Meeting Minutes June 13,, 2026

Presentation link

• Our mission, values, accessibility

• North Port High School's hives are doing well and the teachers are learning how to care for them over the summer.

• Membership card will get you discounts to Selby Gardens and Bok Tower.

• Pollinators- Bees, hummingbirds, and bats

• Why Floral Diversity Matters-

• Honey bees require both nectar and pollen throughout the year.

• Nectar provides carbohydrates used for energy and honey production.

• Pollen provides protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals needed for brood rearing.

• Florida’s climate allows nearly year-round blooming, but bloom timing varies by region.

• Successful bee forage planning depends on planting overlapping bloom cycles.

• Nectar vs. Pollen Sources

• Nectar plants are primarily used to produce honey and fuel colony activity.

• Pollen plants are critical for feeding larvae and supporting brood production.

• Some plants provide both strong nectar and strong pollen resources.

• Beekeepers should avoid forage gaps by combining trees, shrubs, herbs, and wildflowers.

• Regional bloom timing is especially important in Florida due to differing climates between North, Central, and South Florida.

• Florida Native Plants and Pollinators

• Florida native plants are among the most important forage resources for honey bees and native pollinators.

• Native plants are naturally adapted to Florida’s climate, soils, rainfall, and seasonal patterns. They often require less fertilizer, irrigation, and pesticide use while providing critical nectar and pollen resources.

• The Florida Native Plant Society and UF/IFAS both recommend incorporating native flowering plants into landscapes, pollinator gardens, farms, schools, and community spaces to support healthy pollinator populations.

• Top Native Florida Pollinator Plants

• • Coral Honeysuckle – Vine providing nectar for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds

  • Frogfruit – Excellent low-growing nectar and pollen source

  • Coreopsis – Florida state wildflower with long bloom season

  • Firebush – Heat-tolerant nectar powerhouse

  • Blanket Flower – Native wildflower supporting pollinators in sandy soils

  • Beautyberry – Pollinator-friendly shrub with wildlife value

  • Dune Sunflower – Excellent coastal pollinator plant

  • Buttonbush – Wetland shrub highly attractive to bees

• Native Vines and Shrubs for Bees

• Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

  • Native vine with long bloom period

  • Valuable nectar source

  Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata)

  • Early spring blooms support pollinators

  Maypop Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

  • Supports bees and butterflies

  American Beautyberry

  • Provides seasonal forage and wildlife habitat

• Native Trees & Coastal Plants

• Saw Palmetto

  • Major nectar source in Central and South Florida

  Black Mangrove

  • Important coastal nectar source

  Sea Grape

  • Coastal nectar and pollen plant

  Red Maple

  • Critical early pollen source for brood production

  Buttonwood & Coastal Wildflowers

  • Important for coastal pollinator diversity

• Healthy pollinator Habits Support:

• • Honey production

  • Crop pollination

  • Native bee populations

  • Butterfly and wildlife diversity

  • Florida ecosystems and biodiversity

  Educational outreach, school gardens, community pollinator projects, and native landscaping initiatives play a major role in protecting Florida pollinators for future generations.

Contact

Reach out for questions or membership info

Email

Info@peaceriverbeeclub.org

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