by Mary Carol Presutti, New Windsor Master Gardener Volunteer
The ruby-throated hummingbird flew into the porch door window and lay lifeless on the ground. Not ten minutes ago, she had been darting around the yard, along with another female, sipping the necter from my coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) and giant hyssop(Agastache sp.). The two of them had been there on and off all summer, so it’s not like she didn’t have the lay of the land. I could only assume the two girls had been fighting over the honeysuckle, as they are wont to do in a race to put on winter weight, and I guess it got out of hand.
I thought about the little bird now laying lifeless on the ground, it would never make it to wherever she would have spent the winter. Thinking about it, I didn’t know where she would have headed to. Or the route, or the time taken to get there, or if she would eat along the way, or well…anything about her journey.
The remaining bird was sitting on the fence near the honeysuckle looking in my direction. She perched there for maybe five minutes then flew away, and I never saw the bird again.
So, as the little ruby-throated began the first day of her winter journey, I sat down in front of my laptop and began to learn as much as I could about what she would be doing in the days and weeks ahead.
After leaving my yard in New Windsor, she would have traveled southwest to somewhere along the Gulf of Mexico. She would fly during daylight, just over the treetops in constant search for food. During most of the flight she had to make sure that her weight stayed high by eating flower nectar, insects, sugar water provided by birders, and interestingly, the sugary and protein laden contents of yellow-bellied sapsucker holes. Her normal weight is between 3 and 4 grams, about the weight of a penny. To prepare for her trip she had to double her weight while she was in New York.
Once she reached the Gulf, there was a final push across the water as she flew nonstop for 500 miles until she reached land. Young and older birds may fly along the coastline into Mexico to reach their destination. My bird may have had the good fortune to alight on a passing boat or possibly an oil rig for a short rest. It is an amazing journey for such a tiny bird.
It is now December so the ruby-throated hummingbird who, in September, perched on the fence watching me, has by now made the long 1600 mile or more trip to one of a few locations in Mexico and Central America. However, there is a chance that she may be wintering in one of the southernmost states. In the last 25 years with the temperature change, the ruby-throated hummingbirds’ range has expanded 200 miles north of its traditional southernmost range.
Sometime in March the trip back north will begin and by the end of April to mid-May she will arrive close to where she was born, ready to find a suitable mate, raise her chicks, and prepare for another fall flight.
Interesting Facts about Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
Research indicates that a hummingbird can travel as many as 23 miles in one day. They fly by day and use tail winds to help conserve energy.
In eastern part of the United States the ruby-throated hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird around. Males arrive in New York a few days before females to set up territories
Bird banding projects show that when ruby-throated hummingbirds head south, they will follow almost the exact route they took a few short months ago when they were heading north to their breeding grounds. Young birds will return to the location in which they were hatched.
Several species of hummingbirds including the ruby-throated hummingbird follow yellow belly sapsucker woodpeckers to feed on the remaining sap and bugs left over from the holes the sapsucker drills into trees.
Hummingbirds eat between 60 and 80% of their protein a day in insects. That’s about 330 fruit flies a day!
Hummingbird feet are poorly developed, so if they want to move a few inches while perched they must fly.
A group of hummingbirds is called a charm, but you will seldom see a group of hummingbirds gather willingly outside of backyard hummingbird feeders. Hummingbirds are territorial and can be aggressive when food is involved. The dominant male controls which hummingbirds feed in his territory. He sits nearby the feeding area and will attack any other males or females that dare to attempt to feed in his territory. Female hummingbirds that are sociable towards the dominant male are allowed to feed unscathed.
By Claudine Sullivan, Walden Master Gardener Volunteer
One of the most recognizable symbols of fall is a branch of oak leaves and a couple of acorns. Oak trees (Quercus spp.) have been around for approximately 55 million years old, with the oldest North American specimen being 44 million years old. Long before pumpkins and corn stalks came to symbolize harvest and bounty, people depended on the humble acorn and majestic oak tree for sustenance and shelter. Today we think of oak trees in terms of shade, firewood, and sturdy furniture, but as acorns can be stored for long periods of time and the flour made from them is quite nutritious for thousands of years acorns were the main food staple for people in balanocultures.
Oak trees are a dominant plant in many forest ecosystems and currently there are about 500 species of oaks growing in temperate and tropical climates throughout the world. There are about 90 species of oak trees native to the United States including eleven here in New York.
