On July 9, 2026, we met at Deer Grove Forest Preserve where Sue Gorr taught us about the monitoring protocol for bumblebees. We learned the types of bumblebees that are being monitored, and the plants to use for forage.
We arrived at 10 am, and it immediately started downpouring! What an amazing group! Nobody complained; nobody left! Everyone pulled out a hat or umbrella and waited out the rain! Perhaps because the bees were hiding from the rain, they all came out to put on a show for us when it stopped. Most plentiful were the two spot bumblebees. However, a beautiful black and gold decided to show itself, and we learned that it is now officially the Illinois state bumblebee.
