Connecticut Horticultural Society: Magnolias

Magnolias are an ancient life form. Their flowers evolved before bees existed to pollinate them. Fossil specimens of M. acuminata date back 20 million years ago.

Learn how the blooms are pollinated and much more at the Connecticut Horticultural Society lecture about magnolias by Stefan Cover on Thursday, Feb. 17.
Cover, a board member of the Magnolia Society International, will talk about his visit to magnolia expert Harry Heineman in Scituate, Mass.; plus share details about a variety of magnolias and how to cultivate them successfully in Connecticut. He’ll also identify new varieties, including Chinese species, hybrids from New Zealand, and red flowering types.

The talk is 7:30 p.m. at Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Dr., West Hartford. Fee is $10. For information, call (860) 529-8713; visit www.cthort.org.

Bees And Threats To Their Health

Kimberly Stoner, a vegetable entomologist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, will discuss “Threats to the Health of Wild Bees and Honey Bees,” Tuesday, May 18, 7:30 p.m. at the Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave., Derby.

Topics include wild bees and honey bees in pollination; the various threats to honey bees, including mites, pathogens, pesticides and stress from migratory beekeeping; and the evidence that some species of wild bees, particularly bumble bees, are declining.

Stoner also will relate what people can do to help bees. Donation is $4. To register, call (203) 734-2513. The Naugatuck Valley Audubon Society Inc., in cooperation with the center, is hosting the program.

Bees And Why Keeping Them Is So Important

A program called "Bees: It's not Just Honey Anymore" will be presented on Friday, June 10, at the Connecticut Farm Bureau office, 775 Bloomfield Ave., Windsor, 7:30 p.m.

Ted Jones of Jones Apiaries will speak on the importance to bees to our future, and challenges facing the bee industry.

Part of the Hartford County Farm Bureau Education series.

For information contact hcfc@cox.net.

Bees Busy Now In Connecticut

Bees are a wonder of nature. These hives were spotted already placed to help with pollination in nearby orchards. More about bees and the importance of work that they do in Connecticut and elsewhere? Coming up.