UPCOMING CLASSES AND EVENTS at the Utah Botanical Center in Kaysville include a class on bees and beekeeping, a class to teach beginners the basics of safe canning, and a self-guided garden tour with experts on hand to answer any questions about the center’s gardens.

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BY JENNIFFER WARDELL

Clipper Staff Writer

KAYSVILLE — Bees, bottles, and bug-stopping flowers, oh my!

Even though summer’s drawing to a close, the Utah State University Botanical Center is still offering a variety of garden-related educational opportunities. From a workshop on the mysteries of bees to a garden tour with tricks to take home for your own plants, there are still plenty of opportunities to work a little learning into your summer schedule. 

Bees are the name of the game on Aug. 16 from 5-8 p.m., when USU bee specialist Cory Stanley-Star will appear at the UBC Farmer’s Market to talk about pollinators. She’ll also teach a class on both bees and beekeeping at the UBC Kaysville Education Center on Aug. 22 from 2-6 p.m. In the class, she’ll go over tools and resources for those who want to get started beekeeping. 

“You can get started beekeeping with one hive for under $500,” said Stanley-Star. “Of course, no one I know ever stops at one hive.” 

Most people’s knowledge, on the other hand, stops at only one or two. Though honey bees and bumblebees are the two most commonly known bee species, there are over 900 species of bees in Utah alone. 

“We won’t have time to go into all of them,” she said. “But everyone will definitely learn something.” 

The class will also go into details about how to bring more pollinators into your garden. 

“Without enough pollinators, you won’t get as many fruits and flowers,” she said. “With some plants, you won’t get any.” 

On Aug. 18, the botanical center’s Utah House will offer a class updating a new generation on the basics of canning produce from your garden. The class will focus on safe canning techniques, deadlines for use, and incorporating canned fruits and vegetables into winter recipes. 

For those still focused on growing their summer produce, the garden open house on Aug. 23 from 5-7 p.m. will offer plenty of tips from experts. Residents start at the Farmer’s Market, where they receive a map that will guide them through the center’s seven different gardens. At each one, an expert will be on hand to answer questions and explain some of the techniques used in each garden. 

At the center’s Food Pantry Garden, garden designer Diana Tabor will be on hand to explain a technique known as companion planting. The Food Pantry Garden just started using the technique this year, pairing different types of plants so that both have a healthier growing environment. 

“We put the climbing nasturtium in with the squash and pumpkins, because the squash bugs don’t like nasturtium and they stay away,” said Robyn Knight, director of the Food Pantry Garden. “We also put  Gem Marigolds near several of the plants, because they ward off aphids.” 

For more information and to register for classes, visit usubotanicalcenter.org and click on the “Events and Classes” tab.