Late September in Wichita was a whirlwind of activity, with a downtown chili cook-off, a custom car show, and the Great Plains Renaissance and Scottish Festival drawing crowds of jesters and knights. Yet, many chose a different, more buzzing kind of celebration.
Hundreds of residents flocked to the third annual ICT Bee Fest, held at the Mid-America All-Indian Museum where the Little Arkansas and Arkansas rivers converge. Here, attendees delved into the critical importance of native plants and the environmental drawbacks of traditional lawns.
Festival-goers enthusiastically collected native seeds and plants from local cultivators, explored a captivating tent brimming with migrating monarch butterflies, and even had the chance to gently interact with stingless Eastern male bumblebees.
50 States, 50 Fixes is a series highlighting local solutions to environmental problems. Look out for more stories throughout the year.
This lively event was the brainchild of the Grassland Groupies, a small non-profit established by self-described “bug and plant nerds,” Nicole Brown and Rachel Roth. Their mission: to champion native grasslands, create pollinator habitats, and foster what Ms. Roth affectionately terms “nature optimism.”
Given that approximately 97 percent of Kansas’s land is privately owned (with roughly 85% dedicated to agriculture), the Grassland Groupies’ efforts are crucial. They’ve already cultivated 40,000 square feet of pollinator habitat in local parks and schools, with plans for more. They also organize engaging hikes and nature journaling sessions, encouraging everyone to get excited about the natural world.
“There’s an immense sense of wonder in nature, a feeling often lost in our modern society,” shared Ms. Roth. “Engaging with it reduces burnout, and adults should feel completely free to revel in the marvel of even the smallest insect.”
The Groupies were instrumental in establishing Wichita as Kansas’s inaugural Bee City USA affiliate. This initiative is part of a larger movement to combat the drastic decline of native bees, moths, beetles, flies, butterflies, and other essential pollinator species. Achieving Bee City USA status, conferred by the non-profit Xerces Society, mandated a commitment from the Wichita City Council to expand pollinator habitats and minimize pesticide use.
Advocates believe this certification has significantly raised public awareness about how humans can actively support these endangered pollinators, which are indispensable for food production and the overall health of our ecosystems.
“In today’s chaotic world, many feel a loss of control, wondering how they can truly make an impact,” remarked Emily Judson, president of Riverside Garden, a Wichita community space distributing native plant seeds at the Bee Fest. “You might not think a single seed packet makes a difference. But this butterfly weed, for instance, has the power to sustain hundreds of monarch butterflies.”
The festival grounds hummed with activity. Children, many wearing colorful butterfly masks, followed their parents, while enthusiastic gardeners purchased purple coneflower and red columbine. An individual in a buoyant bee costume bounced through the crowd, adding to the festive atmosphere. A musician outside played a mesmerizing handpan rendition of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club.” Inside the butterfly tent, naturalist Allan Saylor meticulously attached featherlight tags to monarch wings, a crucial step in monitoring their survival and migration. Spectators of all ages watched his precise work, captivated.
Travis Junkins, an operations specialist with the U.S. Army Reserve, attended the festival with his family, inspired to start beekeeping after hearing Metallica’s James Hetfield discuss it on Joe Rogan’s podcast. Having already planted native sunflowers, Mr. Junkins is now exploring additional indigenous plants to further enhance his garden’s appeal to bees and other pollinators. “We’re constantly looking for ways to make our space more bee-friendly, more pollinator-friendly,” he explained.
While honeybees, non-native to the Americas, can sometimes negatively impact native bee populations, the ICT Bee Fest embraced them as a ‘gateway bug’ to spark interest. At one booth, retired aeronautical engineer Roy Beckemeyer showcased a display highlighting Kansas’s impressive diversity of approximately 400 native bee species.
Mr. Beckemeyer, now 83, shared that his late wife’s dedication to native gardens over many decades sparked his own deeper interest in the plants and the insects they sustain. He observed a growing enthusiasm among Kansans to protect pollinating insects, attributing it to increasing awareness of climate change and environmental deregulation. “People are finally re-engaging, hoping to play a small part in reversing these trends,” he noted.
A significant motivator for Ms. Brown and Ms. Roth, both with science backgrounds, to establish Grassland Groupies was the desire to openly discuss climate change.
Ms. Brown recounted how her past experiences with other environmental organizations often involved resistance to candid scientific discourse. She even recalled a former employer prohibiting the use of the word ‘evolution.’
“Such restrictions are simply unacceptable in scientific discussions,” she asserted. “One cannot effectively discuss habitat conservation without addressing the factors that threaten it.”
Ms. Roth observed that local environmental outreach often centered on hunting and fishing, which she felt framed humans as “consumers of nature.” She emphasized their desire to cultivate a collaborative community that simultaneously nurtures both people and the natural world, promoting a more holistic approach.
The evolving climate might actually be bolstering their advocacy. Last year, Kansas experienced severe drought conditions and subsequent water restrictions. Yet, the native plants at Riverside Garden thrived and bloomed with significantly less water, a resilience that captivated the attention of many onlookers, according to Ms. Judson.
In an era marked by political polarization, these community gardens offer a unique sense of solace, Ms. Judson noted. “We may hold diverse opinions, political beliefs, and backgrounds, but these gardens provide a common ground where we can connect,” she explained. “It’s simply difficult to argue about butterflies.”
As the festival concluded, attendees dispersed and vendors started packing. The monarch butterflies were gently released from their tent to resume their graceful migration. Meanwhile, the stingless Eastern bumblebees, having patiently endured hours of careful human interaction, were rewarded with a well-deserved retirement in the abundant, pollen-rich native flowering plants of Riverside Garden.