As a reason to get together and eat and do some good, Master Naturalists will assemble bluebird and bee nesting boxes at a potluck from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 25 at the Urbana Park District operations building at 1101 East Kerr, Urbana, IL. Please send an email (dianeed@sbcglobal.net) if you plan to come.

Here are the details:

Both bluebirds and bees have to struggle to find nesting places because of widespread destruction of habitat. Our "assembly party" will help increase habitat in the area and give Master Naturalists an excuse to socialize and get to know one another better.

The boxes will be sold for slightly more than cost to Master Naturalists and to the public at the Master Gardener Garden walk on June 18. Our goal is to assemble approximately 25 bee boxes and 20 bluebird boxes. Instructions and hints and tips will be provided.

Master Naturalist woodworkers are pre-cutting and drilling lumber into kits which can be sanded, glued and screwed together. Then we will paint the ECIMN logo on as the finishing touch. No previous carpentry skills are needed to participate. Please bring a charged battery-powered drill or screwdriver if you have one.

Drinks and paper goods will be provided for the potluck. Please bring your favorite dish to share. We will have tables and chairs thanks to UPD and a large space to work in. Park in the UPD operations parking lot and walk down the west side of the building to the garage furthest south where we'll be assembling.

Let me know if you have any questions. Hope you can bee there!

Diane Wilhite (MN '09)