Close Encounters with Pollinators of the New River Valley
New River Valley Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist
Virginia Master Naturalist is a state-wide corps of community-based volunteers who work to care for Virginia’s natural resources and public lands. After basic training in natural resource topics, we volunteer as educators, citizen scientists, and stewards helping Virginia conserve and manage its natural resources. NRV Master Naturalist is based in the New River Valley region of Virginia.
Visit our website to learn more about our organization, how to contact us, and how to join.
EXHIBIT CREATORS/SPONSORS
Barb Walker, Judy Kirwan, Ann Raridon, Marcia Murphy, Bob Whiton, Sandy Weber, Vicki Fix, Michael Shroyer, Carol Kauffman, Bruce Grimes, Suzie Leslie, Rebekah Paulson, Harriet Shaw, Mike Shaw, John Shaw, and the Pollinator Garden kids
Come visit the Pandapas Pollinator Garden in Montgomery County, Virginia with us!
- Learn about pollinators, why they need YOU and why you need THEM. (Hint: A third of the food we eat depends on pollinators.)
- See pollinators at work at the Pandapas Pollinator Garden in Montgomery County, Virginia and how volunteers keep the garden working.
- Do the Garden Scavenger Hunt and Pollinator Matching Game.
- See other fun activities involving pollinators.
- Find out how you can help pollinators in you own yard or neighborhood.
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Brown-belted bumblebee (Bombus griseocollis) on Baptisia.
Photo by Bob Whiton
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- New River Valley Master Naturalist posters
- Comprehensive pollinator curriculum for grades 3-6 — The Pollinator Partnership
Pollinator materials
The following “pollinator.org” sites offer information regarding all aspects of pollinators:
- Pollinator Partnership — a site covering bees, butterflies, pesticides and multiple training modules covering multiple invertebrate conservation topics.
- Pollinator Partnership Learning Center — many pollinator learning modules and lesson plans for education on pollinators.
- 7 Things YOU Can Do for Pollinators — a practical guide to what an individual can do to protect pollinators.
- Ecoregional Plant Guides — a guide to planting pollinator-friendly plants in the New River Valley (identified as Central Appalachia).
- Xerces Society — advocating protection of the natural world through conservation of invertebrates and their habitat.
- Xerces Pollinator Poster — encouraging pollinator health and propagation by providing pollinator habitat.
- Pollinator Conservation — all aspects of pollinator conservation.
- Natural Nesting Sites and Habitats for Bees and Other Insects — how to provide nesting sites and habitat for bees and other insects.
- Nesting and Overwintering of Pollinators and Other Beneficial Insects — nesting and overwintering of pollinators and other beneficial insects.
- National Wildlife Federation, Developing Wild Spaces for Wildlife — developing wild spaces friendly to wildlife.
Bees
- Develping Natural Nesting Sites — developing natural nesting sites for bees and other insects.
- Bumblebee Conservation — a guide to protecting bumblebees.
- Bumblebee Watch — a site encouraging tracking and conservation of bumblebees.
- Bee Smart — a site primarily focused on creating a garden for bees, and lesson plans for a curriculum on plants, pollinators, gardens, and food.
Butterflies
- Monarch Waystation Program — a site to create, conserve, and protect monarch habitats.
Books
- Nature’s Best Hope — Doug Tallamy
- Climate-Wise Landscaping — Sue Reed and Ginny Stibolt (Forward by Doug Tallamy)
- The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden — Doug Tallamy and Rick Darke
Videos
- “A Living Landscape” — Doug Tallamy (YouTube)
- “Bringing Home Nature” — Doug Tallamy (YouTube)
- “An Evening with Doug Tallamy” (YouTube)
Movies
Pollinator materials
The following “pollinator.org” sites offer information regarding all aspects of pollinators:
- Pollinator Partnership — a site covering bees, butterflies, pesticides and multiple training modules covering multiple invertebrate conservation topics.
- Pollinator Partnership Learning Center — many pollinator learning modules and lesson plans for education on pollinators.
- 7 Things YOU Can Do for Pollinators — a practical guide to what an individual can do to protect pollinators.
- Ecoregional Plant Guides — a guide to planting pollinator-friendly plants in the New River Valley (identified as Central Appalachia).
All of the following Xerces sites are interconnected
- Xerces Society — advocating protection of the natural world through conservation of invertebrates and their habitat.
- Xerces Pollinator Poster — encouraging pollinator health and propagation by providing pollinator habitat.
- Pollinator Conservation — all aspects of pollinator conservation.
- Natural Nesting Sites and Habitats for Bees and Other Insects — how to provide nesting sites and habitat for bees and other insects.
- Nesting and Overwintering of Pollinators and Other Beneficial Insects — nesting and overwintering of pollinators and other beneficial insects.
Insect advocacy with links to additional sites
- National Wildlife Federation, Developing Wild Spaces for Wildlife — developing wild spaces friendly to wildlife.
Bees
- Develping Natural Nesting Sites — developing natural nesting sites for bees and other insects.
- Bumblebee Conservation — a guide to protecting bumblebees.
- Bumblebee Watch — a site encouraging tracking and conservation of bumblebees.
- Bee Smart — a site primarily focused on creating a garden for bees, and lesson plans for a curriculum on plants, pollinators, gardens, and food.
Butterflies
- Monarch Waystation Program — a site to create, conserve, and protect monarch habitats.
Books
- Nature’s Best Hope — Doug Tallamy
- Climate-Wise Landscaping — Sue Reed and Ginny Stibolt (Forward by Doug Tallamy)
- The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden — Doug Tallamy and Rick Darke
Videos
- “A Living Landscape” — Doug Tallamy (YouTube)
- “Bringing Home Nature” — Doug Tallamy (YouTube)
- “An Evening with Doug Tallamy” (YouTube)
Movies
- “The Best Little Farm” (YouTube, not free)
- “Bringing Home Nature to Lancaster” — Doug Tallamy (YouTube)
Secret Garden Visit at Pandapas Pond
A Visit to the Pandapas Pond Pollinator Garden
Flower Parts Activity Sheet
Take a closer look at a flower; name and describe its parts. Even design your own flower!
Honey Bee and Butterfly Anatomy Coloring Sheet
See for yourself why honey bees are such good pollinators. Learn the difference between butterflies and moths.
Pollinator Matching Game
Print out the pollinator matching game. See all eight pollinators at once and write down your answers.
Preserve a Flower
If you want to save a flower and study it later, here is a method for keeping your favorite flowers.
Identification Card for Your Preserve a Flower Project
Use this card or make your own to keep track of the flowers you preserve.
Scavenger Hunt at the Pandapas Pollinator Garden
You can visit the Pollinator Garden at Pandapas Pond in Montgomery County, Virginia yourself and find these things and do these activities. It can make your visit even more fun!