All oak trees produce acorns, this is the fruit and contains a nutrient rich seed. It can be hard to imagine that a single acorn can become a 200-year-old tree cable of producing millions of other acorns. Acorn production does not begin until an oak tree is about 20 years old, with peak production when the tree is between 50 to 80 years old. After that acorn production tapers off, although some trees will produce acorns well into their second century and beyond.
Oaks in North American are divided into two groups: White Oaks and Red (Black) Oaks. Each group has distinct leaf shape and acorn production strategy. White or annual oaks have rounded-lobed leaves, flower later in the spring than red oaks, and have sweet tasting acorns that mature in one season. The acorns of the white oaks can start to germinate as soon as they hit the ground in the fall.
Red or biennial oaks have pointed-lobed leaves, flower earlier in the spring than white oaks, and have bitter tasting acorns that take two years to mature. Because their acorns take two years to mature, it is possible to have two seasons of acorns on each twig. The acorns of the red oaks need a period of cold stratification that lasts 6-8 weeks in order to germinate.
Oaks Native to New York State
White / Annual Oaks
Red / Biennial Oaks
Bear OakQuercus ilicifolia
Chestnut OakQuercus montana
Chinkapin OakQuercus muehlenbergii
Black OakQuercus velutina
Dwarf Chinkapin OakQuercus prinoides
Northern Red OakQuercus rubra
Post OakQuercus stellata
Pin OakQuercus palustris
Swamp White OakQuercus bicolor
Scarlet oakQuercus coccin
White OakQuercus alba
Both white and red oaks are monoecious meaning they have separate male and female flowers found on the same plant. Flowering begins in early spring, just before the leaves start to emerge. The male flowers are produced on long catkins and are the first to bloom. After about two weeks, the inconspicuous female flowers will open. Female flowers are sometimes mistaken for leaf buds and can be found on both upper branches and new twigs, just at the base of new leaves. They can only truly be appreciated with a magnifying glass.
The male flowers shed their pollen and the wind carries it to the female flowers of neighboring trees. If the male flowers were above the female, the tree would more likely self-pollinate, so to ensure cross-pollination female flowers are located high in the tree, above the male flowers. Weather can affect acorn production. A rainy, damp spring will suppress pollination as the pollen will be washed to the ground. A cold snap can also kill the female flowers. Once fertilization occurs, a dry spell or other stressors can cause the tree to abort the acorns to conserve the trees resources.
When all environmental factors work together, oak trees can produce an overabundance of acorns in what scientists call a “mast year.” The term mast comes from Old English word meaning “fat” or “food” and can be traced back to the same word origin that gave us “meat”. Perhaps that’s why the insides of nuts is called “the meat”. In a mast year, one mature oak tree can produce 10,000 acorns. Not every year is a mast year and not all trees have them in the same year. In fact, the exact cause of a “mast year” is still not completely understood. Scientists hypothesize that factors including weather and evolutionary adaptation play a part in this natural phenomenon.
When it comes to acorn production scientist have observed a two to five year production cycle that includes a mast crop year, a few average years, and a poor year. Why have oaks (and other nut trees) developed this interesting quirk? One hypothesis is that it is a survival strategy. Oak trees depend on small mammals such as chipmunks and squirrels, and birds such as blue jays and woodpeckers for seed dispersal. When there is an overabundance of acorns produced not all of them will be eaten, ensuring that some of them will be able to germinate and grow into trees.
The acorn production cycle also has huge effects on the forest food web. Just under 100 species depend on the acorn as a primary source of food including birds, black bears, chipmunks, deer, mice, and squirrels. When the forest floor is full of acorns, the species that depend on the acorns for food have an easier winter. This results in an increase in the animal population the following year. Mast years use a lot of the tree’s resources, so they are often followed by a few years of lean or average acorn production. In years when there are fewer acorns, fewer animals survive, keeping the population in balance.
An interesting study conducted in southeastern New York shows that mast years not only effect the animal population that eat acorns, but it also effects tick populations that feed on the acorn eaters. After a mast year, populations of chipmunks, squirrels, and white-footed mice increase. These small mammals are key to the life cycle of the blacklegged or deer tick (Ixodes scapularis), the only vector for Lyme disease in the northeastern United States.
When tick eggs hatch in spring, the emerging larvae are not infected with Lyme disease. Their first host is usually a small mammal. If their first host is a carrier of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, the ticks become infected. After feeding, the larval ticks drop-off their hosts and molt into nymphs. The following spring the nymphs, which now may carry Lyme disease, search for new hosts, and this time they are more likely to chose a large animal such as a deer or a human. As a result it has been observed that two years after an acorn mast year, Lyme disease cases see an uptick.
