Pollinators in the woods? Explore the many ways wild bees nest and forage in woody habitats. Most native bees are solitary and have long evolutionary relationships with our beloved wildflowers and provide important pollination services which ensure the stability of many of our favorite fruits, nuts, and vegetables. In the northeastern US, up to 1/3 of our wild bee species prefer and rely on forest habitats. Some are specialized to only collect pollen and nectar from spring ephemerals on the forest floor, while others nest in rotting logs and in leaf litter deep in the woods. Join Kass Urban-Mead from the Xerces Society for an adventure exploring how wild bees use the woods–from the leafy forest floor to the tippy top of the canopy! A tour of the Trial Garden with Kass Urban-Mead and Mt. Cuba’s Manager of Horticulture Research, Sam Hoadley will conclude the class. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. About the Instructor: Kass is a Xerces Society Pollinator Conservation Specialist and a Partner Biologist providing technical support for NRCS conservation programs. For her PhD work at Cornell Entomology, she studied pollen collection by wild bee communities active in early spring forest canopies and apple orchards.