SMELL THE FLOWERS. As the summer season tapers off, local organizations have invited the wider Eau Claire community for a pollinators and biodiversity-focused event at Phoenix Park (330 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire): the Bee Haven Biodiversity Celebration.

Plants and pollinators will be the focal point of this August’s Bee Haven Biodiversity Celebration, a first-time event its organizers hope will become an annual affair.

The summer sun will begin to settle back just as the inaugural event gets going from 5pm-7:30pm on Monday, Aug. 24 at Phoenix Park (330 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire). There, the Bee Haven Biodiversity Celebration will offer hands-on “nature tables,” face painting, chalk activities, free Olson’s Ice Cream scoops and the official unveiling of the “Bee Haven” project.

Jane Mohler, co-founder of the Chippewa Valley Biodiversity Partnership (CVBP), said the forthcoming event is an example of cross-community collaboration – all in the name of encouraging others to partake in the stewardship of nature.

(Those efforts encourage) residents to see their own yards, balconies, schools, faith communities and community spaces as part of a growing network of habitat through hands-on activities and strong local partnerships. –Jane Mohler, co-founder of Chippewa Valley Biodiversity Partnership

“At its heart, this celebration will be about connection – reconnecting people to place, to pollinators, to habitat and native animals, and to the shared work of caring for our environment,” Mohler said.

“(We) invite people of all ages to experience how small, local actions – planting native species, nurturing soil life, creating habitat and noticing and cherishing native species – can add up to something powerful for biodiversity,” she continued.

The free, all-ages event – hosted by the Chippewa Valley Biodiversity Partnership initiative and partnering organizations – poster, pictured. (Poster artwork created by Cassanda Volbrecht with direction from Jane Mohler)

The CVBP is collaborating with the Eau Claire Area Master Gardeners Association (ECAMGA), Eau Claire Garden Club, JONAH Environmental Task Force, Beaver Creek Reserve, Children’s Museum of Eau Claire, Sierra Club and other enthusiasts to bring the event to life.

Some of those organizations are also partners of the overall CVBP – a total 19 organizations are part of the local biodiversity effort – including the ECAMGA. Thus, the Master Gardeners group found its participation in the inaugural event only natural, President Paul Wagner said.

“Also, the event will showcase (the) Bee Haven and provide other resources, to help people modify their own lawns and garden spaces to better promote biodiversity,” Wagner said.

The inaugural event continues participating organizations’ efforts to build on local momentum, generated from this year’s Eau Claire Earth Fest event, Plastic Free Eau Claire initiative and wider Homegrown National Park movement, Mohler added.

“(Those efforts encourage) residents to see their own yards, balconies, schools, faith communities and community spaces as part of a growing network of habitat, through hands-on activities and strong local partnerships,” Mohler said.

The Bee Haven Biodiversity Celebration is free to attend. View the Facebook event page for updates ahead of the event.

Learn more about the Chippewa Valley Biodiversity Partnership online at www.cvbiodiversitypartnership.org. The inaugural Bee Haven Biodiversity Celebration event is slated for 5pm-7:30pm on Aug. 24 in Phoenix Park (330 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire).