You are invited to stop by the UMass Pollinator Garden at the Agricultural Learning Center to see several beautiful plantings that provide habitat and feed for both native and honey bees.  The garden was sponsored by the Massachusetts State Grange and is manged by Professor Stephen Herbert, a faculty member in the Stockbridge School of Agriculture.  Among the many types of plantings on display, I think the butterfly and hummingbird hedgerow is my favorite.

The red flower is Bee Balm, also known as “patriots tea” because it was used as a tea-substitute after the American Colonists dumped British tea in Boston Harbor!

Bees and other pollinators will also be attracted to productive fruit plantings.

If you have the space, the butterfly and hummingbird seed mix makes a nice looking pasture of wildflowers.

Below is short video of Professor Herbert, welcoming you to the garden!

The garden is located behind the Wysocki House at 911 North Pleasant St. in North Amherst, MA.  You may park in the Wysocki parking lot and walk back toward the field.  Be sure and say hello and ask questions from the students and faculty who are often working on the site!