Isle A La Cache Hosts 'Pollination Investigation' Exhibit

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Isle a la Cache Museum will host a spring exhibit that highlights pollinators and the important role they play in the ecosystem, according to a release from the Forest Preserve District of Will County.

Smithsonian Gardens’ “Pollination Investigation” opens April 2, and runs through June 22. Exhibit hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Jen Guest, the facility supervisor at Isle a la Cache, said the exhibit will showcase the fascinating relationship between flowers and pollinators, explaining how they work together to sustain the environment.

“It’s a great way to learn about these creatures and understand how even small efforts – like planting a pollinator garden – can make a difference,” she said in a release. “Nearly 90 percent of flowering plants rely on pollinators for fertilization. With around 200,000 species of pollinators, from bees and butterflies to birds and bats, they play an essential role in keeping ecosystems healthy.”

According to the preserve, the exhibit was created by Smithsonian Gardens in collaboration with the National Museum of Natural History and made available by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. It is funded in part by the Smithsonian Women's Committee. The exhibit’s appearance at Isle a la Cache was made possible by The Nature Foundation of Will County.

“Pollination Investigation” has been enhanced by museum staff and features stunning visuals, hands-on activities, and a special play area for young visitors, the preserve said in a release.

The exhibit serves as a lead-up to the museum’s Pollinator Party on June 14 and aligns with Isle a la Cache’s commitment to pollinator education, Guest said.

“Each year, we dedicate an entire event to celebrating pollinators,” she added. “We also have a pollinator garden with pollinator hotels on-site to provide habitat for our buzzing friends.”