San Diego Pollinator Week

Each year, on the first full week of May, when flowers are in bloom and our region's butterflies and native bees take flight, the San Diego Pollinator Alliance puts on a full week of FREE events for community members to learn about our region's native pollinators, ways to protect them with pollinator-friendly practices, and cultivate a better understanding of their importance. Events typically include guided walks, pollinator garden tours, talks, and workshops.

San Diego Pollinator Week 2027 is May 3rd through 9th!

San Diego Pollinator Week is inspired by--but different from--national Pollinator Week: National Pollinator Week takes place at the end of June. By then, most of our region's native bees and butterflies are no longer flying, and instead are nesting underground, in plant stems, in leaf piles, or in other small cavities. By contrast, early May aligns with our spring blooms and the flight time of many of our native bees and butterflies! Also by contract, as an alliance focused on the health of native pollinators, we de-center the introduced western honeybee, still using them as a gateway to learn about native bees!

Learn more about the magic of San Diego Pollinator Week in this iNewsource article by Philip Salata!

San Diego Pollinator Week 2023 

Thank you to everyone who participated in the inaugural San Diego Pollinator Week!

We had over 300 community members attend events! See here for the full list of activities offered during San Diego Pollinator Week 2023.

 

people sitting at a picnic table
Pollinator gardening workshop at Sweetwater Community Garden
A presenter discusses insect visual system diversity, showing various images on a screen to an audience.
UCSD pollinator research presentation at San Diego Botanic Garden
park ranger showing people in a field
Guided plant and pollinator hike at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
A group of people is lined up at a tent on steps, likely for an event related to conservation or education.
Milkweed swap at SD Natural History Museum
A vineyard scene featuring two people among rows of grapevines, with rolling hills in the background.
Habitat on Working Lands field day at Ramona Ranch Vineyard & Winery
A group of people gathers outdoors, listening to a speaker near lush vegetation with a scenic view in the background.
Guided talk with Master Gardeners at Mt Helix Park
A group of people, including children, are tending to plants in a garden or farm setting, focusing on plant care and education.
Family scavenger hunt with Earth Discovery Institute
people sitting at a picnic table
A presenter discusses insect visual system diversity, showing various images on a screen to an audience.
park ranger showing people in a field
A group of people is lined up at a tent on steps, likely for an event related to conservation or education.
A vineyard scene featuring two people among rows of grapevines, with rolling hills in the background.
A group of people gathers outdoors, listening to a speaker near lush vegetation with a scenic view in the background.
A group of people, including children, are tending to plants in a garden or farm setting, focusing on plant care and education.

 

Deep gratitude for all the partners who supported by hosting workshops and sharing their knowledge:

San Diego Pollinator Week 2026 

 Over 550 people attended over 15 free San Diego Pollinator Week events in 2026!

For the first time, we hosted a "Pollinators in Action" photo contest with prizes from local sponsors who are long-time champions of pollinators. See the winning photos below! We also partered with the San Diego Public Library to provide educational coloring pages to every branch.

