About two dozen persons gathered Saturday for a Pollinator Field Day sponsored by the Logan County Land Trust and hosted by Kirkmont Center. 

Chelsey Dixon, Benjamin Logan 2nd grade teacher, spoke about her involvement in raising and releasing Monarch butterflies which began as a 4-H project when she was a child. Chelsey described the life cycle and migration pattern of these important pollinators as well as the threats they face. She noted that things are coming full circle as her young daughter will be involved in a 4-H monarch project this year.

Chelsey was followed by local beekeeper Chuck Skidmore. Chuck has been a beekeeper for almost fifty years. He is also a vendor at the Logan County Farmers Market. Chuck described what is required to care for bees as he shared his experiences with honeybees; transporting bees to other states, working with other beekeepers, and facing challenges such as those posed by varroa mites.

Pheasants Forever biologist Celeste LeFleur tied these presentations together as she shared how to create the habitat that these pollinators require. Focusing on what she termed the four “Ps,” planning, planting,  patience, and persistence, Celeste provided the information needed to create pollinator planting on a small or large scale. Those in attendance were able to view the pollinator plot in progress at Kirkmont.

Dwight Wells, a beekeeper since 1954, is also the Wright Patterson Air Force Base beekeeper. He has participated in research at Purdue University and other schools. Dwight spoke first on bee biology. His remarks helped the audience to understand the importance of feral bees in overcoming challenges currently faced by commercial beekeepers whose losses this year have been devastating. Dwight ‘s second presentation was on swarm trapping.  By offering a home to feral colonies that are swarming, bee genetics can be studied and lineages traced. A number of the field day participants purchased swarm traps.

The Logan County Land Trust is a 501-C3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the farmland, scenic open space, and natural areas of Logan County. Visit our Donate page and consider joining or making a contribution. The 5th annual summer tour will be held August 1st with planned stops at Brant Farm, a center for regenerative agriculture, the Lancaster Glass Museum, and the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. More details will be forthcoming. The annual Eviro-Camp held at Kirkmont Center will take place August 4th through August 8th.