Bee City USA Subcommittee

In December 2014, the City of Ashland adopted a resolution to become the fifth BEE CITY USA in the country. Each year, including in 2020, Bee City USA® renewed Ashland, Oregon’s Certification. View our resources.


BCU-Ashland Approved Pollinator Garden Program

Do you or a friend have a garden that pollinators love?  
Consider nominating it and bee recognized! Our Approved Pollinator Garden program encourages homeowners, businesses, schools, organizations, farmers and gardeners to create pollinator habitats. Qualifying gardens will be recognized with a Bee City USA-Ashland garden sign and will have the opportunity to be included on Ashland’s annual Pollinator Garden Tour. 

Do you want to have your pollinator garden recognized?
Fill out our pollinator garden nomination form here.

Please enjoy videos of inspiring pollinator gardens, from our ‘virtual  garden tour.’  

The Bee City USA team has been working on a new pollinator garden.
Enjoy these photos of us restoring the Riverwalk "Pocket" Park!

Check out our resources (below) to learn to make your garden pollinator friendly!

Would you like to join the BEE CITY USA Subcommittee?
Click here for Application

Send all applications for Bee City USA to Ashland Parks & Recreation
at 340 S Pioneer Street or by email to Libby VanWhye

Goal:The goal of BEE CITY USA is to promote healthy, sustainable habitats and communities for bees and other pollinators.

The City acknowledges the importance of pollinators to healthy ecosystems, as well as to agriculture and the local economy. Considering the dramatic declines in pollinator populations around the globe, Ashland commits to supporting bees and other pollinators on both public and private land.  In order to enhance understanding among staff and the public about the vital role that pollinators play, and what each of us can do to sustain them, the City of Ashland agrees to establish and maintain a BEE CITY USA Subcommittee, comprised of one Parks & Recreation Commissioner, one Staff Liaison and at least three citizens.  

Responsibilities:

• The Subcommittee is charged with assembling and disseminating information on the topics of pollinator-friendly habitat and policies to municipal departments, residents, businesses and developers.
• Publicly acknowledge the community’s commitment by agreeing to a) install/maintain a BEE CITY USA street sign in a prominent location, and b) create/maintain links on appropriate pages of the municipal website which includes the BEE CITY USA liaison(s), links to a PDF of the signed Resolution, and the BEE CITY USA website, and summarizes the pollinator-friendly activities the city has undertaken or accomplished the previous year(s).
• Commit to annually celebrate National Pollinator Week (third full week of June) or some other appropriate occasion through events, proclamations and promotions that showcase the municipalities commitment to being a BEE CITY USA affiliate.
• Commit to annually apply for renewal of the community’s designation and submit a report of BEE CITY USA activities following the format provide.

Quarterly Meetings: 

The Subcommittee holds quarterly public meetings at North Mountain Park Nature Center, 620 North Mountain Ave. in Ashland.  Members of the public are invited to attend and/or bring suggestions on ways to make Ashland more pollinator friendly.

Subcommittee Members

View Agendas and Minutes

Resources

Press and Program Information:

•    Pollinator Friendly Gardens Get Recognition - Ashland Daily Tidings
•    Literary Gardener: "Enjoy the beauty" on Pollinator Garden Tour - Mail Tribune
•    Press for Ashland's Pollinator Garden Tour - Ashland Daily Tidings
•    Ashland's Swarm Information Press Release
•    Bee City USA Frequently Asked Questions 
•    Resources from Bee City USA 

Planting for Pollinators:

•    Ashland Saves Water - pollinator planting options for water conservation  
•    Pollinator Project Rogue Valley - Resources      
•    Rogue Valley Pollinator-Friendly Nurseries 
•    The Pollinator Partnership's planting guides by ecoregion   
•    USDA Plants Database  
•    The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation--Fact Sheets/Plant Guides 
•    National Wildlife Federation - Certified Wildlife Habitat Pollinator Information
•    USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - Plants for Pollinators in Oregon 
•    North Mountain Park Nature Center - Demonstration Gardens
•    OSU Extension - 12 Plants to Entice Pollinators
•    Planning a Pollinator Garden (for Elementary Schools)
•    ​Six reasons NOT to clean up the garden this fall
•    ​​Rogue Basin Native Plant List - via Ashland's Community Development ​Dept.

Pollinator Information:

•    Why Bees are Disappearing - TED talk by Marla Spivak 
•    Native Pollinators - Natural Resources Conservation Service
 

Pesticides and Pollinators:

•    Beyond Pesticides - non-profit organization provides resources and current information
•    Effects of subleathal doses of glyphosate on honeybee navigation – Journal of Experimental Biology  
•    How Neonicotinoids Can Kill Bees
•    Bee Safe Gardening Tips
•    Products Compatible with Organic Landscape Management


Bac​k to Sustainability at North Mountain Park
Back to North Mountain Park homepage