The North Carolina Arboretum’s Education Center will be abuzz on Thursday, April 10 with four presentations about the importance of honeybees to mountain ecology and economy. As part of a recurring discussion series about our changing mountain environment, Understanding Honeybees introduces local beekeepers and bee experts who will speak about honeybees as a vital, threatened and often misunderstood part of our region. Join us for one or more of the following presentations:

Learn about the current status of the bee population, about “colony collapse disorder,” “killer bees,” and more.

Get a peek inside a hive to understand the habits and life of this unusual creature.

Whether you have an acre or a window box, learn which plants can make a difference.

This panel discussion of beekeepers will explore issues facing those who use traditional methods of beekeeping and support commercial agriculture with those who advocate for change.

Featured speakers include Diane Almond, a WNC beekeeper whose efforts to educate the public are supported in part by a 2008 AgOptions microgrant, and Debra Roberts, a multimedia producer whose ongoing program “The Honeybee Project” incorporates a bee music video used in classroom settings. Exhibits will include parts of a beehive, common bee products, samples of honey plants and more.

For people interested in further education, the Arboretum will also host “IPM 101” on Thursday, April 24 at 10 a.m., a discussion for gardeners on “integrated pest management.” Arboretum staff member Alison Reeves will lead the discussion of how and why certain insects should always be welcome in the landscape.

These programs are free and open to the public; usual parking fees apply. For more information, call (828) 665-2492.