Pollinating is all the buzz at Snowshoe Mountain these days. And to celebrate our Bee City USA designation we’re throwing a hint of Pollinatin’ into our annual Pickin’ & Pedalin’ event, happening August 18-20, 2023. Join us for hayrides to the Pollinator garden, pollinator inspired crafts, honey vendors, and to learn more about why we’re so passionate about pollinators and what we’re doing to conserve them.
What does it mean to be a Bee City USA and how did Snowshoe become one ?
In 2022, with a grant provided by the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Snowshoe tilled a 4.5 acre Pollinator Garden at the Airport which led to an approved status of Bee City USA. Being a Bee City provides opportunities for communities to come together to learn about and conserve native pollinators by providing them with healthy habitats, planting much needed native pollinator plants, and protecting them from pesticides. Our initial focus was on our native Rusty Patch Bumblebee, which has declined to 10% of it’s population and is the first bumblebee to be put on the endangered species list. In 2023, we planted around 3.5 acres of milkweed plants near our original garden for the Monarch Watch project. We also introduced two new pollinator gardens, one at each entrance area of Snowshoe, with a grant from the Snowshoe Resort Community District.
If you haven’t been to our initial Pollinator Garden, put on a pair of hiking shoes and make your way up Airport Road! The hike is a steady mild incline that takes you approximately ¾ of a mile. You will be privileged to the most beautiful views at Snowshoe Mountain on the way up, and once you arrive at the garden on a beautiful sunny day, you will understand what all the buzz is about!
The calm hum of happy bees can be heard as you watch butterflies happily dance through the flowers. A stroll through the garden brings a feeling of peace and happiness, best enjoyed with friends both two and four-legged! Pack a lunch and enjoy a beautiful place to picnic. Please respect the beauty of the garden and pack out what you take in. Have fun and enjoy!
Where is Snowshoe’s Pollinator Garden Located?
The Pollinator Garden is located on the backside of the Silver Creek ski slopes in a place most commonly referred to as “The Airport”. You can get there numerous ways using the backcountry trail system.
What Pollinating Activities Will Take Place During Pickin’ & Pedalin’?
Pollinating activities that will be available for all ages on Saturday, August 19th and Sunday, August 20th include Hayrides to the Pollinator Garden, a Kids Pollinator Parade, and story time with Melissa Davey author of “Rusty Bumble: A Bee’s Story”. Crafts and Vendors include a butterfly mask craft with Nature’s Mountain Playground; wildflower seed bombs with The Nature Conservancy; bee & flower ornaments with Sustainability Action Committee, and local honey products and education with Greenbrier Bee Farm.
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