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Bee City Los Alamos reports demonstration garden, backyard plant program and citizen‑science outreach
Summary
Bee City Los Alamos reported Feb. 20, 2025, that it has established a pollinator demonstration garden, delivered native-plant backyard packages and launched iNaturalist-based citizen science to map pollinators.
Bridal Donhara, coordinator for Bee City Los Alamos, gave the board an update on Feb. 20, 2025, describing a year of new outreach and native-pollinator projects. Bee City Los Alamos is an affiliate of Bee City/Bee Campus USA and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation; the affiliate is working with county staff and volunteers to increase pollinator habitat.
Current projects include a pollinator demonstration garden sited between the senior center and Bathtub Row, a backyard pollinator garden program that supplied native plants to homeowners through a grant, and a citizen-science initiative using iNaturalist to map pollinator presence. Bridal said the garden will take several years to reach full maturity and that outreach will include nature-center programs, the high-school ecology club and scout groups.
Donhara cautioned that overly early yard trimming — particularly in an abnormally dry winter — can disturb overwintering pollinators that shelter under mulch and leaf litter. She urged caution in removing habitat too early, and said Bee City’s education plans will address timing and defensible-space needs.
Bee City staff and volunteers also plan expanded Earth Day and Science Fest participation and a newsletter and website to centralize information and volunteer opportunities.
No regulatory action was proposed; Bee City’s updates are voluntary and intended to inform the board and encourage coordination with county maintenance schedules and outreach plans.
