Help your garden and the bees, too!

Gardens with abundant native bee populations tend to have higher crop yields, and increased pollination leads to better fruit set and larger, more plentiful harvests of fruits and vegetables. Better yet, you're helping the bees! Supporting native bee populations in your garden helps maintain biodiversity, leading to resilient ecosystems and agricultural systems. Join Horticulture Educator Kim Rohling as she shares information on:

• Natural history tidbits on native bees of Illinois
• Tactics to attract native bees to your homestead including native plant selection and other habitat factors
• Species profile
• Citizen science efforts you can use to document native bees on your homestead

The program is free, but we ask that you register. Visit go.illinois.edu/Gardening4Bees or call (618) 687-1727 to reserve your spot.

Explore the Modern Homesteading Series

Join Illinois Extension each month as we host a series of free modern homesteading programs. Unless otherwise noted, all programs will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Jackson County Extension office at 402 Ava Rd. in Murphysboro, IL, 62966. For a full list of topics and to register for upcoming programs, please visit go.illinois.edu/ModernHomesteading