Oma Biszantz, a member of the Waldport Library’s garden club and teen advisory board, examines the Oregon Central Coast Beekeepers Association observation hive during last year’s Pollinator Days event. (Waldport Library photo)WALDPORT — How important are bees, butterflies, birds and bugs? These pollinators are critical to the global food supply, and their roles will be celebrated Saturday, June 27, when the Waldport Library stages its Fourth Annual Pollinator Day.
The library and a host of environmental experts and groups will stage a day of free fun and learning from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the community Seashore Joy Garden.
Visitors can watch bees in an observation hive, share presentations on honey-making (including honey tasting), learn about local wildlife and nature research, take away free plants and books, and enjoy face-painting and live music. Waldport Library Garden Club volunteers will be on hand to give tours of the Joy garden. Organizations represented will include Central Coast Fire & Rescue, Friends of the Waldport Library, Oregon STEM Hub (with their Bee Bots), Seashore Family Literacy, Angell Job Corp, Altrusa of Yaquina Bay, Seal Rock Garden Club, The Highway 101 Pollinator Project, and master gardeners from Lincoln County and Oregon State University.
Since the Seashore Joy Garden grows food for the community as well as pollinator plants, visitors are asked not to bring pets.
Pollinator-friendly vendors will also be on hand with original art, photography, fused glass and more. Because there is no electricity in the garden to process purchases, customers are asked to bring cash.
The garden was founded in 2015 by Senitila McKinley and the Seashore Literacy Center volunteers. Several originators of the garden continue to help uphold the tradition of learning, feeding and giving to the community.