So next time you step on an acorn or hear one go THUNK! on your car or shed roof, remember that it is much more that just a fall decoration.
By Linda Gayton, Highland Mills Master Gardener Volunteer
This article appeared in the August 2021 Issue of Gardening in Orange County.
Goldenrods are members of the aster family (Asteraceae) and most are of the genus Solidago. There are over two dozen species of goldenrod native to New York State varying in height from the 14 inch tall Alpine Goldenrod (Solidago leiocarpa) to the 4-6 foot Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima). Most of New York’s goldenrods are late bloomers putting out flowers in late summer and fall. As one of the few groups of wildflowers in peak bloom at this time, many insects depend on these plants for food. Goldenrods also provide food for birds and small mammals through their prolific seed production. On sunny days goldenrod patches are a good place to watch for butterflies including painted ladies, monarchs, and viceroys. In addition to butterflies, many species of bees, wasps, and beetles can also be seen collecting pollen and nectar from the hundreds of tiny flowers that make up a goldenrod’s inflorescence or flower head.
This hardy perennial thrives in a variety of habitats including roadsides, fields, wet and dry prairies, sandy banks, swampy bogs, and forest openings. Some species will even thrive in sand dunes by the ocean or on rocky summits. On the east seaboard, Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) grows in abundance stabilizing sand dunes and providing a vast food supply for monarch butterflies on their long migration south.
No matter your garden aesthetic, there is goldenrod for you. Gardeners who prefer tidy borders can choose clump forming varieties, whereas gardeners desiring a more naturalistic look may be able to accommodate the self-seeding or rhizomatous types. Most goldenrods are very hardy and vigorous with few diseases or insect problems. The spiky, fleecy, or sometimes flat-topped yellow flowers are versatile accents to the strong purples and pinks of aster, sedum, and joe-pye weed. They also complement dainty flowers of native grasses and lobelias.
For gardeners concerned about goldenrod’s alleged allergy inducing pollen, please note that goldenrod produces a sticky pollen meant to attract and adhere to insect pollinators not allergy inducing wind-borne pollen. One of the main culprits of late summer /early fall allergizes is ragweed, a common garden weed that blooms at the same time and often alongside goldenrod. Ragweed goes unnoticed in the landscape because of its drab green flowers, which generates an unusual amount of wind-borne pollen much to the chagrin of allergy sufferers. Goldenrod pollen will only affect an allergy sufferer if they stick their nose into a flower and take a big sniff.
Understanding this misconception between ragweed and goldenrod is important, as the goldenrods comprise a diverse genus with tremendous horticultural potential. Goldenrod is one of the absolute best native perennials for biodiversity. Add it to your pollinator gardens and let people know it is a friend, not a foe.
By Robin Portelli, Cornwall Master Gardener Volunteer
This article appeared in the July 2021 Issue of Gardening in Orange County.
Alliums, otherwise known as ornamental onions, literally can be seen popping-up in sunny gardens around the area. The most common varieties bloom in late spring to early summer but there are some late summer to fall bloomers as well. Most of them will have fragrant showy globe-like flower heads on a single stem. These perennial bulbs do well in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9 depending on the variety/cultivar. Well drained soil is important since many of the bulbs are large and will rot if they sit in too much moisture. Their heights range from 12-48 inches. Some of their attributes include being deer, rabbit and vole resistant along with being pollinator friendly attracting bees, butterflies and occasionally a hummingbird. Plus, they come in a variety of eye-catching colors including purple, pink, blue, white, and yellow.
My favorite is one of the largest most popular varieties, Allium giganteum. In June, it gets 4 feet tall with beautiful, round softball size, lavender, umbel type flower heads. I have them interspersed in my perennial garden bed. Since their leaves die back before they bloom, I have the base of the plant covered by other plants. Even after it blooms, the dried flowerhead remains an ornamental feature for most of the summer.
Another favorite of many gardeners is Allium schubertii. Even though it only grows to be 16-20 inches tall, its flower diameter is 12-15 inches! People state it looks like “an explosion of rosy florets caught in mid-air” or “like a colorful pinkish tumbleweed.” This variety can tolerate part shade but prefers full sun like most alliums. It is suggested to be used in naturalistic gardens. I planted this bulb in the fall for the first time. We shall see if it lives up to all the hype.
