Birds, Bees & Butterflies

Birds, Bees & Butterflies - Bemidji

Birds, bees, and butterflies have several things in common – they all depend on native plants; they play an important role in pollination; and all face increasing pressures from loss of habitat, diseases, and non-native invasive competitors.

But there are things we can do to help! One of the most important is to add native plants to our gardens and landscapes.

"Get started with Native Plants"

2020 "Top 10 Native Plants"

The Mississippi Headwaters Audubon Society, Bemidji Monarch Project committee and several other local organizations and businesses have joined together in a campaign called "Birds, Bees & Butterflies - Bemidji" to promote the planting of native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers in our community to benefit birds and pollinators. By planting a native plant garden, or just adding native species to your existing landscape, you can attract colorful birds and pollinators to your yard or business.

Localized Information: BBBB Partners created a brochure about native species to plant in the Bemidji area to benefit birds and pollinators. It is available at local garden centers. A more comprehensive list of native wildflowers, trees, and shrubs; and other helpful information can be found by clicking the "Get Started with Native Plants" button above.

Note on Ojibwe plant names:
Birds, Bees & Butterflies - Bemidji includes Ojibwe language names along with the common and/or scientific names of plant species in some of our materials. Bemidji is at the center of Minnesota's three largest Indian tribes: Red Lake Nation, White Earth Nation, and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. More than 200 business, schools, and offices in the Bemidji area post bilingual signage in English and Ojibwe as part of the 'Ojibwe Language Project'. A good resource to consult for Ojibwe plant names and uses is "Plants Used by the Great Lakes Ojibwa", Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Council. The Leech Lake Band has a Field Guide and Journal with local Ojibwe names of plants and animals. We have also been assisted by Dr. Anton Trauer, Professor of Ojibwe Language at Bemidji State University with selecting appropriate Ojibwe plant names.

New Publication: Early and Late Blooming Native Species for Woods Edge and Shaded Sites in Beltrami County, Cathy Peck.
There is a lot of information about native plants to add to your landscape, but often these are summer-blooming species suited for sunny sites. Yet many of us enjoy the cool shade of trees in our yard. What native plants should we plant in this case? Cathy Peck, a Beltrami County Master Gardener, has put together notes on 20 native species that you might consider for your yard. They all are adapted to shady, wooded locations. Click on the document to see a copy.

bbbb activities

2020 Top 10 Native Plants
Each year, Birds, Bees & Butterflies - Bemidji highlights 10 native plants which attract birds and pollinators to your yard. In 2020 we focused on plants benefiting the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, a federally endangered insect and Minnesota's State Bee! Click here, or on the image of the flyer to get a copy of this year's Top 10 list.

Check out our Top 10 Native Plants from 2018 and 2019 as well...

Monarch Festival - September 12th, 2021
Join the Birds, Bees, Butterflies Bemidji group as they celebrate "Bemidji Connecting with Nature". The event kicks off at 11am with our featured speaker, Larry Weber, at the American Indian Resource Center on the Bemidji State University campus. Then come over to North Country Park at 1pm to hear the Annual Barta Butterfly Report and Annual Brian Bird Report as well as a re-signing of the Mayor's Monarch Pledge. There will be children's activities and a raptor demonstration by the Headwaters Science Center, too! Several area organizations will also have a table at the event. For details on the Monarch Butterfly Festival visit the Monarch Butterfly Festival 2021 Facebook page , or contact the Bemidji Parks and Recreation Department at 218.333.1857 or parks.recreation@ci.bemidji.mn.us, or visit www.ci.bemidji.mn.us .

Here’s a list of events!
American Indian Resource Center
11:00am: Larry Weber, Spiders and Spider Webs (BSU)

North Country Park
Outdoor Classroom/Amphitheater
1:00pm

Welcome – Erika Bailey-Johnson, BSU Sustainability Office (5 min)
Bemidji Butterfly Report – Allison Barta, local butterfly expert (10-15 min)
The ‘Mayor’s Monarch Pledge’ – Mayor Jorge Prince (15 minutes)

1:30pm

Bemidji Bird Report – Dr. Brian Hiller (10-15 min)
“Raptors Rule” – Headwaters Science Center (45 min)Pavilion

Pavillion
1:30pm & 2:30pm

“How to Collect Seed from Native Plants Yourself!” – Beltrami Co SWCD (concurrent with main presentation (30-45 min)

Ongoing:

Supervised play at the new ‘Natural Playground’ – Bemidji Park & Recreation
Tables hosted by several local groups and organizations – Master Gardeners; Master Naturalists; Bemidji Garden Club; Mississippi Headwaters Audubon Society; Birds, Bees & Butterflies – Bemidji; BSU Sustainability Office; Allison Barta/Butterflies of the area; Beltrami Co SWCD; Hubbard Co SWCD; Hills Country Greenhouse; Natures Edge Garden Center, Headwaters Science Center, Watermark Art Center
Self-guided ‘Native Plant Garden Tour’ – map and online guide

You can also take a Self-guided tour of Bemidji Native Plant Gardens from home, or download the map, click on the QR code and get detailed information and pictures as you visit each site.

Help Make Bemidji Ave. Bird and Pollinator Friendly

Are you interested in helping turn Bemidji Ave, into a colorful, healthy corridor for pollinators and birds? If you live, rent, or own a business or other property along Bemidji Ave - from approximately 1st Avenue to Paul Bunyan Drive - we would like to hear from you!

How about planting a pocket butterfly garden; converting part of your lawn into wildflowers and grasses; or adding flowering trees and shrubs to your landscape? Not only would this be great for pollinators like the Rusty patched bumblebee, but an attractive way to welcome visitors to Bemidji. There are a number of native plantings already in the area. This would help connect these and provide valuable habitat for birds and pollinators. Birds, Bees & Butterflies – Bemidji, and the Beltrami County Soil and Water Conservation District are partnering to make this happen. Contact the Beltrami County SWCD for possible funding and assistance to help with:

Project planning and design assistance
Native plants and seed selection
Site preparation, installation, & maintenance

"Click logo for more L2L information"

Workshops

BEMIDJI LAWNS-TO-LEGUMES (L2L) WORKSHOP: TUES, FEB 18, 2020, 6-9 PM, BELTRAMI ELECTRIC COMMUNITY ROOM
This workshop is designed for residents who want to incorporate native plants into their own yard. Come with a map of your property and learn which native plants will attract pollinators to your yard, how to create a ‘native pocket planting’, rain garden, or pollinator lawn – and leave feeling ready to get started. A L2L coach will be there to assist you. This workshop is provided by Blue Thumb in partnership with Bird, Bees & Butterflies - Bemidji and the MN Board of Water and Soil Resources
BEMIDJI LAWNS-TO-LEGUMES (L2L) TRAIN THE TRAINER WORKSHOP: JAN, 23, 2020; 3:30-6:30 PM, BELTRAMI ELECTRIC COMMUNITY ROOM
Here is a way learn more about adding native wildflowers, trees and shrubs to your landscapes – and teach others how they can too! Blue Thumb, Metro Blooms, and Birds, Bees, and Butterflies – Bemidji invite you to come to a “Lawns to Legumes Train the Trainer Workshop” on Thursday, January 23rd. Instructors will show you how to plan, plant, and maintain prairie pockets, flowering trees and shrubs, pollinator lawns, and pollinator meadows – as well as what funding options and additional resources are available. The workshop will help whether you know a lot about native plants or just a little, and equip you to be a valuable resource to others in your organization and community.