Announcement for the 4th Annual San Diego Pollinator Week, May 4-10, 2026, featuring workshops, contests, and tours.
Upcoming events for San Diego Pollinator Week (May 4-10, 2026) featuring nature walks, talks, and exploration tables. Free admission!
Events for San Diego Pollinator Week (May 4-10, 2026) include farm tours, workshops, volunteer opportunities, and nature walks.
Schedule of San Diego Pollinator Week events from May 4-10, 2026, featuring demonstrations, guided walks, a butterfly release, and a webinar.
San Diego Pollinator Week (May 4-10, 2026) features free events: nature exhibits, a photo contest, and educational coloring pages at libraries.
Enter the Pollinators in Action Photo Contest for a chance to win prizes! One entry per person. Follow the steps to participate.
A close-up of a hand holding a bright yellow flower with a bee on it against a clear blue sky.
Pollinators in Action photo contest winning photo: Kristen Cotter-Purdy, "Big Sleepy" A bumblebee seen at the Little Barn in Imperial Beach.
A hummingbird hovering near vibrant purple flowers in a lush green setting. Nature's beauty captured in motion.
"Pollinators in Action" 2nd place photo: Leah Rottke, A hummingbird (either Rufous or Allen's) seen at the Bird and Butterfly Garden in Tijuana River Valley Regional Park.
A close-up of a vibrant yellow cactus flower with a bee collecting pollen, set against a backdrop of cacti and blue sky.
"Pollinators in Action" 3rd place photo: Rachel Lee Harper, Red-legged Centris bee (Centris rhodopus) seen in San Felipe.
A group of people, including a child, are planting in a grassy area, focused on environmental restoration or gardening.
A group of people walking through a natural area, carrying shovels and gardening tools, likely for a planting or conservation project.
A group of people outdoors, holding potted plants, preparing for planting activities. Tools and gardening gloves are visible.
A group of people is silhouetted against a bright light, observing a dark, natural setting near water and foliage at night.
A group of people gathered outdoors, listening to a speaker at a table with materials, under greenery at sunset.
A group of people is gathered in a natural setting, interacting amidst greenery, possibly during an event or exploration.
A group of people outdoors, engaged and surprised while looking at something on a phone.
A group of people is gathered outdoors, engaged with plants and their phones, surrounded by greenery and a natural landscape.
A group of people, including children, gather under a tent, possibly for an event or activity involving tables of items.
A group of people gathers outdoors, listening to a speaker near parked cars, with a scenic sky and mountains in the background.
A group of people in a flower field, with a guide explaining something, likely about plants or ecology.
A green bee sits on a bright yellow flower, sharing the vibrant garden scene with other blooms. Nature's beauty captured!
A group gathers outdoors, engaging with presenters at a table displaying samples, while others chat in the background.
A group is gathered under a tent, possibly at an outdoor training or informational event, with tables displaying materials.
A person is holding papers about bees, with a colorful background of books and a bulletin board featuring bee-themed decorations.
The image shows a hand holding information about the American Bumble Bee, with colorful books and decorations in the background.
Hands holding cards with words: "SEARCH," "WAIT," "EAT," "TRANSFORM," and an image of a butterfly and a caterpillar.
The image shows an educational display about native plants and bees, featuring posters, artifacts, and interactive materials on a table.
A table displaying insect-related materials: magnifying glasses, a jar, identification charts, and specimen slides.
A basket with clipboards holding worksheets, likely involving insects or pollinators, placed in a sunny outdoor area.
A speaker presents to an audience in a classroom setting, discussing bees and their characteristics, with visuals displayed.
A speaker presents to an engaged audience in a seminar setting, discussing a topic displayed on a screen.
Announcement for the 4th Annual San Diego Pollinator Week, May 4-10, 2026, featuring workshops, contests, and tours.
Upcoming events for San Diego Pollinator Week (May 4-10, 2026) featuring nature walks, talks, and exploration tables. Free admission!
Events for San Diego Pollinator Week (May 4-10, 2026) include farm tours, workshops, volunteer opportunities, and nature walks.
Schedule of San Diego Pollinator Week events from May 4-10, 2026, featuring demonstrations, guided walks, a butterfly release, and a webinar.
San Diego Pollinator Week (May 4-10, 2026) features free events: nature exhibits, a photo contest, and educational coloring pages at libraries.
Enter the Pollinators in Action Photo Contest for a chance to win prizes! One entry per person. Follow the steps to participate.
A close-up of a hand holding a bright yellow flower with a bee on it against a clear blue sky.
A hummingbird hovering near vibrant purple flowers in a lush green setting. Nature's beauty captured in motion.
A close-up of a vibrant yellow cactus flower with a bee collecting pollen, set against a backdrop of cacti and blue sky.
A group of people, including a child, are planting in a grassy area, focused on environmental restoration or gardening.
A group of people walking through a natural area, carrying shovels and gardening tools, likely for a planting or conservation project.
A group of people outdoors, holding potted plants, preparing for planting activities. Tools and gardening gloves are visible.
A group of people is silhouetted against a bright light, observing a dark, natural setting near water and foliage at night.
A group of people gathered outdoors, listening to a speaker at a table with materials, under greenery at sunset.
A group of people is gathered in a natural setting, interacting amidst greenery, possibly during an event or exploration.
A group of people outdoors, engaged and surprised while looking at something on a phone.
A group of people is gathered outdoors, engaged with plants and their phones, surrounded by greenery and a natural landscape.
A group of people, including children, gather under a tent, possibly for an event or activity involving tables of items.
A group of people gathers outdoors, listening to a speaker near parked cars, with a scenic sky and mountains in the background.
A group of people in a flower field, with a guide explaining something, likely about plants or ecology.
A green bee sits on a bright yellow flower, sharing the vibrant garden scene with other blooms. Nature's beauty captured!
A group gathers outdoors, engaging with presenters at a table displaying samples, while others chat in the background.
A group is gathered under a tent, possibly at an outdoor training or informational event, with tables displaying materials.
A person is holding papers about bees, with a colorful background of books and a bulletin board featuring bee-themed decorations.
The image shows a hand holding information about the American Bumble Bee, with colorful books and decorations in the background.
Hands holding cards with words: "SEARCH," "WAIT," "EAT," "TRANSFORM," and an image of a butterfly and a caterpillar.
The image shows an educational display about native plants and bees, featuring posters, artifacts, and interactive materials on a table.
A table displaying insect-related materials: magnifying glasses, a jar, identification charts, and specimen slides.
A basket with clipboards holding worksheets, likely involving insects or pollinators, placed in a sunny outdoor area.
A speaker presents to an audience in a classroom setting, discussing bees and their characteristics, with visuals displayed.
A speaker presents to an engaged audience in a seminar setting, discussing a topic displayed on a screen.

A huge thank you to San Diego Pollinator Alliance members and partners who hosted events:

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