Green Acres hosts virtual pollinator party

The signature cocktail for this event is the Honey Bee.
(Photo courtesy Green Acres) 

Honey Bee cocktail and a picture-perfect pot-up are part of the fun

By Debbie Arrington

Happy National Pollinators Week! Time to show bees and butterflies some love.

Planting nectar- and pollen-filled flowers is a wonderful way to celebrate. Beneficial insects love a blooming buffet.

To get us gardeners in the mood, Green Acres Nursery & Supply is hosting a virtual garden party. At 4 p.m. Friday, June 26, take a trip to “Playful Pollinator Paradise” on Instagram Live.

According to Green Acres, the free event will feature “our hands-on pollinator container garden, a lavender-honey cocktail, and special music provided by our guest DJ to get you in the mood and keep things moving.”

When it’s time for the party, just go to www.instagram.com/idiggreenacres/ and click to join.

Guest DJ will be Tessa Young, founder of Prism Djs. Supplies and plant suggestions are available online at www.idiggreenacres.com under “Events.” (Here’s the direct link: https://bit.ly/3evNjYT )

For the container garden, Green Acres experts suggest agastache, coneflower, petunias and sweet potato vine. Since this is for Instagram, the project is billed as “Picture Perfect Pollinator Pot-Up.”

As for the party’s signature Honey Bee cocktail, it’s also post-worthy and guaranteed to get you buzzed. Here’s the recipe (adapted from Green Acres):

Bees and lavender are a perfect pairing. (Photo: Kathy Morrison)

Honey Bee
Makes 1 serving

Ingredients:

1-1/2 ounces lavender-honey syrup
3/4 ounces lemon juice
5 to 6 ounces champagne or sparkling wine
Ice
Lavender flower for garnish

Instructions:

In a cocktail shaker, add lavender-honey syrup, lemon juice and ice, and shake vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into a champagne coupe (a shallow, saucer-shaped, stemmed glass). Top with champagne or sparkling wine. Garnish with a fresh lavender flower. Serve immediately.

Lavender-Honey Syrup

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of honey
1 cup of water
1 tablespoon lemon zest
5 to 6 fresh lavender flowers

Instructions:

Add all ingredients into a small saucepan and heat to a low simmer. Maintain at a low simmer for 1-2 minutes, then turn off the heat and let cool. Strain the mixture into a storage container. Will keep in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 weeks.