Garden Education

Over the past decade, many of us have become familiar with colony collapse disorder and the challenges of keeping honey bees healthy. However, did you know that North America is also home to approximately 4,000 species of native bees, including many bumble bees, which are both incredibly beautiful and extraordinary pollinators in their own right? In 2013, conservation photographer Clay Bolt encountered a specimen of a rare rusty-patched bumble bee in a scientific collection—a bee that was once found commonly across nearly half the US. After learning about the bee’s tragic decline, he created an awareness campaign to draw national attention to its plight. The centerpiece of this campaign was short film entitled “A Ghost in the Making: Searching for the Rusty-patched Bumble Bee.” The film and Clay’s photographic coverage of the species was shared across the US, from small venues to Capitol Hill. In 2017, these efforts paid off and the rusty-patched bumble bee became the first species of native North American bee to receive protection under the Endangered Species Act. Since then, Clay has gone on to address key threats facing all North America’s bumble bees, both as a photographer and as World Wildlife Fund’s first manager of pollinator conservation. During this engaging presentation, Clay will share some his favorite images and stories about these beautiful, critically important insects and what we can all do to make a difference in their lives. One thing is for certain: you'll never look at bees the same way again!