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Stewart studies birds to understand trade-offs between reproduction, immunity

November 20, 2012 under CANR News

Does parenting take a toll on the immune system?

If you’ve ever been the parent of a newborn who demanded to be fed every three to four hours, your gut instinct tells you the answer is an absolute, unequivocal yes.

University of Delaware post-doctoral researcher Ian Stewart is conducting research to answer this question a bit more scientifically. His subjects – tree swallows – make human parents look like slouches. Both the mother and father tree swallow feed their hatchlings every five minutes, 12 hours a day.  (It should be noted, though, that their parenting gig is much shorter than ours — after 17 or 18 days the young leave the nest.)

Stewart is studying these small, migratory birds to better understand the trade-offs they make between reproduction and immunity. His research could potentially help scientists who study human biology better understand our own immune system and its stressors.

Stewart is part of a young but growing interdisciplinary field called ecoimmunology, which combines aspects of immunology with ecology, biology, physiology and evolution. He chose to focus his research on tree swallows and bluebirds because both are fairly tolerant of human interaction. “Some birds don’t like being observed but tree swallows and bluebirds don’t get stressed from being watched or handled,” notes Stewart.

There’s another very important benefit to working with these birds — since they nest in boxes, not up in the trees, they’re a heck of lot easier to catch.

Throughout the breeding season, Stewart catches the parent birds, injects them with a harmless antigen and releases them. Then, he re-catches the same birds a few days later to take blood samples and assess each bird’s immune response to the antigens.

“Some of the tree swallows work harder at parenting,” notes Stewart. “It may be because the bird has four hatchlings to feed instead of just three. Other times, the bird is simply more energetic at taking care of its hatchlings, regardless of brood size.”

“We’re monitoring the reproductive effort of the adults – mostly the rate at which they feed their nestlings – so that we can test whether the adults that are working harder produce weaker immune responses,” he says.

Stewart is conducting his research at Coverdale Farm Preserve, a 352-acre tract in Greenville owned by the Delaware Nature Society. The preserve already had 50 bird boxes in place last spring, when Stewart began his field work, and he installed another 50 boxes.

Now that it’s autumn, Stewart spends most of his time in the lab, crunching the data and performing immune assays on the samples he collected.  But earlier this season, he was at the preserve by 7 a.m. every day and after a full day of catching and observing birds, would head to the lab each evening to centrifuge the blood samples for storage.

“Prof. Mike Moore is overseeing my research and I had a grad student, Andrew Hydrusko, assist me, but I worked alone a lot,” he says. “So I enjoyed it when school groups passed by the bird boxes and there was time for them to learn a bit about my bird research. They loved to help catch the birds.”

“Ian’s work is quite interesting,” says Chris Williams, a UD associate professor of wildlife ecology. “One might think that having more offspring would improve your chances of passing off your genes to the next generation. However, if the parent’s health is compromised to make such an effort, natural selection may have something else to say about it. The evolutionary trade-offs between maternal health and maximum number of young ultimately produces optimal clutch sizes.”

So what’s the verdict — do parents shortchange themselves if they devote more resources to their offspring?

Stewart is still analyzing this year’s data and has another year of field research to go. But the preliminary answer, for tree swallows, appears to be yes. As for humans, he will defer to sleep-starved parents of newborns and let them have the final word.

Article by Margo McDonough

Photo by Danielle Quigley

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Asters keep UD Botanic Gardens colorful through November

November 12, 2012 under CANR News, Cooperative Extension

Some of autumn’s pleasures are fleeting. Like the sight of migrating broad-winged hawks soaring on thermals in the September skies. Like the golden leaves of the ginkgo, which drop from the tree in a few days or sometimes mere hours. Like the big, orange, once-a-year occurrence of the harvest moon.

But other autumn pleasures – like asters – endure all season long. Asters start blooming at the same time as such early fall wildflowers as goldenrod and thoroughwort. But long after many other blooms have turned brown, the aster is still going strong.

Of course, no one species of native aster blooms straight through from September to November. Most bloom for a few weeks and then, as they die off, other varieties began to flower. Some of the native varieties that bloom the latest include aromatic and heath asters.