If you are looking for a true summer blooming allium, you may want to consider the ‘Millenium’ hybrid as your first choice. It was the Perennial Plant Association 2018 Plant of the Year. It is smaller, growing to a height of 15 inches, but it is clump forming with many purplish-pink long-lasting blooms. The foliage is described as glossy, deep green with an ornamental grass-like appearance. It is very heat tolerant. The dried brown flowers seem to last thru ought the winter.
A Northeast U.S native ornamental onion is Allium cernuum . It is known as the nodding onion. It can be found in woods, prairies, bluff edges and dry meadows from New York to Michigan into Canada. It is another clump forming allium that grows 8-18 inches tall. It has summer blooming light pink to lavender drooping flowers. Native Americans used the bulbs for medicinal purposes. As other alliums, it attracts many bees and butterflies. It can be a great addition to a rock garden but be cautious. It can self-seed so gardeners are advised to cut off the seed heads after it blooms.
There are many other allium varieties waiting for you to research and hopefully pick for your own garden. The larger varieties are truly a festive sight to see.
By Madelene Knaggs, New Windsor Master Gardener Volunteer
This article appeared in the February 2021 Issue of Gardening in Orange County.
Not so fast with swapping out your hiking boots. Don’t let plunging temperatures lure you into packing away trusty outdoor gear just yet. Some of our region’s most loved trails offer a completely different hiking experience come wintertime. Put on some wool socks and get your dose of snow-dusted evergreens.
With snow and freezing temps, the Hudson Valley is known for its winters that drive most people to hibernate indoors. While those folks are cuddled up next to the fire sipping hot cocoa, there are inviting trails, mountaintops, and waterfalls just waiting to be discovered by winter enthusiasts. It may be chilly, but the rewards are well worth it.
Winter hiking can present its own set of challenges. Before you head out, think ahead and prepare for a wide range of conditions. Here are some tips to help you stay safe out on the trail:
Make sure someone knows where you are going, and
never go out alone.
Visibility can be reduced due to shorter daylight hours as
well as blowing snow.
Carry a map (not just a digital device, which depends on
battery power and signal reception), compass, and
flashlight, as well as safety items such as matches and a
whistle. Pack a knife or multi-tool and a small first aid kit.
Wear proper footwear—waterproof footwear with good
tread. Bring extra traction devices with you in case of ice.
A sturdy walking stick is a helpful accessory.
Watch for hypothermia. The best remedy is dressing in
layers and having extra dry, warm clothes in your
backpack. Wear wool or synthetic fabrics. No cotton.
Beware of frostbite. Have a couple of hand- and toe-warmers
in your pack.
Stay hydrated. Mix a sports drink with your water to keep it from freezing.
Pack calorie-dense foods such as granola bars, dried fruit, and nuts to help fuel your hike.
Make sure your phone is fully charged, and bring your
camera.
You are now ready to take that hike! Pay attention as your own personal IMAX show begins. The hills, dales, and woods of the Hudson Valley take on a new form in the winter. Leafless trees make for stunning views, while snow-laden trails are a good reason to break out the insulated hiking boots and snowshoes. Experience the tranquil nature of winter as you follow icy streams through hilly forests filled with northern hardwoods and pines.
The animal world also presents itself very differently in this season. Take a walk on a cold winter morning when a dusting of snow has coated the ground, and you will see the tracks of animals who only hours before had gone about their nightly rituals. Animals that do not migrate or fully hibernate may be elusive during the winter months but are still present in the forests. Mink, fishers, black bears, raccoons, bobcats, and rabbits may not be as common or as visible as deer or squirrels, but they can sometimes be seen in the early morning hours or at dusk. For help identifying the tracks of animals you may encounter, check out this article about deciphering winter animal tracks and/or these great illustrations of animal tracks.
Although you won’t see many insects while out hiking in the winter, there a few that may surprise you. While cross-country skiing along a railroad track bed in New Windsor this December, I spotted an unfamiliar little creature in the snow. I sent a picture in to Susan Ndiaye, the Community Horticulture Educator/Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator, who promptly identified the mystery “bug” as a winter stonefly, from the family Taeniopterygidae. Winter stonefly nymphs are aquatic and spend their summers in streams, then in winter they emerge as adults onto the snow or ice. Adult winter stoneflies are usually smaller than an inch in length, but their dark brown or black color makes them visible on the snow. The adults only survive for a few weeks, walking across the snow searching for a mate.
