By Robert Colen
On Friday, Aug. 21 and Saturday, Aug. 22, Sholom Park will once again participate in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, a regional citizen-science initiative that invites people across the Southeast to observe flowering plants, count pollinator visits, and help create a snapshot of pollinator activity in their communities.
At first glance, the event seems simple: watch flowers, count pollinators, and record what you see. Yet the more closely you look, the more meaningful it becomes.
Pollinators are all around us in a healthy garden, but many of us pass by without noticing them. A flower that appears still from a few feet away may be buzzing with life – bees moving from bloom to bloom, butterflies drifting through the garden, and beneficial insects quietly carrying out the work that helps our landscapes thrive. The census gives us a chance to slow down, observe, and appreciate these important visitors.
Sholom Park will host volunteers from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days. Volunteers will welcome guests, explain the census, and assist anyone who wishes to participate. Last year, approximately 10 volunteers and 150 park guests took part, and we hope to build on that success this year.
The volunteer effort is being coordinated by Carole Putnam, volunteer coordinator, and Misty Frye, park administrator.
Participants will begin at the pavilion area, where they will receive a brief introduction and watch a short instructional video before being assigned to counting stations throughout the park. Observation areas will include the formal garden, pavilion area, and Fragrance Trail, all of which feature a variety of pollinator-friendly plants. With support from UF/IFAS Extension and local Master Gardeners, volunteers and guests will observe flowering plants, count pollinator visits, and record their findings.
No experience is necessary. You do not need to be an insect expert to participate. Gardeners, families, students, nature lovers, and anyone willing to spend a few minutes watching a flower are welcome to join. Participants will learn to recognize the major groups of pollinators and contribute their observations to a much greater regional effort.
The data collected helps researchers and educators better understand which pollinators are active, which plants they visit, and how local landscapes support them. Just as importantly, the experience changes the way we see the world around us. Once you spend time watching pollinators, you begin to notice which flowers are busiest, where butterflies linger, and how much life is quietly unfolding in every garden bed.
That is why this event feels so at home at Sholom Park. The park is not only a place of peace, beauty, and reflection – it is also a living classroom. Every trail, tree, and flowerbed offers an opportunity to learn. The Pollinator Census reminds us that Sholom Park is more than a destination for people seeking tranquility; it is also vital habitat where plants, insects, birds, soil, water, and people are all connected.
We invite the community to join us for this year’s count. By giving just a little of your time, you can learn something new, contribute to an important regional conservation project, and take part in the meaningful work of caring for the natural world.