“It’s not unusual to see aromatic, heath and other species of asters blooming in late November,” says Sue Barton, an ornamental horticulture specialist with University of Delaware Cooperative Extension. “Asters continue to add a splash of color to the landscape in late autumn, when little else is blooming in Delaware.”

There are 33 native species and varieties of the genus Aster in Delaware, according to Bill McAvoy, a botanist with the Delaware Natural Heritage Program. Several of these varieties are classified as rare in the state. Asters are found in a wide range of habitat – woodlands, swamps, marshes, wet meadows and old fields. Some species are tall and bushy; others are groundcovers. Most prefer sunny conditions but some do well in shade.

Asters are tough and reliable, which is why they are popular with both home gardeners and commercial landscapers. “Asters – both natives and non-natives – are some of the easiest perennials to grow,” says Barton. “They don’t require much watering, fertilizing or other care.”

Doug Tallamy likes asters because they contribute to healthy local ecosystems. Asters are a valuable food source for a variety of pollinators, including native bees, honeybees, butterflies, beetles and flies, says Tallamy, chair of UD’s Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology and author of Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens.

“As one of the latest blooming widespread plants, asters are very important as a carbohydrate energy source for butterflies, bees, beetles and flies,” says Tallamy.

If you’re looking for a good aster to plant in Delaware you couldn’t do better than talking to Jeanne Frett, a research horticulturalist at Mt. Cuba Center. A few years ago she conducted a performance evaluation of asters in conjunction with Victor Piatt, the center’s former trial area gardener.

The duo evaluated 56 different asters over a two-year period for such factors as color, bloom period, foliage quality, disease resistance and more.

Varieties that got top marks include smooth aster, prairie aster and calico aster. A late bloomer that scored well is the large-flowered aster. Some years, this aster may start in mid-October and finish by Halloween. Other seasons, it doesn’t flower until mid-November and then continues blooming past Thanksgiving.

You can see these varieties of asters – any many more – at Mt. Cuba. Public garden tours are held Thursdays through Sundays; registration is necessary. The University of Delaware Botanic Gardens also has a great selection of asters. Late bloomers there include Aster oblongifolius “Raydon’s Favorite,” a showy variety that sports a profusion of blue-lavender flowers with yellow centers.

Mt. Cuba Center is located at 3120 Barley Mill Road in Hockessin. For more information, call 239-4244.

The University of Delaware Botanic Gardens is located on the grounds of Townsend Hall off South College Avenue in Newark. The garden is open dawn to dusk daily and is free of charge. Parking is available at meters or by purchasing a parking permit for $3 online. To learn more, call 831-0153.

Article by Margo McDonough

Photo by Danielle Quigley

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Master Gardeners help others discover uplifting benefits of nature

November 2, 2012 under CANR News, Cooperative Extension

When Terry Tse was growing up in Hong Kong, her bedroom was always full of plants. Living in the midst of this exciting yet chaotic city, Tse knew that plants brought tranquility.

“Flowers make you calm,” she says.

Today, Tse is helping clients of the Delaware Psychiatric Center discover the uplifting benefits of nature. She and fellow University of Delaware Master Gardeners assisted in the development of a therapeutic garden at the center two years ago.

The project has grown to include a sensory garden for the visually impaired and a farmer’s market that sells produce fresh from the garden. And that’s just some of what was accomplished at the Department of Health and Social Services New Castle campus. Plus, the Master Gardeners helped to establish a garden at the Delaware School for the Deaf in Newark.

For their efforts, this Master Gardener team received a Governor’s Outstanding Service Award at a ceremony held this past Thursday. In addition to Tse, recipients included Fred Hillegas, Mary Ellen Hillegas, Bill Horne and Carmela Simons. Duane Ashley, who is not a Master Gardener but was an active project volunteer, also shared in the award.

“The Master Gardeners were immediately interested in this project and the potential that these gardens had to impact the clients and staff at these sites,” says Carrie Murphy, horticultural agent for New Castle County Cooperative Extension. “They provided both technical expertise and educational programming. They presented workshops for clients and staff on topics like composting, identifying garden pests and how to enjoy a sensory garden.”

