🐝 Meadowlark Nature Festival: Tour #53 – Bees, Bugs, and Butterflies… Oh My!

On May 19th, we joined Tour #53 of the Meadowlark Nature Festival for a family-friendly walk through Summerland’s beautiful Cartwright Mountain — and it did not disappoint! With nets in hand, jars ready, and eyes wide open, families explored the fascinating world of pollinators, wildflowers, and all the tiny creatures that keep our ecosystems thriving.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible tour leaders, Mandy Brown and Tyler Nelson, for guiding such a thoughtful and engaging experience. Their knowledge and passion for the natural world truly brought the event to life. And a special thank you to Josée Bergeron from the Meadowlark Nature Festival for helping make this beautiful day possible — your care and coordination were deeply appreciated.

Discussing the butterfly caught at the end of the tour. Mandy Brown (left), Josée Bergeron (center), Tyler Nelson (right)

🐞 A Day of Discovery

My partner Kevin and I brought our boys, Matteo (5) and Niko (2), along for the adventure. The morning began with a short, interactive presentation by Mandy and Tyler. Mandy, who is an Integrated Pest Management and Pollination Advisor with Plant Products, and Tyler, the Insect Collection Curator at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, shared preserved museum specimens of native bees and butterflies — and even a live bumblebee hive!

From there, we hit the trail.

Inspecting a jumping spider.

The kids were absolutely thrilled with their Bug Bingo cards, spotting butterflies, beetles, and bees while enjoying beautiful views and wildflowers along the way. One highlight was a stop at a Ponderosa pine tree, which Mandy fondly referred to as the “puzzle tree” for its unique bark shapes. The kids loved exploring the scattered pieces on the ground — smelling them and discovering their natural vanilla-like scent. It was such a simple moment of sensory discovery that really stuck with them.

There was something incredibly special about watching children slow down and engage with the tiny details of nature — inspecting bugs in jars or gently observing pollinators at work.

Mandy is talking about the "Puzzle Tree".

🌼 Why It Mattered

This tour wasn’t just educational — it was joyful. It was a reminder of the magic in simple outdoor learning, the power of community, and the importance of protecting native species. Events like this make science feel accessible and fun for families, and that’s something I’m so proud to be part of.

I brought my camera along, of course — and couldn’t resist capturing the wide-eyed wonder, delicate wings, and yellow salsify blooms all around us.

📸 A Closer Look

I photographed the entire tour using my Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro lens, which allowed me to capture beautifully detailed close-ups of insects, flowers, and the thoughtful interactions happening throughout the walk. From tiny pollinators on wild salsify to the excitement of Bug Bingo, these images tell the full story of the day.

Scroll down to enjoy the full photo gallery — all images from the tour are included below.