Saturday, May 19, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Putnam Museum & Science Center, 1717 West 12th Street, Davenport IA
Visitors to Davenport's Putnam Museum & Science Center can learn all about the birds and the bees – and the butterflies, and the moths – in the venue's inaugural Pollinators' Palooza, a May 19 event dedicated to nature's springtime pollinators that will boast presentations, film screenings, and arts & crafts for children.
Presented by the ISU Scott County Extension Master Gardeners, the Pollinators' Palooza begins at 10 a.m. with activities in the museum's Grand Lobby, and will be followed by presentations for all ages delivered by event partners including the Davenport Public Library and the Friends of the Davenport Public Library, FoodCorps, Illinois Master Gardeners, Nahant Marsh, Niabi Zoo, the Quad City Botanical Center, the QC Food Forest and River Action. Beekeeper Ron Fischer's 10:15 a.m. presentation “The Buzz About Bees: A Look Inside a Beehive and Much More” will be followed by a visit from children's author Jill Esbaum, who will treat kids to a reading of “Honeybees.” At 11:15 a.m., the 40-minute educational documentary Flight of the Butterflies 3D will be shown on the venue's Giant Screen (with a repeat viewing scheduled for 1:45 p.m.), and at noon, Master Gardener Beverly Broughton will present “The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird: A Tiny Dynamo,” immediately followed by a reading with WQPT's Mr. Scott (a.k.a. Scott Brouette).
At 1 p.m., the QC Food Forest's Conza Borders will deliver a talk on “Looking at Four Years of Growth and the Future,” with an accompanying reading delivered by Davenport Mayor Frank Klipsch. Master Gardener Ray Wolf, at 2:30 p.m., will speak on “Gardening for Butterflies: Plants You Need and Butterflies You Will See,” and kids can enjoy the Quad City Botanical Center's Greg Wolf reading from his collection of big books with the aid of some puppet friends. Master Gardener Trish Wilger delivers her presentation “The Monarchs Are Coming! What You Need to Know to Welcome and Sustain These Beautiful Garden Guests” at 3:30 p.m. And at 4:15 p.m., Matt Wilhelm and Matt Duncan will introduce Putnam guests to the beauty of “Midwestern Silk Moths – Prettier Than Butterflies.”
Admission to the Pollinators' Palooza is free, with $5 admission for adults viewing Flight of the Butterflies 3D, and the event will be preceded by an 8 a.m. plant sale outside the venue. For more information, call (563)324-1933 or visit Putnam.org.