The Master Gardeners also rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty. Bill Horne offered his creative skills for the therapeutic garden’s design but he also pulled weeds and harvested vegetables. Mary Ellen and Fred Hillegas helped the center’s clients run the farmer’s market on Fridays, and when they couldn’t make it, Tse filled in. In the last two years, the market sold 1,693 pounds of produce and what wasn’t sold – 525 pounds in all – was donated to the Food Bank of Delaware.

From the get-go, the Master Gardeners knew that they wanted these projects to be driven by the needs and desires of the clients. At the Delaware Psychiatric Center, a residential client named Jack wanted popping corn in the vegetable garden. Others requested tomatoes, pumpkins, sweet corn and peppers. Clients also helped with the selection of ornamentals. One individual fondly recalled lilac from a childhood home so the Master Gardeners included a lilac bush in the garden design.

As for the sensory garden, it’s a feast of sounds, fragrances and textures, as well as sights. In winter, switchgrass rustles in the wind. In spring, the velvety leaves of lamb’s ear plant beg to be touched. Come summer, the earthy smell of basil entices. And in fall, black seedpods of baptisia rattle loudly at the slightest shake.

Some of the clients who come to the Division of Visually Impaired’s New Castle office for vocational rehab or independent living services are in wheelchairs or have other physical limitations. So the Master Gardeners designed wider pathways to allow for wheelchair access, and many of the beds are raised and feature a grid pattern.

“With a grid pattern, a blind or visually impaired person can, for example, count two squares down and three over and know they’ve found the mint that they wanted to pick,” notes Horne.

The vegetable garden at the Delaware School for the Deaf was installed last November. Tied into grade-level curricula, the garden promotes healthy eating habits and new vocational options.

Mary Ellen Hillegas, who was a counselor at the school before retirement, says the garden also serves an important social function. “Ten to 12 students will be in the garden at any given time and they’ll need to come to consensus on planning tasks and sharing tools and other cooperative behavior,” she says. “The garden has tremendous possibilities as a teaching tool.”

Organizations that collaborated with the Master Gardeners include UD’s Center for Disabilities Studies, Delaware Center for Horticulture, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Delaware Department of Agriculture. For the school garden, the nonprofit group Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids partnered with the Master Gardeners.

Delaware Department of Agriculture staffer Faith Kuehn spearheaded the therapeutic garden projects and she nominated the Master Gardeners for the Governor’s Outstanding Service Award.

“What impresses me most about these Master Gardeners is that it comes from the heart,” says Kuehn. “They aren’t doing it for the volunteer hours or the recognition. They really want to make a difference.”

Jack, who grew his own popping corn this summer, and other individuals who have benefited from the gardens, would say that the Master Gardeners are doing exactly that.

Article by Margo McDonough

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Now’s the time to watch migrating raptors, says UD’s Williams

September 27, 2012 under CANR News

If seeing a kettle of birds is on your bucket list, head to Hawk Watch at Ashland Nature Center or Cape Henlopen State Park ASAP. If this natural phenomenon isn’t on your bucket list, perhaps it should be.

“Kettle” is the word that birders use to describe a group of birds wheeling and circling tightly in the air on a thermal updraft, says Chris Williams, a University of Delaware associate professor of entomology and wildlife ecology. Nature photographer M. Timothy O’Keefe speculated that the term comes from the fact that these furiously flying flocks look like “something boiling in a cauldron.”

Your jaw is bound to drop the first time you see hundreds of birds swerving and soaring inside a thermal bubble as it rises aloft. (It’s still pretty jaw-dropping the sixth or sixteenth time you see it.)

Now’s the prime time to catch a kettle. That’s because broad-winged hawks are currently passing over Delaware on their fall migration to the neo-tropics. Although all raptors utilize thermals to make their flights more efficient, certain species, such as broad-winged hawks, are known to be frequent users of these air currents.

