What do you know about bees, and what would you like to learn about them?

Visit the University of California, Davis campus on Saturday, Sept. 15, and you will see (1) bee specimens from all over the world and (2) bees and other pollinators in their natural habitat.

It's all happening at two concurrent open houses from 1 to 4 p.m. The theme: “Flower Lovers: The Bees.” The open houses, free and open to the public, are being arranged by the Bohart Museum of Entomology. The venues: the Bohart Museum in Room 1124 of Academic Surge on Crocker Lane, and the Haagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven, a bee friendly garden on Bee Biology Road, located next to the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility.

The UC Davis officials are hoping you'll attend both, and especially the special recognition ceremony at 1:30 p.m. at the haven for 17-year-old Derek Tully, who, as his Eagle Scout project, planned, organized and built a state-of-the-art fence around the half-acre haven. Tully launched the project April 2. He and his crew of 33 volunteers finished the fence on Sept. 7. Their work is nothing short of spectacular. 

Tully & crew saved the Department of Entomology some $24,000 to $30,000, according to entomologist Lynn Kimsey, faculty liaison to the haven. Kimsey, director of the Bohart Museum of Entomology (home of more than seven million specimens), describes the fence as "meticulous" and "beautiful."

That it is.

On Saturday, the Bohart Museum will not only feature a global display of bees, but visitors can create a variety of craft activities. Ready to greet you will be Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator; senior museum scientist Steve Heydon; and graduate student Matan Shelomi. In addition to viewing the specimens, you can hold Madagascar hissing cockroaches, walking sticks and rose-haired tarantula, all members of the live “petting zoo.” They're perfect for photos, too!

At the Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven, the agenda will include a recognition ceremony for Derek Tully, 17, of Davis at 1:30 p.m. Tables on native bees will be staffed by Neal Williams, assistant professor of entomology and graduate student Katharina Ullmann. Staff research associate Billy Synk will showcase bee tools, bee suits, bee boxes and other beekeeping necessities. The UC Davis Entomology Club will coordinate crafts activities.

Extension apiculturist Eric Mussen of the UC Davis Department of Entomology, a noted honey bee expert, will be at the haven to field questions about bees. Got a bee question? He'll answer it. Christine Casey of the UC Davis Department of Entomology will guide a tour of the haven from 2 to 2:30 p.m. There you'll likely see assorted bees, syrphid flies, butterflies, dragonflies, praying mantids, ladybugs, and spiders--and maybe even an assassin bug or two. The biggest bee is the six-foot long ceramic bee sculpture, the work of self-described "rock artist" Donna Billick of Davis. A native bee mural, painted bee boxes and native bee condos also grace the garden.

It promises to be a fun and educational afternoon--and a nice tribute to the work of Derek Tully.