Saturday, June 6 | 9 AM – 12 PM | Uihlein Farm Greenhouse, 281 Bear Cub Road, Lake Placid

AdkAction is excited to announce the return of the Adirondack Pollinator Festival & Native Plant Sale on Saturday, June 6, at the Uihlein Farm Greenhouse in Lake Placid. This annual celebration brings together gardeners, conservation advocates, families, and community members for a fun and educational day focused on protecting pollinators and restoring habitat across the Adirondacks.

Festival activities and educational programming will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., while the native plant sale will continue until 2:00 p.m.

At the heart of the festival is AdkAction’s Native Plant Sale, featuring more than 2,000 pesticide-free, pollinator-friendly plants grown by volunteers and staff in the Uihlein Greenhouse. Every plant is carefully sourced and grown without the use of neonicotinoids, a class of insecticides harmful to pollinators. Pre-ordering is encouraged to ensure availability, and plants can be reserved now at AdkAction.org/plantsale. Pre-ordered plants may be picked up during the festival until 2:00 p.m. or by special arrangement on a nearby date.

New this year, the sale will also feature native trees and shrubs from Ausable Freshwater Center. Together, native trees, shrubs, and flowering plants create layered habitat that provides nectar, pollen, and shelter from early spring through fall. By planting a diversity of species, homeowners can support pollinators throughout every stage of their life cycle while adding long-term ecological value to their landscapes. Purchases support the work of both organizations to protect clean water, restore habitat, and strengthen communities across the region.

Festival activities include hands-on educational opportunities for all ages:

9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Native Plant Sale featuring pollinator-friendly flowers, grasses, trees, and shrubs

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Free Family Activities & Pollinator Crafts including a native plant scavenger hunt for kids. The first 30 children to complete the scavenger hunt will receive a pair of wearable butterfly wings to take home.

9:00 a.m. until supplies run out: Build Your Own “Mosquito Bucket of Doom” ($5 suggested donation for supplies). This DIY mosquito trap uses stagnant water to attract mosquitoes while a biological larvicide safely eliminates larvae without harming pollinators, birds, or other wildlife.

Beginning at 9:00 a.m.: Community Plant Swap Table. Gardeners are encouraged to bring plants to share from their own gardens as part of a community-wide effort to support habitat and neighborly exchange. Participants are asked not to bring invasive species or pesticide-treated plants. Labels will be available onsite.

10:00 & 10:30 a.m.: Educational Workshops, Habits Create Habitat: Developing a Pollinator Mindset and De-Lawning: Lawn Alternatives for Biodiversity led by Adirondack Pollinator Project’s Lisa Salamon (free)

11:00 a.m.: Greenhouse & Nursery Tour hosted by Ausable Freshwater Center (free)

AdkAction’s Adirondack Pollinator Project began as a monarch butterfly conservation initiative in 2011 and has since grown into a regional effort supporting a wide variety of pollinators and habitats. The program has helped establish community pollinator gardens, distributed educational materials through libraries and schools, hosted expert speakers, and inspired residents throughout the Adirondacks to create pollinator-friendly spaces at home and in their communities.

“Small acts compound when it comes to pollinator conservation,” said AdkAction Executive Director Sawyer Bailey. “When people plant native species, reduce pesticide use, or create habitat in their own yards, they become part of a much larger movement to protect biodiversity and strengthen ecosystems across the Adirondacks. The festival is about making those acts easier, hands-on, and fun for everyone.”

AdkAction thanks The Devlin Lake Placid for sponsoring this year’s Adirondack Pollinator Festival & Native Plant Sale and supporting community-based pollinator conservation efforts in the Adirondacks.

For more information or to pre-order plants, visit www.AdkAction.org/plantsale.