Large kettles of broad-winged hawks started showing up in Delaware in mid-September – more than 2,000 broad-wingeds were spotted at Ashland on Sept. 11 alone – and will continue through the end of the month.

“When it comes to the fall migration, my favorite species is actually the golden eagle,” says Jim White, associate director of land and biodiversity management for the Delaware Nature Society, which owns Ashland Nature Center. “The golden eagle is the ‘holy grail’ of fall bird-watching,” adds White. “But, in terms of pure spectacle, nothing beats the broad-winged hawk migration and the sight of hundreds and hundreds of hawks overhead.”

Long before the leaves turn or the autumnal equinox even occurs, the fall bird migration gets underway. “In August and September, songbirds migrate, beginning with hummingbirds and kingbirds and followed by warblers,” says Williams. “Slowly a parade of migrants work their way south, some leaving our area while others are coming in. Expect to see the shorebirds leave first followed by teal passing through and finally wintering waterfowl setting up shop.”

Now through October is peak season for the raptors – birds of prey, including hawks, eagles, falcons, ospreys and owls. However, every raptor flying overhead isn’t necessarily a migrant.

“Some raptors migrate south; others in the same species choose to overwinter here in Delaware,” notes White.  “For example, there is a pair of resident bald eagles that nests at Hoopes Reservoir. If you’re up on Hawk Watch Hill and see two bald eagles just monkeying around, flying low over Ashland’s Treetop Woods, then it’s probably these residents and not migrants. We train the Hawk Watch coordinator to exclude resident raptors from the counting records.”

The Hawk Watch sites are each staffed by a coordinator who is there to educate visitors as well as to count birds. Both programs are funded by the Delmarva Ornithological Society with additional support from other nature organizations.

Williams finds value in citizen-scientist initiatives such as Delaware’s Hawk Watch program. “These programs offer useful data for ornithologists,” he says. “Bird populations are dynamic and constantly in flux. No single researcher or team of researchers working alone could document the distribution and movements of so many fall migrants the way Hawk Watch efforts throughout the nation do.”

Of course, you don’t need to be part of a formal citizen-scientist program to track fall migrants. Just ask Ethan Harrod, a 5-year-old North Wilmington resident who counts birds with the help of his trusty field guide for young birders.

“Ethan sighted a red-tailed hawk on the Wilmington waterfront and he saw a sharp-shinned hawk fly over our backyard,” reports his father, John Harrod, who is manager of the DuPont Environmental Education Center in Wilmington. “He loves to try to id a bird and then check his field guide to see if he was right.”

The elder Harrod also has been seeing lots of migrating raptors in recent days. “I went kayaking on the Christina recently and spotted a northern harrier, a bald eagle and an osprey,” reports Harrod.

Make time to get out to a Hawk Watch site soon. The best time to visit is on a sunny, clear day when there is a breeze from the north or northwest, says White. If you’re lucky, you’ll see a kettle or two of broad-wingeds flying overhead.

Hawk Watch sites

Ashland Hawk Watch is located at Ashland Nature Center in Hockessin. Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch is at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes. For more information about either hawk watch contact Anthony Gonzon at 735-8673 or go to this website.

Article by Margo McDonough

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Fall wildflower season is in full force in Delaware

September 26, 2012 under CANR News, Cooperative Extension

The herbaceous garden at the University of Delaware Botanic Gardens is an outdoor laboratory where students and researchers study plants, insects, landscape design and plant pathology.

It’s also one of the best go-to spots for eye-popping fall color.

Walk through the garden this month and you may encounter a student scrutinizing the Solidago rugosa‘Fireworks’ for an upcoming quiz. But there’s no need to memorize the growth habits, hardiness or soil requirements of this native goldenrod cultivar to enjoy its fluffy yellow blooms.

“The herbaceous garden is one of my favorite places to see fall color,” says Sue Barton, ornamental horticulture specialist for UD Cooperative Extension. “And it looks even better this season, now that a re-design of the garden entrance is almost complete.”

Fall wildflowers are blooming earlier this year at the herbaceous garden and throughout Delaware, reports Barton. “Fall wildflowers typically start around the end of August, are in abundance now and continue through November when late-blooming asters put on a final show of color. But many species are flowering ahead of schedule this year.”

