Events
- This event has passed.
BLOOM Springtime Gala
May 17, 2014 @ 9:00 am - 5:45 pm
Come to the second BLOOM! fundraiser on May 17th, 2014 from 9 am- 5 pm. Held at the farm here in Heath, BLOOM! will be the culmination to Hilltown Bee Week. While the last BLOOM! festival raised money for a pollinator project here at the farm, this year we will raise money for public and publicly accessible gardens in Franklin County. Garden sites will be selected, designed and prepared for planting in the all of 2014 and planted out in the spring of 2015. We envision Franklin County filled with abundant flowers and the sweet sounds of buzzing bees, butterflies, and the other pollinators we depend on.
Here is the schedule for the day:
9:00 am Farm walk around the blueberry field to observe the many species of pollinators at work. This year’s tour will be led by insect and plant ecologist of UMASS, Jarrod Fowler. We will also tour the Benson Place’s pollinator project installation.
10:00 am Workshop: How to design and plant a pollinator garden in your yard. Learn the basics plant selection for pollinators and plant out a hazelnut shrub hedgerow with pollinator plants. Participants will go home with knowledge and handouts to design and plant out their own pollinator gardens at home. Led by Meredith Wecker and Andrew Kurowksi.
11:15 am Workshop: Mason Bee Nesting Tubes Come learn about these amazing native pollinators and how to attract and care for them in your yard.
12:30 am BYO Picnic Lunch and feast with family and friends on this beautiful hilltop!
1:30 pm Pitit Theate’s To Bee or Not to Bee , an all ages show about the decline of the bees with an audience participatory hopeful ending. For more info: http://ptco.org/shows/to-
2:45 pm Family Contra Dance – Calling by Steve Howland, music by Steve Howland and friends. Family friendly dancing, all dances will be taught. Contra dance will end around 4:30 or 5 pm.
There will also be a pollinator Plant Sale for the day.
Suggested Donation: $10 per adult, $ 5 per child or $ 20 per family
Thank you to our event sponsors! – Artisan Beverage Cooperative, Real Pickles, Tire Warehouse of Greenfield
For directions visit our website: www.bensonplace.org/directions