Bee City USA
In 2016, the City of Annapolis was designated as a Bee City USA affiliate. This was done in partnership with Anne Arundel County and the Town of Highland Beach, Maryland. All groups involved in this partnership understand the importance of sustaining pollinators, and want the region to become more pollinator-friendly. Bees and other pollinators around the globe have experienced dramatic declines due to a combination of habitat loss, use of pesticides, spread of pests and diseases, and reduced genetic diversity. Becoming a Bee City USA affiliate publicly announces the City of Annapolis’ intention to promote healthy, sustainable habitats for bees and other pollinators.
Bee City USA is a nonprofit national organization that fosters ongoing dialogue in urban areas to raise awareness of the role pollinators play in sustaining three-quarters of the world’s plant species and what each of us can do to provide them with healthy habitat.
The Bee City USA program endorses a set of commitments, defined in a resolution, for creating sustainable habitats for pollinators, which are vital to feeding the planet.
Annapolis Green Plants A Pollinator Garden!
(Left to Right) Lynne Forsman (Annapolis Green), Elvia Thompson (Annapolis Green) and Raycine Hodo (City of Annapolis).
The nonprofit, Annapolis Green, installed a pollinator garden outside their office on Maryland Avenue. This is in keeping with its mission to connect, inform, and inspire Annapolis residents and businesses to care for the environment, live more responsibly, and create a more beautiful and thriving community. The Annapolis Green garden was selected to be a Bee City USA Pollinator Garden because it is pesticide-free and contains a variety of native plants. With this, the garden is a sustainable habitat for pollinators. The garden includes Milk Weed, which is a favorite of butterflies, and flowering plants that are attractive to bees. This garden also contains flowering plants that provide a small crop of vegetables, including tomatoes, cucumbers, and pepper plants.
In 2016, the City of Annapolis was chosen to be a Bee City USA affiliate in partnership with Anne Arundel County and the Town of Highland Beach, Maryland. Bee City USA is a national nonprofit that raises awareness of the role pollinators play in sustaining three-quarters of the world’s plant species. Bee City USA also teaches what each of us can do to provide healthy pollinator habitat. By becoming a Bee City USA affiliate, the City of Annapolis committed to promote healthy, sustainable habitats for bees and other pollinators such as moths, butterflies, beetles, bats, and birds.
Bees and other pollinators around the globe have faced dramatic declines due to a mix of habitat loss, pesticide use, spread of pests and diseases, and reduced genetic diversity. The City of Annapolis works to meet the goal of creating habitats that sustain pollinators. This is done by choosing to plant a diversity of native flowering plants rather than exotic plants, avoiding pesticides, and leaving areas natural for nesting. This is also accomplished through education and City policies. Thank you Annapolis Green for setting the example for the rest of the Annapolis community and welcome to the Bee City program in the City of Annapolis.