Pollinator Day

Join us in celebrating pollinators!

Pollinator Day

Sunday, June 23
10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Join us for Pollinator Day at the Judson House Historic Gardens on Sunday, June 23 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm! Enjoy inspiring speakers, hands-on workshops, unique garden vendors, delicious food, plant give-a-ways, and a special garden bench dedication. Discover our pollinator demonstration garden, featuring native plants that support pollinators and offer a glimpse into the past. Celebrate history, nature, and community!

Event entry is free, fees applicable for select presentations.

Donations appreciated!

Speaker Presentations

Bring Back the Pollinators

Kat Calhoun, Xerces Society

10:30 am, $10

Why care about pollinators? Journey through Pollinator 101 with insights from the Xerces Society and butterfly enthusiast Kat Calhoun. After retiring from a career in engineering, Kat pursued her passion for education and lifelong learning as a tutor and trainer. A butterfly enthusiast and motivated by the plight of Monarch butterflies, Kat established Mariposas del Mundo, a pollinator garden in New Haven, to support Monarchs and educate the public on the importance of pollinators. 

Kat joined the Xerces Society to further her education and contribute to invertebrate conservation. The Xerces Society is an international nonprofit focused on conserving invertebrates and their habitats through science-based efforts, advocacy, education, and policy work.

Native Woody Shrubs that Feed the Birds, the Bees and Us

Nancy Zychek, Master Gardener

11:30 am, free

Discover four woody shrubs to grow. Learn how to identify, cultivate, and use these native plants. Amelanchier, Aronia (the most underused native berry bush in America), Vaccinium, and Sambucus. 

Nancy Zychek is a UConn Master Gardener, organic grower, farmer and lifelong gardener. She presently is involved with the nonprofit Real Food CT and helps operate the farm in Newtown. Nancy has been curious about native plants since childhood and is constantly learning and teaching others about the fascinating plants that grow around us. 

Pollinators in My Backyard

Victor DeMasi

12:30 pm, $10

Join entomologist Victor DeMasi for a presentation on pollinator biology and conservation. Learn about butterfly biology, the challenges facing pollinators, and the role of citizen scientists. Discover how to enhance meadows with native wildflowers, and explore the fascinating life of Monarch butterflies. The presentation includes a display of butterfly and bee specimens. Victor, a curatorial affiliate at the Yale Peabody Museum, has made significant contributions to butterfly research and conservation.

Native Gardening for Pollinators and Songbirds

Jackie Algon, Pollinator Pathway

1:45 pm, $10

Planting with native plants, not using pesticides or insecticides and rethinking your lawn are the three tenets of the Pollinator Pathway. Explore why these are important to our wildlife and to our environment, and how each of us can make a difference to the ecosystem by adopting and implementing these principles. Discover Pollinator Pathway’s new best practices to insects and other animals that assist in pollinating our plants. Their success is our success!

Jackie Algon became an Advanced Master Gardener and former Coordinator of the Master Gardener Program in Bethel after retiring from 40+ years in Corporate America. She is a co-founder and board member of the Pollinator Pathway, and recently completed a 10-year term on the Wilton Conservation Commission with several years as Chair. Jackie is an active member of the Wilton Garden Club’s Conservation Committee and was its co-Chair for six years. She teaches adult classes at Norwalk Community College and enjoys regularly sharing information about the Pollinator Pathway with communities throughout the area.