As you continue your hike, try to identify birds. Many species of birds do not migrate but remain to take advantage of local food sources. Some of these birds, especially chickadees, can spend the winters here in the northeast due to their short-term hibernation state called ‘torpor,’ which they enter when temperatures drop. During this period triggered by exposure to cold, food shortages, or droughts, their energy expenditure is reduced. Throughout their torpor, metabolism, body temperature, and heart rate are decreased to help them conserve energy and maintain body heat.
There are also many trees that thrive in the forests in the winter and are relatively easy to identify. The native eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) is found in well-drained soils, and usually grows straight and tall with horizontal, upturned branches. The tree has a uniformly full foliage, with a light gray bark that has shallow ridges. White pines have 5 feathery light green needles per cluster, and both the needles and the stem are flexible and slim. White pine cones, which are narrow and about 3 to 8 inches long, are tasty treats for squirrels and birds.
Another native evergreen, the eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), has a tall, straight growth pattern, with branches that stretch out horizontally. It looks like a Christmas tree covered in small, round, brown pine cone decorations. Unlike Christmas pine trees, though, hemlock does not have bundles of needles, just one short needle per node. The needles are soft and dark green in color with two ‘racing stripes’ on the underside of each needle. Its twigs are thin and flexible. The bark of the Hemlock is scaly when young, and eventually becomes ridged with age. Its trunk is reddish-brown in color. These trees grow in a shady, moist habitat, along streams or at higher elevations, and help keep the water in mountain streams cold for brook trout and other coldwater fishes.
Many of NYS’s hiking trails offer fragrant pine and evergreen forests. Taking in the scents and tranquil beauty of these trails can do much to calm your spirits during difficult times. Observe the striking contrast of the greenery against any snow that may have fallen. Stop and admire stands of birch surrounding frozen lake and creek shorelines, and the astonishing views that have opened up since the autumn leaves have fallen. In addition to the stark majesty of the forest’s bare branches against the winter sky, remember to keep an eye out for the Hudson Valley’s many waterfalls, which are even more magnificent when temperatures drop below freezing. What could be more magical than icicle-glistening waterfalls?
One final interesting attraction I’ll mention that you might encounter in a local forest hike is the flat-branched tree clubmoss (Lycopodium obscurum), also called ‘ground pine’ (although it really is a moss). It is fairly common here in the eastern US and southeastern Canada. Clubmosses look like miniature Christmas trees or candles on the forest floor. Some types grow as long runners that were once commonly used for garlands. Today, this plant is on the protected species list in order to prevent over-harvesting. So if you do get the chance to see some, please enjoy the sight and then let it be!
Besides walking, there are many other ways to explore local hiking trails. Depending on the amount of snow cover, some good alternatives to hoofing it in boots alone include donning snowshoes or cross-country skis.
The Hudson Valley has an abundance of state parks and outdoor recreation areas to visit. Here are some suggested destinations for lovely winter treks:
A woody road leads to a blue-blazed trail that takes you to Arden Point, the first of several vistas on this easy four-mile hike. In addition, the walk takes you over a road used by noted Revolutionary War–era figure Benedict Arnold to escape capture after being revealed as a traitor.
Take the green-on-orange Townsend Trail to the white-on-green Long Meadow Extension Trail, which is also a skiing trail. The sweeping view overlooking southeast Orange County is made even more expansive thanks to the bare trees of winter.
Access Points/Parking:Chester Depot Museum, Village of Chester; St. James Place, Village of Goshen; and Park and Ride Lot B, Village of Monroe
Follow the former Erie Railroad as it winds past historic graveyards, onion farms, a wildlife sanctuary, and the villages of Monroe, Chester, and Goshen.
Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986, this resort sits on 2200 acres of landscaped meadows, adjacent to the Mohonk Preserve—an 8000-acre expanse of mountain terrain. Forty miles of hiking trails through forests, cliffs, streams, and ponds provide cascading views of the Catskills.
Explore a great variety of trails, from carriage-type roads to narrow, rocky paths. The many reservoirs and ecosystems and the tree and plant diversity offer good opportunities to see wildlife, or at least their tracks!
Cornwall’s many hiking trails along meadows, forests, and ponds make for a winter wonderland.
Finally, for a plethora of further information on where to go and what you’ll find, safety tips, suggested trails to hike based on your level of experience, helpful links, and much more, visit the Hiking page on the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation website.
So, loaded up with good information and the right preparations and equipment, you can get out there and enjoy the great outdoors in the winter. Just remember, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes!”
