By Sharon Lunden, Goshen Master Gardener Volunteer
This article appeared in the February 2021 Issue of Gardening in Orange County.
Most references to the shrew are Shakespearean, a nod to this tiny, often unnoticed creature with its sharp snout, unafraid to fight. Shrews do not damage enough to technically be listed as pests. However, they may tangle with your pets, dine on your birdseed, or enter your home, particularly at this chilly time of year.
At first glance, you might confuse a shrew with a mouse or a mole. Shrews are cousins to moles and both have very small eyes, but moles are bigger and have larger forefeet for digging tunnels.
New York State shrews belong to the family Soricidae, in the subfamily Soricinae (known as “red-toothed shrews,” so named for their pigmented teeth). Shrews are the tiniest mammals in the world, native to most of the planet, and they generally subsist on a diet of insects and invertebrates.
Seven known species live in NYS, each preferring its own type of habitat: the Masked Shrew, Pygmy Shrew, Long-Tailed Shrew, Smoky Shrew, Least Shrew, American Water Shrew, and the Northern Short-Tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda), the one which you are most likely to encounter in your yard.
The Northern Short-Tailed Shrew is one of the larger shrews, growing up to 4 inches in length. They seek cover, so they make their nests in mole tunnels, under logs or rocks. They live in brushy areas, cultivated fields, or in your garden, and during the winter may enter sheds and barns. Though they usually burrow through plant debris or snow with their strong paws and sharp snouts, they can also climb trees to reach your bird feeder. Because they consume up to three times their weight in food each day, they are often active day and night. They have poor vision, so use echolocation to navigate (like bats), and they have very sensitive snouts which assist in locating prey. Their salivary glands produce a venom they chew into prey to immobilize them. This venom can cause short-term pain in a human, though you are unlikely to be bitten unless you try to handle a shrew. Northern Short-Tailed Shrews, particularly males, exude a musk in order to avoid becoming dinner for other predators. They also use it to attract a mate.
A snowstorm may be the best time to notice the small creatures living in your yard throughout the winter. You may see tiny footprints as evidence of rabbits and squirrels. In the case of the shrew there’s barely any imprint, but you can see its tiny paths along the surface of the snow.
A Northern Short-Tailed Shrew once snuck underneath our garage door during a snowstorm, then squeezed through our basement door to get warm, leaving a long, meandering pathway around our snowy yard up to the garage. A beautiful little thing, slightly stinky and unhappy to be caught, was released back into the yard—only to promptly return to the basement!
Fun Video
Watch a Short-tailed Shrew take on a garter snake!
By Sharon Lunden, Goshen Master Gardener Volunteer
This article appeared in the February 2021 Issue of Gardening in Orange County.
This month we honor two great presidents, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. Stories circulate about each of them chopping trees in their youth. Images of young Lincoln frequently show an axe in his hands, and we’ve all heard the legend of six-year-old George Washington chopping down his father’s cherry tree, confessing, “I cannot tell a lie . . . I did cut it with my hatchet.”
Yoshino cherry trees in bloom
What do you think of when you hear “cherry tree”? Perhaps the cherry blossoms surrounding the tidal basin in Washington, D.C. They have gorgeous white and pink blooms that fragrance the air each spring. Did you know there are more than a dozen varieties of cherry tree throughout our nation’s capital? Japan gave 3020 of these trees to the United States in 1912, as a gesture of friendship. Most were Yoshino cherry trees, Prunus x yedoensis, blooming in clusters of single white flowers with an almond scent, and developing small cherries that attract birds.
Kwanzan cherry blossoms
Another variety sent from Japan is the fruitless Kwanzan cherry, Prunus serrulata. ‘Kwanzan’ produces pink double blooms. Both varieties of cherry tree can be planted in our area. They are hardy in zones up to 5b, and they develop pretty fall foliage. They are relatively short (15–20 feet tall), and short-lived (up to 20 years), but they are so lovely, many gardeners consider them worth the effort. Cherry blossom festivals are held throughout the United States in spring, a testament to our devotion to these gorgeous trees.
Perhaps you’ve seen a Weeping Higan cherry, Prunus x subhirtella (‘Pendula’) in a neighbor’s garden. These grow up to 40 feet tall and produce pretty pink double blossoms on their branches. They can be trimmed for easy mowing or gardening closer to their trunks, or allowed to droop to the ground—in which case you’d need to plant around their drip line to incorporate them into a flower bed.
Ornamental cherries are non-natives and can be susceptible to disease and insect infestation, so they may require regular attention.
Black cherry tree blossoms
Native cherries, or black cherries, Prunus serotina, stand in stark contrast to their ornamental cousins. These trees tower between 60 and 90 feet and can be found from Nova Scotia to Florida and from coast to coast, in zones 3b–9a. They erupt in pendulous racemes up to 6 inches long, covered in fragrant white flowers in spring. They have shiny foliage throughout the summer, turning to a rosy yellow in the fall. The inside of the bark has been used by Native Americans for cough syrups and medicines. The wood is prized by woodworkers for use in making furniture, cabinetry, gun stocks, and musical instruments. These native cherry trees also produce edible cherries.
