Threats to native bees, monarch butterflies and other pollinating insects will be discussed at a Marine on St. Croix forum on Saturday, July 18.

"In Praise of Pollinators and Prairies" will take place at the St. Croix Watershed Research Station in Marine on St. Croix from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Featured scientists include Karen Oberhauser on monarch butterflies, Vera Krischik on pesticide threats to bees and Karl Foord on native bees in Minnesota. The scientists working at the research station will give tours of experimental native prairie areas.

Soyini Guyton and Seitu Jones, current resident artists at Pine Needles, will talk about their plans to develop a field guide to the natural elements of the Frogtown Farm and their Frogtown neighborhood in St. Paul.

Native prairie plants will be available for purchase, allowing visitors to improve pollinator habitat in their own backyards and gardens.

The event will take place at the research station's prairie at 15111 St. Croix Trail N. For more information, call 651-433-5953, ext. 10 or 13, or visit researchstation@smm.org or www.smm.org/scwrs.

Kevin GILES