Tuesday Mysteries kick off at the arboretum

Turn your favorite elementary-age kids into detectives as they discover the fascinating world of pollinators as Tuesday Mysteries in the Arboretum kicks off this coming week.

Presented by the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society, Tuesday Mysteries in the Arboretum kicks off July 9 from 9 a.m. to noon in the North Idaho Native Plant Arboretum on S. Ella Avenue. There will be additional mystery sessions — same time and place — July 16 and 23.

To participate, those interested can simply come to the arboretum shed in Lakeview Park on those dates from 9 a.m. to noon and pick up that day's clue. Each Tuesday, there will be a new mystery to solve by finding the answer in the informational posters along the Arboretum's paved path. The first week focuses on solitary bees. On July 16, butterflies will take center stage; on July 23, moths will be under the spyglass. 

Mystery sleuths can bring the results of their search to the Arboretum shed for a real cookie and another fun activity.

Last year's Tuesday Mysteries focused on spiders, beetles, and ants. This close-up look at insects helps youth develop an understanding of how ecosystems work and how the lives of plants and insects are integral to each other and to humans as well.

Information about Tuesday Mysteries can be found on the KNPS website: nativeplantsociety.org.