Bee Wise – Bee Surprised, a free program of the Somerset County Park Commission Horticulture Department, is scheduled to take place at the Fragrance & Sensory Garden from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 6.
The Fragrance & Sensory Garden is located in the Colonial Park Gardens, Lot A 156 Mettlers Road, Somerset, New Jersey. Admission is free (donations greatly appreciated).
Participants will have the opportunity to see, smell, taste, and feel the essence of summer herbs. The day will begin with a tour of the garden, sharing the space with hummingbirds and butterflies gathering their favorite nectar sources.
Cathy Blumig of Wolgast Tree Farm & Apiary will be the keynote speaker. An award- winning bee expert, she will offer a presentation on the importance of honey bees to our food supply, how bees make honey, and how different floral sources influence the color, aroma, and taste of honey. Her presentation will be followed by a wildflower honey tasting.
A variety of hand-crafted soaps, lip balms, candies, honey varieties, propolis, and other hive products will be available for sale.
For information, call 732-873-2459, ext 21 or the NJ Relay Service at 711 for individuals with a hearing or speech impairment.
The Fragrance and Sensory Garden is located at the western portion of the Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden. Designed to be of special interest to visitors who are visually or physically impaired, the garden demonstrates how plants can appeal to all of the senses. The sunken garden is surrounded by a stone wall and raised beds, enabling visitors to easily reach out and touch the plants. The stone capping at the top of the wall will guide the visually impaired. Many of the herbs are identified with printed labels as well as Braille.
Popular with adults and children for its interactive nature, visitors are invited to touch and smell the herbs. Culinary and fragrant herbs including basils, mints and geraniums are displayed within reach. The fragrances of lavender, daphne and sweet autumn clematis perfume the air. Textured plants such as the rubbery sedum, spiky blue fescue and downy lamb’s ear delight the sense of touch. Behind the herbs is a backdrop of annuals and perennials that provide color throughout the season.
Information on this event and other Somerset County Park Commission activities may be found on the Internet at www.somersetcountyparks.org.