Once the snow has melted, check your cold-hardy perennials for frost heaving. Frost heaving is when your plants rise up out of the ground as a result of repeated freezing and thawing. Carefully tamp your plants back into the ground a place soil around the base of the plant to cover any exposed roots.
The best time to prune most trees and shrub species is will they are dormant. Remove suckers as well as dead and diseased limbs and prune for shape and airflow.
Wait to prune spring-flowering trees and shrubs until right after bloom.
Hopefully you’ve spent some time outside enjoying the beautiful spring weather we had last weekend. Did you noticed any ash trees that look like they have been completely stripped of their bark? Did you wonder what happened? Did you think it was a disease, an insect or maybe a deer? This damaged is actually caused by woodpeckers. They are searching for emerald ash borer larvae which can be found just below the bark.
The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is an shiny emerald-colored jewel beetle. Native to Asia, it was first discovered in North America near Detroit, Michigan in 2002 (most likely hitching a ride here in solid wood packing materials used in the transportation of goods).
Despite its beauty, the emerald ash borer is an invasive insect and has killed hundreds of millions of ash treesthroughout North America. As of April 2020, it has been found in 35 states and 5 Canadian provincescostingmunicipalities, property owners, nursery operators and forestry product industries hundreds of millions of dollars.
Lifecycle
Emerald ash borers, like all beetles, undergo complete metamorphosis. Usually in June and July, adult females lay 60-90 eggs on the bark of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.). The eggs hatch and the larvae bore through the outer bark and begin feeding on the inner bark or phloem of the ash tree. The larvae feed for several weeks growing to rough 1 to 1.25 inches in length. The larvae then overwinter in the bark. In the spring they pupate and finally in May and June emerge as adults and exit their host tree by creating a D-shaped whole in the bark. The adults feed on the leaves of the ash tree, mate, and females lay eggs starting the cycle over.
Damage
As mentioned before, the larvae of the emerald ash borer feed on the inner bark or phloem of the ash tree. The phloem is part of the vascular system of the plant and is responsible for transporting the sugars produced by photosynthesis in the leaves to the rest of tree. Damage to the phloem cuts of the nutrient supply and eventually leads to the death of the tree.
One of the first symptoms produced by an emerald ash borer infestation is a thinning canopy. With fewer leaves the tree’s ability to produce food through photosynthesis decreases and as a result the tree may produce lots of shoots that sprout from the roots and trunk. The leaves on these shoots are often larger than normal as the tree tries to compensate for its loss of photosynthetic capability. The tree’s canopy will continue to thin eventually leaving the tree bare.
Many people do not notice that the canopy of their ash tree is thinning. For many people, the first symptom that they notice is the woodpecker damage on the trunk. At this point the tree is usually heavily infested by emerald ash borer and will soon succumb to the infestation.
Management
The emerald ash borer was first detected in New York State in 2009 over in Cattaraugus County. Two years later, in 2011, it was detected here in Orange County. As of right now the majority of trees in Orange County have been infested by the emerald ash borer and are showing signs of decline or have died. Once you notice that the canopy of your ash tree is thinning there has already been extensive damage to the vascular system of the tree and even with treatment there is little chance of recovery.
Deciding whether or not to treat your ash tree is up to you. The first thing to do is make sure you properly identify your tree.
Once you have properly identified your tree there are three option: cut it, treat it, or leave it.
Cut It
Ash trees that create a potential hazard (i.e. proximity to a building) need to be removed. If you cannot safely remove the tree yourself, look for a certified arborist near you at www.treesaregood.org. Many ash trees are being turned into firewood. Keep in mind that New York State law prohibits the movement of firewood more than 50 miles (linear distance) from its source, specifically to prevent the accidental movement of invasive species like the emerald ash borer. Don’t Move Firewood!
Treat It
Remember that that if you tree is already showing signs of decline it is probably too late to save it through treatment.
If you decide you want to treat your ash tree(s), it is not just a one time investment. Most treatments only last one or two years before they wear off leaving the tree susceptible to infestation. This means trees need to be treated ever couple years since at the moment the emerald ash borer looks like it is here to stay.
If your ash tree poses no potential hazard, consider leaving it. Although the emerald ash borer has killed millions of ash trees here in North America, there is hope the identification of “lingering ash” or an ash that stays healthy after nearby trees have overwhelmingly succumbed to the emerald ash borer. The identification of “lingering ash” could help achieve ash species conservation. Click here to learn more about how you can become a citizen scientist with the Lingering Ash Search through the Monitoring and Managing Ash Program.