Native perennials currently in bloom at the herbaceous garden include sedums in coral, salmon and other shades of pink, says Valann Budischak, volunteer and education coordinator for the UD Botanic Gardens.  Purple and lavender varieties of Eupatoriumare in full flower, too. Even after the blooms are done, the seed heads still look great, notes Budischak.

Early asters also are starting to pop up, and will be followed by late varieties, such as Aster oblongifolius “Raydon’s Favorite,” a showy aster that sports a profusion of blue-lavender flowers with yellow centers.

When planning for fall color in your own yard, Barton suggests thinking low as well as high. Without a doubt, many of her native fall-blooming perennials are lofty. For example, some of her New York ironweed is taller than she is – it has soared to six feet tall. Its deep purple flowers already are in bloom and will continue through the end of the month.

Although this ironweed makes an eye-catching display, Barton also likes the fall color that’s closer to the ground. Like the brilliant red foliage of Virginia creeper, a vine that can be trained to crawl, and the mottled blue-green leaves of Allegheny pachysandra, a mere six inches high.

“There are many native, low-growing groundcovers that provide great fall color,” says Barton. “Sometimes it’s the flowers that provide interest, such as the white blooms of white heath aster, which blooms from late summer into fall. In other cases, like Virginia creeper and Allegheny pachysandra, it’s the foliage that’s noteworthy.”

Groundcovers are an excellent alternative to something Barton doesn’t have much use for – mulch.

“Mulch is fine when establishing landscape beds but you should work toward having a mulch-free garden, or just small areas that are mulched. It shouldn’t be added to beds year after year,” says Barton. “Groundcovers offer the same benefits as mulch – they help regulate soil temperatures, control erosion, and help the soil retain moisture. But, unlike mulch, they also provide food and/or cover for wildlife. And you don’t have to keep buying more – groundcovers spread over time.”

Native warm-season grasses are another source of fall color that Barton utilizes widely in her yard. She especially likes the “Shenandoah” cultivar of red switch grass. In early summer, its leaves are tipped with just a bit of red but by fall the leaves are burgundy, topped by pink plumes.

Warm-season grasses are versatile. They’re well adapted to warm, sunny open spaces. Barton plants her warm-season grasses with an eye toward back lighting — taking advantage of light from the setting or rising sun.

“Ornamental grasses look particularly beautiful when back lit – the trick is position them so the light shines through them,” says Barton.

About the UD Botanic Gardens

The 15-acre UD Botanic Gardens is open to the public free of charge, from dawn to dusk daily. It’s located on the grounds of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources off Route 896, in Newark. Obtain a visitor parking pass online for $3 at this website or use the metered parking near the UDairy Creamery. For more info about the UD Botanic Gardens, go to the UDBG website or call 831-0153.

Article by Margo McDonough

Photo by Rick Darke

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UD’s Longwood grad students donate time, energy to Awbury Arboretum

September 25, 2012 under CANR News

“If you build it, they will come” may work for baseball fields but it’s not always enough for arboretums.

Case in point — the Awbury Arboretum, a 55-acre public garden laid out in a series of open spaces, with mature trees and shrubs overlooking scenic vistas. It’s a pocket of lush greenery in the Germantown neighborhood of northwest Philadelphia.

“Even though the arboretum is free and open daily, it’s underutilized by the community,” says Sara Levin Stevenson, a student in the University of Delaware’s Longwood Graduate Program in Public Horticulture.

Stevenson and her fellow grad students hope to make positive changes at the arboretum via their Professional Outreach Project (POP). As part of the project, the students recently completed designs for signs in and around the arboretum. One set of signs should create more inviting entryways around the perimeter of the arboretum; another set will help visitors better navigate their way through the property. The students also have developed plant lists to add color and seasonal interest to several entrances.

Each year, the Longwood students tackle a new POP in early July, shortly after the first-year students arrive on campus. By the end of September, the bulk of the project is completed. As the POP acronym implies, the students pop on to a site, assess the situation, determine what can be done quickly and effectively, and then complete the job.

