Phase 2 of the State Regent’s Honey Bee Project will culminate with a celebration at the Haagen Dazs Honey Bee Haven at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Bee Research Facility, University of California Davis, on Friday, March 28th, at 11: 30 a.m.  Location is 1 Bee Biology Road, Davis, California.

This outdoor event includes formal presentation of a gift from the State Regent’s Project, an update on research in Dr. Brian Johnson’s lab (Phase 1), tour of the lab where you can see bees up-close-and personal in a glassed in hive, and tour of the Honey Bee Haven. We are hoping that some of the structures included in Phase 2 will be completed by the time this event occurs.

The Honey Bee Haven is a half-acre bee friendly garden created in 2009 through a large donation from the Haagen Dazs ice cream company. The garden provides forage for honey bees and other pollinators year round, and it feeds the research bees at the Laidlaw apiary.

The project’s second phase, “to enhance honey bee environments,” will provide for a shade structure to be built in the garden so visitors can cool themselves in the 90 to over 100 degree summer weather, build two benches so visitors may rest during their visit, raise the already ADA compliant flower beds 36 inches so wheel chair bound visitors my easily see the bees and touch plants, and the project will furnish funds to purchase and install plants and trees that bloom in the winter months or in shady areas (the garden is in great need of these).

Attire for the event is “farm wear.”  Jeans, comfortable shirts, hats, sunglasses, and walking shoes are the order of the day.  No insignia.  This is a very casual, relaxed day, outside in the bee-u-ty of all the agriculture at UC Davis!

Please remember these rules when hanging out with bees:

1. Do not eat bananas the day of the event. The scent of banana mimics the honey bee warning pheromone.
2. Do not wear all black.  Bees see black as red and you will attract them.
3. Don’t wear perfume, scented hairspray, lotions, etc.

You may register for the event by going to the “Latest Buzz” on the CSSDAR Members’ website or you can register on the WebStore.  Printed forms will also be available at State Conference at the State Regent’s Project table.

Please make sure your adhere to the registration deadline.  There are several meal choices, so don’t forget to choose one. The catered box lunch is $20 per person.

Hope to see you there!

Debbie Jamison
State Regent
regent@californiadar.org