Topsail Island, NC - It's summertime and there is a host of things to do around Topsail Island. Whether you are young or "younger", learning about bugs, bees and butterlies is a fun thing to do!  Check out our library to learn more about these beautiful creatures.

The Onslow County Public Library will host “Attracting Bees and Butterflies to your Garden” and “North Carolina Insects” with Lisa Jackson of the North Carolina Entomological Society as part of “Catch the Reading Bug”, Onslow County Public Library’s summer-long family reading program featuring programs, events, and prize giveaways for infants, children, teens, and adults.

Lisa Jackson will teach participants how to attract beautiful butterflies and buzzing bees to their gardens including which plants provide nectar for adult butterflies, food for caterpillars (including monarch butterflies) and nectar for bees. These easy to grow plants will beautify any yard or garden! “Attracting Butterflies and Bees to your Garden” will take place on Saturday, July 12 at 1 pm at the Main Library in Jacksonville.

Immediately afterward, Lisa Jackson will teach participants about amazing insects that can be found in any backyard. From tiger and rhinoceros beetles to beautiful butterflies and moths, participants will learn how to find beautiful and interesting North Carolina insects in their own yards or local parks. “North Carolina Insects” will take place on Saturday, July 12 at 2:30 pm at the Main Library in Jacksonville.

Lisa Jackson is a National Program Staff Scientist at the USDA’s Center for Plant Health Science and Technology.  In her job, Lisa develops survey tools and protocols for the early detection of exotic insects, plant pathogens, weeds, and other pests.  Lisa has been with the USDA for 2 ½ years.  She completed her Master’s of Science degree in Entomology from North Carolina State University in 2006.  Her research explored the use of non-crop habitat plants in organic cotton as a means of attracting predatory and parasitic insects to control pest insects. 

Prior to graduate school, Lisa received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Liberal Arts and worked at various research farms, organic production farms, and greenhouses.  Currently, Lisa is the Coordinator of the North Carolina Entomological Society’s Outreach Committee and enjoys educating the public about insects.  Lisa enjoys hiking, gardening, and observing insects and other wildlife. 

Onslow County Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, Catch the Reading Bug, runs through August 15, 2008 featuring programs, events and prize giveaways for infants, children, teens and adults. Registration is open and ongoing throughout the summer. Participants must be registered to be eligible to win prizes. 

Every year, Onslow County Public Library hosts summer reading programs with the goal of helping children and teens continue to hone their reading skills; to introduce the very young to the joy of reading; to encourage families to make reading and learning a total family experience; to encourage the entire community to help foster positive reading habits; and to ensure kids have fun! 

Last year, over 550 Onslow County children and teens participated in Summer Reading and were eligible to win grand prizes like a laptop computer, iPod, PSP, digital cameras, bikes, and much more. This year OCPL has added infant and adult programs and has extended programs and events to all library branches.

All Summer Reading programs and events are free and open to the public.

For more information, please call Onslow County Public Library’s Youth Services Department at 910-455-7350, ext. 231 or your local branch library.
 
**All Photos courtesy of Will Cook

For scheduling information from your local library, CLICK HERE