Cluster of Bing cherries
We’ve probably all snacked on a bowl of Bing cherries, Prunus avium ‘Bing’, a well-loved variety of sweet cherries. These trees come in both standard (up to 35 feet tall) or dwarf (12–15 feet tall) varieties, and grow in zones 5–8. Bing will take about 5 years to begin producing, but once mature a Bing cherry tree can produce 50–100 lbs. of fruit!
These are just a few of the hundreds of varieties of cherry trees available. Why not consider planting one to delight your eyes as well as your taste buds?
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.
Deer tracks in snow
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.
Adult winter stonefly
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.
Black-capped chickadee
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.
Eastern hemlock tree
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?
Tree clubmoss
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.
By Cecille Jones, Monroe Master Gardener Volunteer
This article appeared in the December 2020 / January 2021 Issue of Gardening in Orange County.
Varied carpet beetle (Anthrenus verbasci)
Carpet beetles (Family Dermestidae) also know as dermestid beetles are a common household pest. Because they can cause damage to carpets, coats, blankets and even taxidermy mounts, you definitely do not want these pests in your home.
Carpet beetle damage
The damage caused by these pests is often mistaken for that of clothes moths. Watch out for threadbare spots and irregular holes in your wool, fur, felt, silk, feathers and leather items. Cotton and synthetic fabrics such as polyester and rayon are rarely attacked unless they’re blended with wool or are heavily soiled with food stains or body oils.
But we are not done yet, although many species feed on animal based products, there are also several species that are considered pantry pests and will feed on dry food products such as milk powder, spices, seeds, and grains.
Carpet Beetle Lifecycle
Carpet beetle on a flower
Carpet beetles enter your home by hitching rides on cut flowers, clothing or pets. They also can simply fly through open windows and doors. In the springtime, keep an eye on your windowsills – this is where they often appear.
Black Carpet Beetle (Attagenus unicolor)
Once inside your home, female beetles lay between 50 to 100 eggs. In a couple weeks, the eggs hatch into worm like larvae. Larvae measure from ⅛ to ¼ inch long, tan or brownish in color, slow moving and densely covered with hair or bristles.
Furniture Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus flavipes)
The larval stage is the damaging life stage. Many species of carpet beetles feed on things of animal origin (i.e. hide, fur, feathers, leather, wool, dead insects, etc.), while other species are pantry pests and feed on dry food products (i.e. flour, spices, nuts, grains, pasta, cereal, etc.). Depending on the species and the conditions in which they live (i..e. temperature, food source, etc.), they will feed from anywhere between three months and two years, before pupating. A few weeks after pupation, they emerge as adults. The adults are not considered pests and can be found out in your garden eating pollen from various flowers.
Management
To prevent an infestation, dry clean or launder susceptible items before storing them. This will kill eggs or larvae as well as remove odors that attract these pests. Storing susceptible items in air tight containers will also keep these damaging pests away. Routine and thorough vacuuming is helpful in eliminating an infestation. As a supplement to good housekeeping, you can monitor for carpet beetles using baited or non-baited glue traps.
Fun Facts
Carpet beetle larva
Although carpet beetles probably won’t bite you, the hairs on the larvae can cause can cause an allergic reaction producing large, itchy red welts.
Carpet beetles are the bane of many insect collectors as they will feed on dried insect specimens reducing beautifully pinned specimens into a pile of dust.
When preschool and kindergarten students started getting large, itchy welts on their legs, and an investigation determined that the culprit was carpet beetle larvae on the new, natural-fiber carpets that school had purchased for its classrooms.
The Story of Kudzu: From Exotic Rarity to Unwanted Invasive
By Cecille Jones, Monroe Master Gardener Volunteer
This article appeared in the December 2020 / January 2021 Issue of Gardening in Orange County.
Without natural pests and plants to keep its growth in check, the non-native, invasive kudzu has overtaken this swath of land, destroying biodiversity and altering native habitats.
Today, we know kudzu (Pueraria montana) as an invasive vine, an unwanted interloper. Nicknamed the Vine That Ate the South or the foot-a-night vine, poet James Dickie labeled it a vegetable form of cancer.
This climbing vine flourishes in the Southeast, where heat and humidity provide a paradise for the perennial legume. Today, kudzu has covered millions of acres of land, trees and abandoned buildings and has been spotted as far north as New York and Massachusetts. Non-native and aggressive, kudzu can lead to the extinction of native plants, destroy biodiversity and permanently alter habitats.
Kudzu’s current range
As reviled as it is today, kudzu’s reputation didn’t start out that way. Kudzu made its American debut in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Thirty-seven countries participated in the 100-year celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and nearly 10 million people showed up. At the Japanese pavilion, people admired the exotic rarity called kudzu.
Kudzu flower
From there, kudzu was marketed in the Southeast as an ornamental vine meant to shade porches with fragrant flowers. By the 1920s, Charles and Lillie Pleas of the Glen Arden Nursery in Florida discovered that animals would eat kudzu and so they promoted it as forage as well.
