The Gainesville Garden Club invites you to come to their Butterfly Sanctuary at the Clubhouse Grounds to participate in a quick citizen scientist project!

Leaders will help you choose one plant that is attracting insects for its nectar (sugar water) or pollen (protein for their queen or babies). 

After an introduction to show the differences between 3 kinds of bees, wasps, flies, butterflies and moths, you will get a tally sheet and set your timer for 15 minutes. You can stand or sit and mark each time a bug lands on your plant. You will add up each category and submit your finding using a QR code or link to the Great Southeast Pollinator Census.

Pollinators prefer plants in the sun so wear a hat and reading glasses if you need them. Water will be available but bring a beverage if you wish.

You can do the Census from your home, but we thought it would be more fun with friends in our beautiful garden! You will see that it’s easy enough to repeat at home if you wish.

Parking is free and accessible. The event is free and no registration is required. If you want to help teach attendees please let us know at info@ggcfl.org.

To learn more about the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, go to https://gsepc.org/. This is the first year that Florida is participating.

• Check out their short YouTube video demonstrating how to do the count: https://youtu.be/LNgrSzuGRQc
• Or their Counting and Identification Guide: https://gsepc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GSePC-Counting-Guide-2024.docx
• Download and print the Counting Sheet here: GSePC Counting Form

We hope you leave the pollinator party more confident in sharing your space with pollinators, some of the “small things that run the world.” You might even want to plant your own habitat! 

To learn even more about our Great Pollinators, check out the Fall Horticulture Expo on October 19 at the Alachua County Extension Ag Arena from 9 am to 4 pm. Nature’s Best Hope author Doug Tallamy is the “keystone” speaker at 2 pm in the auditorium.