Red Lodge Bee City, USA

Commitments

Establish a standing Bee City USA committee to advocate for pollinators.

The Parks Board's Tree and Bee Subcommittee manages Bee City USA initiatives for Red Lodge. Non Parks Board members may volunteer on this subcommittee. Contact Courtney, clong@cityofredlodge.com with interests.

Create and enhance pollinator habitat on public and private land by increasing the abundance of native plants and providing nest sites.

The Trees and Bees Committee is working on a plant to install pollinator-friendly plantings in the North Community Entrance into town. In 2021 we will begin with the roundabout and work south along Broadway. Additionally, the Sustainability Board is working with the City to inventory unimproved city-owned lands. These inventories will include spaces that can be converted to pollinator habitat.

Reduce the use of pesticides via an Integrated Pest Management Plan.

We will be developing an IPM during our first year, 2021-2022, with the intent of incorporating it with our existing Urban Forestry Management Plan.

Incorporate pollinator-conscious practices into city policies and plans.

City advisory boards, such as the Sustainability Board and Parks Board, have guided implementation of policies and plans that indirectly support pollinators. It is our goal to elevate specific policies that are pollinator-conscious.

Host pollinator awareness events.

Spring/Summer 2021- The Red Lodge Carnegie Library is hosting a multi-week "Pollinator Pals" program for young kids with materials from the Montana Ag in the Classroom. We are also working with the All Nations Garden Club to promote pollinator habitat and awareness during their summer events.

June 23, 2021- Tabling at the Weed Away Red Lodge event

July 30th, 2021- A featured garden at City Hall for the All Nations Garden Club's "Garden Tour"

August 20, 2021- Pollinator talk with the All Nations Garden Club

Publicly acknowledge Bee City USA affiliation with signs and an online presence.
Pay an initial application fee and annual renewal fee. Report on prior year's activities.

The City of Red Lodge's renewal fee is $100. No reports are currently available as affiliation began in 2021.

Resources

Noxious weeds out compete native plants more suitable for pollinators, especially for specialists that rely on particular species of plants. Check out our Noxious Weeds page for more resources on identifying and dealing with noxious weeds.

Regional native plant resources

PDFs of additional resources available under "Supporting Documents"

USDA Searchable Plant Database
Montana Native Plant Society Landscaping Guide for South Central Montana Native Plants
NRCS List of Plants for Pollinators in the Intermountain West
Pollinator Partnership Guide to Plants for Pollinators in the Southern Rocky Mountain Steppe
Xerces Society Native Plant, Seed and Services Directory
Mountain Meadows is a Red Lodge-based seed company that offers native seeds. These seeds can be purchased directly from the company, or at Baldwin's Landscape & Nursery, or Rock Creek Lumber.

Learn about pollinators

how to attract pollinators

If you are looking to attract more pollinators to your backyard, you may need to do a little more than planting pollinator-friendly and native plants. Bumblebees, hummingbirds and other pollinators also required shelter and water. By adding these, even the smallest of backyards can become a pollinator haven!

Habitat Planning. There are several ways to integrate pollinator habitats into the landscape. For example, snags and stumps provide nesting sites for native bees, like bumblebees, yet these are often removed from landscapes.
Improving Nesting Sites
Webinar: Building Pollinator Habitats in Cities and Towns: North Central Region
Go Lawnless or participate in No Mow May. Red Lodge has a Nuisance Weed ordinance that goes into effect on June 1.