Samantha “Sam” Murray, education and garden coordinator at the UC Davis Bee Haven, presented strategies for supporting pollinator populations during her talk at the 15th annual UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day. Her presentation, titled “Creating Your Own Pollinator Garden,” highlighted concerns about declining pollinator numbers.
“Pollinator populations are changing,” Murray told attendees at the Sensory Theatre of the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science. “Many pollinator populations are in decline and this decline is attributed most severely to a loss in feeding and nesting habitats.”
She added, “One in three bites of food we eat are from a pollinator source. Pollinators need help and we know how to help them.”
The UC Davis Bee Haven, established by the Department of Entomology and Nematology in 2009, serves as a half-acre demonstration garden featuring over 200 plant species. The site is adjacent to the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility on Bee Biology Road and is open to visitors daily with no admission fee. The garden’s director is bee scientist Elina Lastro Niño.
California supports about 1,600 native bee species out of approximately 4,000 worldwide, making it an important area for pollinator diversity. Robbin Thorp, a former professor at UC Davis, identified more than 80 species within the Bee Haven alone. Native bees face threats from habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change.
Murray displayed images of various native bees such as bumble bees, longhorned bees, leafcutter bees and mason bees. She described characteristics like sexual dimorphism in Valley carpenter bees: males are golden with green eyes while females are all black.
For those interested in creating their own pollinator gardens, Murray advised planting diverse species so flowers bloom throughout the year and grouping plants together rather than spacing them individually. She emphasized using regional native plants because they are adapted to local conditions and support native pollinators.
“Help pollinators find and use them by planting in clumps, rather than single plants. Include plants native to your region. Native plants are adapted to your local climate, soil and native pollinators,” she said.
She also noted that night-blooming flowers can attract moths and bats while larval host plants support butterflies by providing food for caterpillars.
Among recommended plant varieties were Mexican sage—favored by many pollinators—as well as hummingbird sage, “hot lips” sage, rosemary and sunflowers. More details on suitable plants can be found on the Bee Haven website.
Murray pointed out that “Bees find plants by flower form, shape and contrast.” She also encouraged including bee houses or condos for leafcutter bees using tubes made from paper straws or bamboo that should be replaced each spring after previous occupants have matured.
According to information provided by Murray during her talk:
– Food: Gardens should offer a variety of nectar- and pollen-rich flowers throughout the year.
– Water: A shallow dish or birdbath with pebbles helps keep bees hydrated.
– Shelter: Provide undisturbed soil patches or structures like hollow stems for nesting.
– Avoid pesticides where possible to promote healthy environments for pollinators.
The UC Davis Bee Haven integrates art into its landscape design with pieces such as a six-foot-long ceramic mosaic worker bee created by Donna Billick. Additional artworks come from university-affiliated programs combining science with artistic expression led by faculty like Diane Ullman.
Murray was one of four presenters at this year’s event; other speakers covered topics including nematodes (Pallavi Shakya), dinosaur forelimbs (Tracy Thomson), and yeast applications (Kyria Boundy-Mills). Recordings from these sessions are available online via YouTube.
For further information about visiting or supporting the Bee Haven—including newsletters or guided tours—interested individuals can contact beehaven@ucdavis.edu.
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) plays a role statewide by sharing science-based practices through research facilities like nine Research and Extension Centers across different ecosystems (source). UC ANR maintains offices in every California county (source) as part of its mission under University of California affiliation (source). For over a century it has supported communities with expertise spanning farming methods, environmental conservation efforts—including wildfire protection—and youth education programs (source). Glenda Humiston currently serves as vice president (source).