The Buzz and Blooms Story

 

About the Author

Welcome! I created this site to encourage people to learn about native pollinators in their area, discover how to grow vibrant habitats that help them flourish, and inspire others to engage in community-volunteer conservation projects.

My inspiration stems directly from time spent as an avid hiker and kayaker. After spending hours exploring the incredible ecological diversity of our region and its rich native flora and fauna, I returned home to a stark contrast. The urban cul-de-sac where I reside was a pollinator desert. None of the meticulously maintained lawns in my neighborhood featured the native flowering plants like wild violets or spice bushes in our shared green spaces.

Driven by curiosity and concern, I embarked on a journey to investigate how our urban landscapes had become so disconnected from natural areas. The investigation quickly transformed into a personal mission, and my journey to create more vibrant habitats for pollinators began.

Volunteer Projects

To better understand and support our local ecosystems, I stepped into the world of environmental outreach. As a dedicated naturalist volunteer, I have focused on community-driven science and habitat education through several key initiatives:

This picture captures the delicacy of a tiny leatherwood flower during peak pollination.

Volunteer History

Open Space Trail Volunteer

Maintained vital connector trails across urban corridors, public parks, and undeveloped open spaces.

Implemented habitat restoration projects to preserve native landscapes.

Master Gardener

Provided horticultural services, soil testing resources, and educational outreach.

Participated in public park restoration and developed regional community garden resources.

Master Gardeners sharing garden information at the local Farmers Market from their booth underneath the ancient Live Oak trees.
Master Naturalist volunteers discovering life in a swallow stream bed within the forest.

Naturalist Volunteer

Engaged in citizen initiatives including the Phenology Project and Pollinator Monitoring to support regional research studies.

Organized exploratory hikes to engage the local community in biodiversity exploration.

Resources

iNaturalist: Contribute to science. Share photos with conservationists, researchers, and naturalist interested in ecology.

Pollinators by Season: Explore pollinator seasons.

Spring Pollinators: The First Buzz of Spring

Summer Pollinators: Nature at Full Speed

Pollinator Partnership

Join an iNaturlist community pollinator project.

  • Collaborate with fellow pollinator enthusiasts.
  • Showcase your photos.
  • Experience the world of pollinators.

Common Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) on sunflower