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Pollinator Palooza

Celebrate birds, bees, butterflies and all of the other creatures that make our gardens grow during Pollinator Palooza, in conjunction with National Pollinator Week. Engage with various organizations that are raising awareness for pollinators, while enjoying learning opportunities, crafts, music, garden tours and more.

This event is free to attend; no tickets or reservations are required. Please note that this event is held in the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus, southeast of the Conservatory. Admission would be required if you wish to also explore the Conservatory before or after the event.

Schedule of Events

Organization Fair & Activities | 11am–3pm

Stop by pollinator-centric booths from the Conservatory and participating organizations for activities, crafts, games and more. The full list of participating organizations is below.

Exploring Pollinators in the Garden | 11am & 1:30pm

Take a walk in the garden and observe bees in action. Led by Denise Ellsworth, the Program Director of Honey Bee and Native Pollinator Education, OSU Extension.

Food Demonstration | 11am-3pm

Taste delicious foods made with ingredients that are only possible thanks to pollinators. Led by the Conservatory’s Sustainability Educator, Heather Bell.

Fort Hayes Student Band led by Jeff McGarish  | 11am–3pm

Students from Columbus City School Fort Hayes will perform live music throughout the event.

Stinger from the Columbus Blue Jackets | 1-2pm

Greet the mascot of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Food Trucks | 11am-3pm

NAICCO

Tortilla

Dirty Franks

Chilljoy

Participating Organizations

Arabidopsis Biological Resource Center/Center for Applied Plants | Bat Conservation International | The Bee Collective | The Bugman | Child Development Council of Franklin County | Central Ohio Beekeepers Association | Columbus & Franklin County Metro Parks | Columbus GreenSpot | Columbus Recreation and Parks | Columbus Zoo & Aquarium | East Central Ohio Beekeepers Association | For All Species | Fort Hayes | Franklin County Master Gardeners Volunteers | Gahanna Herb Center | Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council | Grange Audobon Center | Greater Columbus Growing Coalition | Hinton Apiaries | Kiwanis Club of Columbus | Love Your Alley | Ohio History Connection | Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative | Ohio State Beekeepers Association | Ohio State University Extension | Ohio Wildlife Center | Red Bearded Honey Man | Scioto Gardens | Wild Hare Prairie Native Nursery | Wild Ones Columbus

Pollinator Classes

Inspiration Pocket Garden Plants for Pollinators July 12 | 6-7pm

Find out what your yard needs to be a habitat that benefits pollinators and native wildlife species! Bat Walk & Talk July 29 | 7:45-9:15pm

Learn about the bats of Ohio then, as the sun sets, take a guided walk around the Conservatory’s grounds in search of these flying mammals Gardening for Moths August 27 | 3-5pm

A big picture view of the world of Midwestern moths and what we can do to help them by artfully employing native flora.

Past Pollinator Paloozas