Let’s start with the parasitoid wasps. Three species of parasitoid wasps found in the emerald ash borer’s native range were were considered potential biological control agents. These parasitoids are natural enemies of the emerald ash borer and have long ovipositors that allow them to drill into the ash trees and lay their eggs on the emerald ash borer larvae. Once the eggs hatch the wasp larvae consume the emerald ash borer larvae alive. (Note: In order to get permission to release these parasitoid wasps in the United Stated, it took four or five years of research to make sure that they were host specific to emerald ash borer and wouldn’t impact any other similar species.) Of the three species released, two are showing promise, although research is still being done regarding their dispersal, spread, and ability to overwinter.
Onto the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana. When spores of this fungus come in contact with the emerald ash borer, they germinate and penetrate the cuticle of the insect. The fungus continues growing inside the insect eventually killing it. Although research has show that this fungus can kill the emerald ash borer, more research is need to see if it is effective form a biological control out in the field.
Many things in nature are governed by the weather, such as the hatching of bagworm eggs and in this case the emergence of emerald ash borer adults. You can track this year’s emergence using the “Emerald Ash Borer Forecast“. This forecast is updated daily and available six days in the future. Emerald ash borer adults are rarely seen. Once they emerge, they fly up into the canopy to feed on the leaves. But if you know when they are emerging you can be on the look out and might be lucky enough to find one.
The ash tree is a member of the Oleacae Family and researchers have found that the emerald ash borer can also complete its life cycle in another well-known member of the Oleacae family, the olive tree (Olea europaea). Although this has only been shown in a laboratory project, there is a possibility that the emerald ash borer could become a problem for olive growers.
Scientists are limited in the amount of data they can collect by both time and money. With help from members of the general public, known as citizen scientists, researchers are able to crowd source data collection collecting more data from more places helping them find answers to real-world questions.
So if you want to do something fun and educational that contributes to the advancement of scientific knowledge, consider becoming a citizen scientist.
This project focuses on migration and seasonal changes. People all over the United States, Canada, and Mexico, report sightings of birds, monarchs, frogs, and other organism. Watch as reported sightings are mapped in real-time as waves of migrations that move across the continent.
iNaturalist lets you photograph, identify, and document what’s around you. Every observation can contribute to biodiversity science, from the rarest butterfly to the most common backyard weed. By sharing your observations with scientists, you will help build our understanding of the natural world.
In studying life, scientists have overlooked many regions. Some regions have not been studied because they are so remote. Others because they are so diverse that it is hard to know where to even begin. Then there is the great indoors, which we believe has been understudied in part because it is so immediate. This project aims to document the species that live indoors with humans.
Hundreds of thousands of people around the world contribute bird observations to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology each year, gathering data on a scale once unimaginable. Scientists use these data to reveal how birds are affected by habitat loss, pollution, disease, climate, and other environmental changes. Your participation will help trace bird migration, nesting success, and changes in bird numbers through time.
Celebrate Urban Birds is a citizen science project focused on better understanding the value of green spaces for birds. This project connects people of all ages and backgrounds to birds and the natural world through the arts and fun neighborhood activities.
The goal of this project is to gather this information on bird sightings, archive it, and freely share it to power new data-driven approaches to science, conservation and education. e-Bird also develops tools that make birding more rewarding. It provides the most current and useful information to the birding community from photos and audio recordings, to seeing real-time maps of species distribution and alerts that let you know when species have been seen.
NestWatch is a nationwide monitoring program designed to track status and trends in the reproductive biology of birds, including when nesting occurs, number of eggs laid, how many eggs hatch, and how many hatchlings survive. Their database is intended to be used to study the current condition of breeding bird populations and how they may be changing over time as a result of climate change, habitat degradation and loss, expansion of urban areas, and the introduction of non-native plants and animals.
The Tick App allows people living in high-risk areas for Lyme disease, like Orange County New York, to participate in a tick behavioral study. Participants complete daily logs and report ticks. The app provides information on how to remove ticks, prevent tick bites, and general information about ticks. When enough people are involved, it can also provides information about blacklegged and deer tick activity in our area.
This citizen science project’s mission is to better understand the distribution and abundance of breeding monarchs and to use that knowledge to inform and inspire monarch conservation. People from across the United States and Canada participate in this monarch research. Their observations aid in conserving monarchs and their threatened migratory phenomenon, and advance the understanding of butterfly ecology in general.
