By David Burton
University of Missouri Extension
The public is invited to Christian County Master Gardeners’ free seminar from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., July 14, at the Nixa Community Center, 701 N. Taylor Way, Nixa.
Mark Bernskoetter will speak on planting to attract pollinators and Jasmine Bass will speak on how the honeybee is a gardener’s friend.
Pre-registration is required and can be done by calling 417-581-3558 by July 12. The seminar is part of CCMG’s Garden Gate learning series.
Bernskoetter will discuss what to plant to provide habitat and food for pollinators year round. He is a master gardener with Master Gardeners of Greene County.
“As a child, I disliked giving up my free time to help harvest produce that fed our family of eight. But I’ve applied what I learned to my own garden and family and branched into other types of gardening, including planting gardens that attract pollinators,” said Bernskoetter.
Bernskoetter and his wife, Renae, became Master Gardeners in 2004. They speak on many aspects of gardening, and he is a contributor to the weekly, “Ask a Master Gardener” column in the Springfield News-Leader.
Bass is vice president of Bees Alive Club in Nixa. The decline in honeybee and wild bee populations and the resulting impact on pollination of fruits and vegetables have spurred more people to take up beekeeping.
Bass’s love of nature and practice as an herbalist have blended to enhance her beekeeping methods and passion for educating and mentoring others about beekeeping. She will discuss the relationship between bees and gardeners, characteristics of bees, what it takes to become a beekeeper and how to help bees thrive.
