The Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District is partnering with Rent Mason Bees to help pollinate plants within the parks to help create a healthier ecosystem.

The district is releasing 1,600 bees near the historical orchards in Williams Olson Park, Blakely Harbor Meadow, Hilltop Meadow and Moritani Nature Preserve to help revive and strengthen the orchards and surrounding habitat.

Blue Orchard Mason Bees do not sting and are native to the Pacific Northwest. They are super pollinators and are vital to food production. They belly-flop onto flowers and collect pollen all over their bodies, which enables them to pollinate 95% of the flowers they land on, and they can visit up to 2,000 blossoms a day.

Solitary bees live alone and do not have a hive. They find their own nest, gather their own food, and lay their own eggs. They lay around 15 eggs a year, compared with honeybees that lay 2,000 eggs a day. Similar to a butterfly, the larva spins a cocoon, hibernates over winter, then emerges as an adult bee.

To learn how you can help, rent your own solitary bees or learn more go to rentmasonbees.com

Meanwhile, a lot has been happening at the KidsUp! Playground at Battle Point Park.

The KidsUp! Next Generation of Play Committee, in partnership with the Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation, has met their primary funding goals, allowing construction to enter its second phase.

Following the fall and winter installation of many of the first phase play fixtures and walkways, the long-anticipated 47-foot-long steel ferry boat has arrived. Assembly will begin as soon as the site becomes dry enough for the foundation framework to be set.