The US Embassy Ljubljana, in cooperation with the Smithsonian Gardens-Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. and the University of Ljubljana Botanic Garden, opened the Smithsonian Pollinator Garden “Pollination Investigation” educational panels exhibit at the University of Ljubljana Botanic Garden on Friday, May 25, 2018. The opening was co-hosted by H.E. Brent R. Hartley US Ambassador to Slovenia and mag. Dejan Zidan, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry of the Republic of Slovenia, as well as Dr. Joze Bavcon, Head, University of Ljubljana Botanic Garden. Mr. James Gagliardi of the Smithsonian Gardens, horticulturist and co-creator of the panels, was in Slovenia at the invitation of the US Embassy Ljubljana and spoke on behalf of the Smithsonian Gardens.
This exhibit was initiated and funded by the US Embassy Ljubljana in cooperation with the Smithsonian Gardens and with the University of Ljubljana Botanic Garden under the LIFE NATURAVIVA, Biodiversity – Art of Life project in honor of the first Slovenian-initiated UN World Bee Day on May 20. The exhibit panels have been translated into Slovenian and the content adapted to Slovenia and will be permanently on display at the University of Ljubljana Botanic Garden. All panels are in Slovenian and English.
Prior to the opening, James Gagaliardi gave all the participants in the US Embassy organized GeoBioBlitz 2018: Pollinators and the Pollinated a special introduction to the educational panels and then let them loose in the garden to discover these pollinators for themselves!
Whether you are in the Smithsonian Pollinator Garden in Washington, DC or the Botanic Garden in Ljubljana, Slovenia, you can now learn about the importance of pollinators to both wild plants and agricultural crops. Did you know that one in three bites of foods you eat are dependent on pollinators?
Photos from Smithsonian Gardens Pollination Investigation Panels Opening at University of Ljubljana Botanic Garden, May, 25, 2018. Photos Courtesy of Luka Dakskobler
