Buzz on bees topic of next brown bag lecture

Published 12:01 am Thursday, May 3, 2012

PORT ANGELES — The habits and habitat of orchard mason and leaf-cutter bees will be presented by Mary Flo Bruce on May 10.

“The Latest Buzz About Bees” will be at noon in the boardroom (160) at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.

The presentation is part of the “Green Thumbs Garden Tips” brown bag series sponsored by Washington State University’s ­Clallam County Master Gardeners.

Bruce will explain the life cycle of the bees, the difference between solitary bees and hive bees, predators and the value of these bees as pollinators of apples, cherries, alfalfa and other crops.

She will discuss why maintaining a clean environment is important to protect these bees.

The program will include a demonstration of mason bee-housing types.

Bruce is a 14-year veteran of the Master Gardener program and is an experienced mason bee keeper.

The Master Gardener brown bag series continues the second and fourth Thursday of each month.

Presentations are from noon to 1 p.m.

For more information, phone 360-417-2279.