Let’s talk about some important friends in our ecosystem… the pollinators. This week is National Pollinator Week, which is an annual celebration to raise awareness for pollinator health and ways to help protect them.
We’re highlighting some local pollinator hot spots that are Monarch Waystation certified and suggesting a few native plants to add to your garden to help keep our bees, butterflies, and birds satisfied.
A bee pollinating a wild bergamot flower at Walnut Creek Wetland Park. | Photo by RALtoday
🦋 Pollinator gardens
The City of Oaks has 27 registeredMonarch Waystations (habitats for the monarch butterfly + other pollinators). We chose four spots where we have seen pollinators thrive.
Durant Nature Preserve, 8305 Camp Durant Rd. | This preserve features a butterfly garden + a bird garden.
Walnut Creek Wetland Park, 950 Peterson St. | Get inspiration for your own garden from this waystation featuring bundles of wild bergamot.
Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S. Salisbury St. | Spot buzzing bees and insects at this downtown garden.
A Monarch Waystation sign at the Raleigh Convention Center. | Photo by RALtoday
🐝 Pollinators dig these plants
Help keep pollinators happy + healthy (while adding color to your garden) by planting native flowering plants like the ones below. Logan’s Garden Shop + Atlantic Gardening have a great variety of seeds, plants, and tools to choose from.
Asters are purple flowers that bloom in late summer.
Wild Bergamot, also known as “bee balm,” blooms in clusters of lavender, pink, and white flowers.
Coneflowers (AKA echinacea) are part of the daisy family and are resilient, upright perennials.
Milkweed is another native perennial flower that provides a wealth of nourishment for pollinators.
Sunflowers have been dubbed as “pollinator superheroes” because they are an abundant source of pollen and nectar.
Pro tip: Plant these flowers in groups with full sun and stay away from insecticides.
Midtown Beach Music | Thurs., June 23 | 5-9 p.m. | Coastal Credit Union Midtown Park, North Hills | $10 | Listen to live beach music performed by The Embers featuring Craig Woolard. 🏖️
Friday
H.E.R. | Fri., June 24 | 7:30 p.m. | Red Hat Amphitheater | $115+ | See this R&B singer perform songs from her latest album like “We Made It” + “Trauma” on the “Back of My Mind Tour.” 🎶
Outdoor Film: Encanto | Fri., June 24 | 8:30-10:30 p.m. | NCMA | $7, free for members | Spend the evening outside watching this fan-favorite Disney movie (PS: We don’t talk about Bruno).
Saturday
Make + Take: Rainbow Cake | Sat., June 25 | 9 a.m. | Sur La Table, 4421 Six Forks Rd. | $79 | We’re sure this cake will taste even better than it looks, and that bar is pretty high. 🌈
Carly Prentis Jones + Friends | Sat., June 25 | 7-9 p.m. | ArtSpace, 201 E. Davie St. | $45 | Listen to these theater- and classically-trained artists perform live.
Sunday
We Ain’t Done Wild’n Out Yet | Sun., June 26 | 7 p.m. | Goodnights Comedy Club, 861 W. Morgan St. | $25+ | Have a good laugh with comedians Jay Lewis and Mope Williams.
What If If Only + Air | Sun., June 26 | 2 p.m. | Burning Coal Theatre Company, 224 Polk St. | $20+ | Watch two new plays by world-renowned playwright Caryl Churchill. 🎭
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
National Drink Up Week is July 25-31. | Photo by RALtoday
Raise your glasses. This toast is dedicated to Raleigh’s beverage industry, from morning iced lattes to afternoon power smoothies and evening specialty cocktails. We appreciate what makes our local drink scene unique.
And to kick off our National Drink Up Week, July 25-31, we want to partner with local coffee shops, wineries, bars, restaurants, distilleries + more to shine a spotlight on our local beverage tastemakers. Find out more below.
City leaders voted to adopt new rules outlawing “dangerous wild animals” (think: lions, tigers, wolves + venomous snakes) to be kept as pets. This decision comes nearly a year after a venomous zebra cobra escaped in Raleigh. The final vote from the city council will take place on Tues., July 5. (The News & Observer)
On Tuesday, the Wake County Board of Commissioners voted to collect $900 million in bonds. The money will go to Wake County public schools and Wake Tech Community College to build replacement buildings + make necessary repairs. A public hearing is scheduled for Mon., July 11. 🚌 (TheNews & Observer)
Community
WalkSmartNC, State Capitol Police, and the Raleigh Police Department are hosting a pedestrian safety event tomorrow from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Officers will be on high alert in downtown and will be issuing warnings to drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians and will be stopping pedestrians who fail to use crosswalks. 🚨
Due to extreme temperatures, this Sunday’s Moore Square Marketwill be the last one until Sun., Aug. 7. The market will be extended to Sun., Oct. 30 to make up for the missed July dates.
Pets
Wake County Animal Shelter reported that it has reached capacity; the shelter is asking for help from the community to avoid euthanizations. If you have room in your home, consider adopting or fostering an animal from the center. (WRAL)
Cause
The Women’s Center has an urgent need for volunteers. Positions include assisting in sorting donations, hosting enrichment classes (think: art, music, ballet, yoga, and self defense), and providing meals. Reach out here to learn about more service opportunities.
Seasonal
Although summer officially ends on Thurs., Sept. 22, the feeling of summer could last longer due to warmer temperatures. According to climate data from 1970 to 2021, the average summer temperatures have risen ~four degrees + summer-like temperatures have started to arrive earlier and last longer. (WRAL)
Raleighite
Shawn Whitney, a physical education teacher at the Governor Morehead School for the Blind, is attending the USA Blind Soccer Coaching Education Summit this week. Shawn is one of 26 coaches and educators across the US to attend the inaugural event in Virginia. Learn more about the program here. ⚽
A beauty message from our sponsor
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The 43rd Annual EnoFest partnered with local artist Gabriel Eng-Goetz’sclothing line Runaway to create an exclusive merch collection. Shirts, water bottles + posters are now available online and will be at the festival on Sat., July 2 + Mon., July 4.
The full schedule for the EnoFest (which will be held at 5101 N. Roxboro Rd.) has also been announced. More than 65 artists like Sonny Miles and Daughter of Swords willperform on four different stages. Purchase tickets here.
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Editor’s pick: Sunflowers are growing in Dix Park and this progress update makes me excited for mid-July (peak bloom time). I can’t wait to lounge in the hammock grove with a view of these bright yellow, pollinator superheroes.
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