Bangor is certified as the first Bee City USA Affiliate in Maine! 

Our Trees & Bees Committee has worked with the City of Bangor on acheving this certification and acts as the official Bee City USA commitee.

Bee City USA® and Bee Campus USA work to galvanize communities to sustain pollinators, in particular the more than 3,600 species of native bees in this country, by increasing the abundance of native plants, providing nest sites, and reducing the use of pesticides.  To learn more about the program, visit beecityusa.org.

On July 8, 2024, the Bangor City Council passed a resolution designating the City of Bangor as a Bee City USA Affiliate. Read the resolution.

2025 Accomplishments

• May 7: Planted a pollinator garden at the Welcome to Bangor Sign on Route 2

• May 16: Planted 13 native street trees near Penobscot River Ecology Mural on Broad St.

• May 17: Planted 150 native trees and pollinator shrubs along the Kenduskeag Stream Trail as part of our ongoing Habitat Restoration Project.

• May: Funded planting of native pollinator plants at the Downeast School. All 350 students participated in planting seeds and plants in the spring and harvesting in the fall. Funding also supported a summer volunteer to weed, water, and maintain the garden. 

• June 29: Hosted a workshop on blending native plants in your garden.

• September 20: Planted 40 native shrubs on the Kenduskeag Stream Trail as part of our Habitat Restoration Project

• September 27: Installed pollinator themed mural at Downeast Elemantary School, which was created by local artist using images create by students. All students participated in painting the mural along with teachers, volunteers, and local high school art students.

• October: Maine Audubon Mural Garden: Installed 3600 square foot native plant garden at the Maine Audubon Mural on Broadway with the help of dozens of volunteers and over 125 area fifth graders. Project involved removing multiple tons of crushed rock and invasive species, amending soil and mulching with 16 yards of donated arborist chips. 185 native shrubs and trees were planted and dead wood was brought on site to enhance habitat.

• October 17: Planted 18 native street trees on Broadway near the Maine Audubon Mural

• November 7: Planted 3 native pollinator trees on a traffic circle on Howard St.

• November 8: Coordinated volunteers from UMaine to plant 5 native street trees and 6 native shrubs on Broadstreet, and to remove invasive plants.

• November 10: Removed a large, visible invasive shrub and planted 2 native shrubs and 5 native trees near Maine Audubon Mural on Broadway. 

• Hosted 4 gardening parties to maintain and enhance our existing pollinator gardens, including the installation of a dead hedge at the Park Street Pollinator Hedge.

• 
  

2024 Accomplishments

• January 19: Hosted a native seed sewing workshop with UMaine Cooperative Extension.

• May 1: No Mow May Campaign, including paid radio ads on WKITand a PSA created by students at New England School of Communications that ran on WHSN.
  (Listen to Ad 1, Ad 2, PSA)

• May 10: Planted 17 native trees on Hammond Street

• May 20: Planted 18 native flowering shrubs at the Good of the Hive Mural to celebration World Bee Day

• May 20: Planted 25 native tree saplings on the Kenduskeag Stream Trail

• June 14: Planted a pollinator garden at the Welcome to Bangor sign on Oak St.

• September 12: Planted a pollinator garden at the Welcome to Bangor sign on Union St.

• September 29: Installed pollinator themed mural at Abe Lincoln Elementary School, which was created by local artist using images create by students. All students participated in painting the mural along with teachers, volunteers, and local high school art students.