The Shaw Nature Reserve
encompasses 2,400 acres of natural Ozark Border landscape, home to
countless pollinators residing in its diverse plant communities. All
during June, children can stop by the Visitors’ Center to pick up a
pollinator activity sheet to help guide their own outdoor exploration.</P>
<P>Friday, June 11, bring your 4 to 6-year-old for Pitzman Nature Study:
“Over in the Garden” from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Youngsters will explore the
new blossoms and babies of the spring season through games and activities
designed with their age in mind. Cost is $18 and includes one child plus
accompanying adult; register in advance at
www.mobot.org/classes.<BR>Saturday, June 19 from 9:30 a.m. to noon, join a
class for adults on Wildflower ID and Ecology. Take an in-depth look at
pollination adaptations in plants and the insects they are associated
with. Both beginners and serious students of wildflowers can increase
their knowledge and appreciation of the Reserve’s woods, prairie and
wetland by exploring the identification, relationships and habitats of
wildflowers. Wear comfortable hiking clothes and shoes, and bring a field
notebook to journal your discoveries. Class cost is $21 and advance
registration is required; visit <A href="http://www.mobot.org/classes"><FONT color=#43773c>www.mobot.org/classes</FONT></A> to enroll.</P>
<P>The Shaw Nature Reserve is open from 7 a.m. to sunset daily; the
Visitors’ Center is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. on weekends. The Reserve is located on Interstate 44 in Gray Summit,
Mo. at exit #253 (two exits west of Allenton/Eureka). Admission is $3 for
adults and free for children ages 12 and under. For more information,
visit <A href="http://www.shawnature.org/"><FONT color=#43773c>www.shawnature.org</FONT></A> or call (636)
451-3512.<BR><BR>EarthWays Center<BR>The Garden’s EarthWays Center wants
to help people catch the beekeeping buzz with a Field Trip: Backyard
Beekeeping on Thursday, June 3 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Enjoy a summer evening
visit to local artist Joy Stinger’s suburban home beeyard as you learn the
what, why and how of this increasingly popular eco-hobby during the bees’
most productive time of year. Class cost is $25; register in advance at
www.mobot.org/classes. Directions will be sent prior to the field
trip.</P>
<P>The EarthWays Center promotes sustainability through environmental
education and is open for public tours on the third weekend of every month
at 11 a.m., noon, 1 and 2 p.m. at 3617 Grandel Square in Grand Center.
Admission is $3 for adults and free for children ages 12 and under. For
more information, visit <A href="http://www.earthwayscenter.org/"><FONT color=#43773c>www.earthwayscenter.org</FONT></A> or call (314)
577-0220.</P>
<P>To view Missouri Botanical Garden's web page on Zoo and Aquarium
Visitor, go to: <A href="http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-1032-Missouri_Botanical_Garden"><FONT color=#43773c>http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-1032-Missouri_Botanical_Garden</FONT></A></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></SPAN></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>