A decade later, severe drought and incorrect farming methods helped to create the Dust Bowl. Turning to kudzu to control soil erosion and feed cattle, the government distributed up to 85 million seedlings and paid farmers as much as $8 an acre to plant kudzu. By 1946, there were three million acres of kudzu.
Meanwhile, Channing Cope became the plant’s most famous advocate. Through his daily radio program, he promoted the virtues of “the miracle vine.” At the height of its popularity, there were kudzu beauty contests, clubs, and even recipes.
Much to Cope’s disappointment, in 1953, the USDA removed kudzu from its list of recommended cover plants. By 1970, it was classified as a weed. Seven years later, kudzu made the Federal Noxious Weed List.
Today, the cost to control and combat this invasive plant runs in the millions of dollars annually. From herbicides to persistent clearing, scientists have also discovered that Angora goats take to kudzu like candy. Perhaps it’s time to call in the goat busters?
By Mary Presutti, New Windsor Master Gardener Volunteer, Brooke Moore, New Windsor Senior Master Gardener Volunteer, and Cecille Jones, Monroe Master Gardener Volunteer
This article appeared in the December 2020 / January 2021 Issue of Gardening in Orange County.
Garden information is in full bloom on the web. There is so much information that many of us get caught up in the same few sites that we trust over and over. It isn’t easy to separate the wheat from the chaff. So we decided to get out our laptops, put on our reading glasses, make a pot of tea or hot chocolate, put our slippers on, dig deep into the internet and see what we could harvest for your enjoyment.
Click on a topic below to see our recommendations.
Podcasts come in so many different topics that it is hard to decide what to suggest. The lovely thing about them is that they can be a private, quiet experience or shared with others. For best experience I suggest investing in a good quality set of earbuds or over the ear headphones with Bluetooth. A podcast can be your company for weeding, planting, strolling or just enjoying your garden from a comfy seat. We have traveling in the car favorites and others that we choose for dinner time company. Once you start looking and listening you will be hooked on this great way to learn and discover. Podcasts can be subscribed to, downloaded from Host Web Sites and searched for in any web browser. The easiest way to find them on your phone or tablet is to go into your Podcast App and search by topic or use the ones below as a start and more will be recommended to you. Here are a few to begin with.
A Way to Garden. Join Margaret Roach and guests for weekly episodes about local topics.
BBC Radio 4 Gardener’s Question Time. With the tag line “You will be back in the garden in 45 minutes” this delightful fan favorite has down home garden dilemmas joined with science and history.
Cultivating Place. Jennifer Jewell combines philosophy and great gardening know how.
In Defense of Plants. A botany podcast dedicated to learning to see plants for their many attributes. Host Matt Candeias brings a wealth of knowledge and a great passion for plants to each episode.
In the dead of winter, what’s a gardener to do? Why not hunker down and let a film transport you to a visually inspiring slice of gardening heaven? There’s no shortage of gardening shows to stream on your device, but you might want to check out these three.
This captivating documentary is about the 20-acre Les Quatre-Vents, located in an estate in rural Quebec beside the St. Lawrence River. In interviews with the preservationist and philanthropist Frank Cabot, Sebastien Chabot’s film takes a “loving look at the visual, tactile, emotional and spiritual joys of gardening.” Even as winter marches on outside, you can feast your eyes on the garden’s wonderful plantings, pathways and vistas. From a Chinese moon bridge to a Japanese teahouse and more, it’s hard to argue that this is one of the most beautiful private gardens in the world. (Running time: 1 hour, 24 minutes)
No weeding? No watering? No kidding? In this documentary about Paul Gautschi’s sustainable organic gardening methods, Gautschi enthusiastically puts mulch as the star of his bountiful fruit and vegetable garden. What he does is essentially keep his soil under a layer of composted chips, shavings and sawdust – and he gets enviable harvests! That’s an oversimplification, of course, so even if you’re not a garden evangelist like him, you’ll want to watch this documentary to see how he creates his miracle garden. (Running time: 1 hour, 43 minutes)
Take a break from gardening and enjoy wildlife for a brief spell. Released in 2019, this documentary was produced to entertain, inform and delight the viewer. British narrator Stephen Fry gives a whimsical commentary on exotic birds and shows us that attracting a mate is serious business for members of the class Aves. Shot in dazzling color and set to fanciful music – from swing to jazz and classical, this film is a welcome antidote on a cold winter day. (Running time: 51 minutes)
Sort out your hand tools. Repair and clean as needed paying attention to ones that you have not used. Consider giving these away! Choose a good location to store them and perhaps a container to organize them.
Most references to the shrew are Shakespearean, a nod to this tiny, often unnoticed creature with its sharp snout, unafraid to fight. Shrews do not damage enough to technically be listed as pests. However, they may tangle with your pets, dine on your birdseed, or enter your home, particularly at this chilly time of year.
A snowstorm may be the best time to notice the small creatures living in your yard throughout the winter. You may see tiny footprints as evidence of rabbits and squirrels. In the case of the shrew there’s barely any imprint, but you can see its tiny paths along the surface of the snow.
