WHAT IS THE HAVEN?

The Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven is a unique outdoor museum where visitors can observe and learn about bees and the plants that support them. Located next to the Harry H. Laidlaw, Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility on Bee Biology Road, UC Davis, it was planted in Fall 2009 thanks to a generous gift from Häagen-Dazs. The garden is open year-round during daylight hours. Admission is free. For more directions and details to ensure an enjoyable visit, please see “Planning Your Visit.”

WHY DOES THE HAVEN MATTER?

Like to eat? Thank a bee! Bees are responsible for pollinating about 1/3 of all the food we eat, including most of the fruits, nuts, and vegetable that make our diets tasty and nutritious. Bees also pollinate many of our wild plants that in turn provide food and habitat for other wildlife.

Yet many bee species (California has about 1600 native bee species) are in decline. While we don’t know all the reasons why this is occurring, one thing is clear: bees need flowers. We can all plant bee gardens, from a few flower pots to several acres. The Haven is a unique location where visitors can see bees and learn what they can do to help.

Can’t make it to the garden? Visit our blog, The Bee Gardener, use the resources on this site, or use the links under “Follow Us” to connect to our social media pages.

GARDEN NEWS AND EVENTS

New at the Haven: our 2018 Annual Report is now available. Reports for 2017, 2016,  2015 and 2014 are also available.

2019 events at the Haven. A complete list is here.

February 16. Museum Biodiversity Day, 12pm to 4pm. Details here.

March 16. Planting the Bee Garden class, 8am to 11am. Details and registration here.

March 30. Children’s Bee Gardening class, 9am to 10am. Details here.

April 6. Planting the Bee Garden class, 8am to 11am. Details and registration here.

April 6. Bee Watching class 12pm to 3pm. Details and registration here.

May 4. California Honey Festival in downtown Woodland, 8am to 5pm. Details here.

May 11. National Public Gardens Day open house, 10am to1pm. Details here.

June 22. National Pollinator Week open house, 10am to 1pm. Details here.

August 17. Pollinator to Plate open house, 9am to 12pm. Details here.

September 21. Fall open house and plant sale, 10am to 1pm. Details here.

DONATE 

The garden is funded by donations and grants. Please consider making a gift to help us in our important work of bee pollinator education and outreach. Thank you. Click here to donate to the garden.

A list of donors is here.

VOLUNTEER 

The Haven could not exist without the support of our volunteers. They do much of the garden maintenance and assist at outreach events. Please consider joining the Haven team and supporting our important work. Apply here; to learn more about our volunteers, visit here.

HISTORY OF THE HAVEN
The Haven was planted in the fall of 2009. More….