Monarch Watch strives to provide the public with information about the biology of monarch butterflies, their spectacular migration, and how to use monarchs to further science education in primary and secondary schools. They engage in research on monarch migration biology and monarch population dynamics to better understand how to conserve the monarch migration.
In the spring and fall volunteers collect observations of adult monarchs. This information is used to assemble quantitative data on monarch numbers at critical times during the breeding season.
Each fall Monarch Watch distributes more than a quarter of a million tags to thousands of volunteers across North America who tag monarchs as they migrate through their area. These citizen scientists capture monarchs throughout the migration season, record the tag code, tag date, gender of the butterfly, and geographic location then tag and release them. At the end of the tagging season, these data are submitted to Monarch Watch and added to their database to be used in research.
In the past twenty years, native ladybugs that were once very common have become extremely rare. During this same time, ladybugs from other parts of the world have greatly increased in both numbers and range. This is happening very quickly and no one knows how, why, or what impact it will have on ladybug diversity. Citizen scientists involved in this project help scientists answer these questions by photographing ladybugs and submitting the photos along with information about when and where the ladybugs were found.
A project of Cornell University’s Garden Based Learning, this web forum provides an avenue for gardeners to share knowledge. Gardeners report what vegetable varieties perform well – and not so well – in their gardens. Other gardeners can view ratings and read the reviews to decide which might work well for them. Researchers use the information gain new insight into the performance of vegetable varieties under a wide range of conditions and practices. The information gathered is also used to make a Selected List of Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners in New York State.
Native pollinators play an essential role in the pollination of flowering plants, including native plants and wildflowers, garden plants, as well as cultivated crops. Some native pollinator species have suffered population declines over the last few decades. Participants in this study submit photographs and/or specimens to help determine the conservation status of a wide array of native insect pollinators in non-agricultural habitats.
iMapInvasives is an on-line, GIS-based data management system used to assist citizen scientists and natural resource professionals working to protect our natural resources from the threat of invasive species. Citizen scientists are provided with resources to help them identify invasive species. Their invasive species findings are aggregated with data from a wide variety of sources contributing to early detection of invasive species as well as analysis of management strategies.
Natural history museums across the world share a common goal – to conserve and make available knowledge about natural and cultural heritage. The Notes from Nature project gives you the opportunity to make a scientifically important contribution towards that goal by transcribing museum records. Every transcription that is completed brings us closer to filling gaps in our knowledge of global biodiversity and natural heritage.
This is an official government website designed to accelerate the use of crowdsourcing and citizen science across the U.S. government. It includes a searchable database of a government-wide listing of citizen science and crowdsourcing projects designed to improve cross-agency collaboration, reveal opportunities for new high-impact projects, and make it easier for volunteers to find out about projects they can join.
Signs of spring abound! Bird songs fill the air. Buds on the trees are starting to unfurl. New shoots are breaking through the soil. And flowers are beginning to bloom!
Here are some of the flowers to look out for as you venture outside for a breath of fresh air.
When most people think of maple trees, flowers aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. Red maples are native to the eastern United States and happen to be one of the first trees to flower in the spring. Their bright pink to red flowers result in the production of thousands of winged fruits called samaras, colloquially referred to as helicopters. After ripening on the trees for several weeks they will fill the air and litter the ground.
Although many people equate the yellow blossoms of the forsythia with the beginning of spring, the forsythia is not native to New York; it actually native to eastern Asia. This fast growing shrub is a favorite among homeowners, because it is tolerant to deer, resistant to Japanese beetles, and rarely has disease problems. If you are looking for a native alternative to forsythia, try spicebush (Lindera benzoin). This medium sized multi-stemmed shrub has fragrant yellow-green flowers in early spring and supports 12 species of butterflies and provides berries for the birds.
One of the many joys of spring is the emergence of all the spring flowering bulbs. Some of them are already blooming: snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils (my favorite flower!). Despite its sometime unsightly appearance, make sure you leave the foliage alone until it turns yellow and dies back. This allows the leaves of the plant to produce food through photosynthesis. This food is stored in the bulb and will be used to produce even more beautiful flowers next spring!
Hellebores are also flowering! This evergreen herbaceous perennial is native to Turkey, but does well here in Orange County. It grows well in full or partial shade and has beautiful white to pink to purple flowers that bloom in late winter into early spring. Hellebores are rarely damaged by deer and as they are evergreen, after their flowers fade, they make an attractive ground cover
As you are out enjoying the sunshine, what other signs of spring do see or hear or smell?
Thanks to all of the Master Gardener Volunteers who provided their thoughts and photos for this post!