08/21/2026
On Saturday, September 26th from 10 am to 3 pm, Samuel Smith Farmstead will host “Bees & Birds & Butterflies Oh My”. The event for Adults and Children is free, and will be held at the Farmstead located at 82 Plants Dam Road in East Lyme, Connecticut.
At 1:00 pm, Dr. Jamie Vaudrey, Coordinator for the Niantic River Watershed Committee, will present an engaging 20 minute talk. Join us to learn what scientists are discovering about local water quality, the challenges facing our coastal waters, and how healthy rivers and estuaries support the communities and ecosystems we value. Discover why the health of the Sound starts in our own backyards.
This gathering of informed and educated participants offers an opportunity to learn together about protecting our Ecosystem. The following organizations will be present and provide education on Honey Bees, Pollinator Plants, Wild Birds, Coastal Conservation and inviting Mother Nature Into our Backyards
Connecticut Audubon Society's Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center will offer information on how we can support Birds in our own backyards during Fall Migration. Hands-on activities will include how to make our homes safer for Birds and provide food, water, and shelter they need during the Fall. Opportunities will also be offered for examining Feathers under Microscopes for an up-close look at the remarkable adaptations of Connecticut’s Birds.
Bee Me Up Apiary will present Live Honey Bees safely contained in an Observation Hive and Visitors can try to find the Queen Bee! Bee Me Up Apiary is a Connecticut registered family-owned operation in Quaker Hill with 14 active hives at present. Jeff serves in the beekeeping mentorship program for the CT Beekeepers Association mentoring new beekeepers in southeast Connecticut.
Wild Birds Unlimited will be sharing tips for tidy Bird Feeding, Exploring their Seed Blends and straight Seeds, Learn who Eats what in your Backyard, and how choosing the right Food can help Attract more of the Birds you Love. Learn about “Saving the Songbirds” and creating a Healthier, more Bird-Friendly feeding space. Stop by and come with your questions - they'd love to “Talk Birds “with you!
Pollinator Pathway East Lyme, Inc. will offer activities including Seed Mud Balls with Milkweed and other essential seeds, a Butterfly Craft for kids using Pipe Cleaners and Beads, and a Pollinator Game. Educational tours of the back meadow and front garden at the Farmstead will be given.
Smith's Acres, our Niantic neighbor Garden Center and Farm Market, will present a selection of Pollinator Friendly Plants for Sale and offer insight into bringing more Bees & Birds & Butterflies into your Yard.
Niantic River Watershed Committee will offer the opportunity to interact with the EnviroScape Coastal Model, a hands-on educational tool that demonstrates how everyday actions on land affect water quality and the health of coastal ecosystems.
Donations are greatly appreciated with all proceeds going to fund needed repairs to the historic House and Barn at Samuel Smith Farmstead.
