A seed was planted in January 2024 when The Charlottesville Garden Club hosted the annual meeting of three local clubs—Albemarle, Charlottesville, and Rivanna—each a member of the Garden Club of Virginia (GCV). The featured speaker, Phyllis Stiles, founder and director emeritus of Bee City USA, an initiative of the Xerces Society, delivered an inspiring message about the importance of pollinator conservation. Her presentation motivated many attendees to consider how Charlottesville could join the national Bee City USA network.
Then GCV President, Debbie Lewis, reinforced Stiles’s call to action. “The Garden Club of Virginia has a unique opportunity to make a significant and lasting impact on the protection of pollinators throughout the commonwealth,” she said, noting that the potential statewide impact would be tremendous if all 48 GCV member clubs pursued Bee City designation in their communities.
Following the meeting, members from the three Charlottesville-area clubs began collaborating to encourage the City of Charlottesville to pursue certification. Kim Cory of Albemarle Garden Club, Anne DeMaso of The Charlottesville Garden Club, and Michelle Jennings of Rivanna Garden Club represented the clubs in this effort, relying on what they describe as “polite persistence” to move the initiative forward.
Their efforts succeeded. On September 2, 2025, the City of Charlottesville announced at its City Council meeting that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Xerces Society, officially becoming a Bee City USA affiliate. The national program empowers communities to support the more than 3,600 species of native bees by expanding pollinator habitat, promoting native plants, and reducing pesticide use.
Charlottesville was already a proactive steward of pollinator health. Existing projects, such as pollinator fields under power lines at Riverview Park and native plantings at Azalea Park, Jordan Park, and along the John Warner Parkway, aligned with Bee City USA’s certification requirements. The City’s Climate Action Plan and Comprehensive Management Plan also incorporated pollinator-friendly practices. Bee City designation provides national recognition for these ongoing efforts and strengthens collaboration with other Virginia affiliates, including Scottsville, Roanoke, Lynchburg, Virginia Beach, and the University of Virginia.
As part of the agreement, the three garden clubs committed to designating representatives to a new Bee City USA Committee, encouraging pollinator‑habitat projects, hosting at least one educational event annually, purchasing Bee City USA signage, covering application and renewal fees, and submitting yearly updates to the Xerces Society. The City committed to expanding pollinator‑friendly habitat, limiting pesticide use, sharing resources on its website, and meeting regularly with club representatives.
Bee City status also enhances Charlottesville’s eligibility for environmental grants. City staff are in the process of connecting the clubs with Albemarle County counterparts, opening the door for regional expansion of the initiative. Bee City signs are planned for the John Warner Parkway, 5th Street, and near Monticello.
On April 18, the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont and the City’s Office of Sustainability will co-host an Eco Fair at the Garden beginning at 9 a.m. The event will bring together Bee City and other nonprofits focused on climate, the environment, and sustainability. Visitors can enjoy lightning talks, hands-on demonstrations, and opportunities to take meaningful environmental action.
For more information on Bee City USA, visit beecityusa.org For Eco Fair details, visit piedmontgarden.org
Submitted by:
Michelle Jennings, Rivanna Garden Club
Kim Cory, Albemarle Garden Club
Anne DeMaso, The Charlottesville Garden Club