“I love the Professional Outreach Project because the students learn a tremendous amount in a brief period of time,” says Bob Lyons, director of the Longwood Graduate Program. “They’re immersed in a fast-paced, short-term assignment and have to think on their feet. Plus, it’s great to see how area organizations have benefited from this program.”

Past POP projects have included a design for a therapeutic garden for mental health patients at Delaware State Hospital; a program and membership development strategy for Scott Arboretum in Swarthmore, Pa.; and a meadow management plan for Bartram’s Garden in Philadelphia.

Last spring, the students reviewed proposal requests from gardens throughout the tri-state area before deciding to work with Awbury. Choosing which organization to play fairy godmother to wasn’t easy, recalls Stevenson, who is a co-leader of the project.

“There were many deserving organizations but since I have an interest in community outreach I was excited that we decided to go with Awbury,” says Stevenson.

The Longwood students hope that their project encourages residents to visit Awbury more often and see it as their community’s special cultural institution with a focus on plants.

“We really want to get Awbury on people’s radar screens,” says Stevenson.

Stevenson learned about urban gardens and community outreach before she arrived at UD. After several years as a Latin teacher in Seattle, she decided she wanted an outside job, working with her hands. She joined an all-woman, organic landscaping company in Seattle and after several years became the education intern at Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia.

Her master’s thesis will focus on the ways that gardens and local communities can support each other. “Places like the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and the gardens at UC Davis are doing some really exciting things to engage the local community,” notes Stevenson.

First-year Longwood student Josh Darfler says he learned a lot from the Awbury project.

“Awbury is a great organization that faces some challenges,” says Darfler. “However, their ability to reach outside their walls and connect with the community is something I hope I can start to learn before this project is over. Various organizations have formed a great core network that strives to keep Awbury thriving and active through good times and bad.”

Article by Margo McDonough

Photo by Danielle Quigley

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UD freshman, 4-Her first American to win prestigious Microsoft competition

September 12, 2012 under CANR News

Jacob Blacksten, a freshman in the University of Delaware’s Associate in Arts Program (AAP) and a state 4-H member, won the 2012 world championship in Microsoft PowerPoint at a competition held in Las Vegas earlier this summer.

Backsten is the first American to win this event, which attracted more than 285,000 candidates from 53 countries who competed to demonstrate their mastery of Microsoft Office products.

In the final round, 113 student finalists participated. Separate events were held in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint programs.

Blacksten won a $5,000 scholarship from Certiport, Inc., in recognition of his accomplishment.

The 18-year-old is a member of the Westville 4-H Club. The past two years he has served as club president.

A graduate of Caesar Rodney High School, Blacksten is a freshman in UD’s Associate in Arts Program at the Delaware Technical Community College campus in Dover through the state’s SEED (Student Excellence Equals Degree) scholarship program.

Blacksten’s road to becoming the PowerPoint champion began last February as a member of the Business Professionals of America (BPA) program at Caesar Rodney High.  After winning a BPA competition at school, he advanced to a national event in Chicago and finally, the world championship in Las Vegas.

“My experiences in 4-H over the years have helped me achieve in other areas of my life, including at this competition,” says Blacksten. “I’ve participated in 4-H public speaking competitions that have increased my ability to stay cool under pressure.”

“Out in Las Vegas I wasn’t really sure I had done that well,” adds Blacksten. “When they announced my name as the winner I sat in shock for maybe 30 seconds. I couldn’t believe I had won.”

Blacksten is unsure of his career plans but is leaning toward majoring in engineering with a minor in business.

Article by Margo McDonough

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Apple picking already in full force at Delaware area orchards

August 30, 2012 under Cooperative Extension

Summer means lazy days at the beach or pool, after-dinner trips to the ice cream stand and – this summer, anyway — outings to U-pick apple orchards.

Apple picking – typically synonymous with autumn weekends – is in full force at T.S. Smith and Sons Orchards in Bridgeville. “We finished picking Gala apples on Aug. 9. Normally, we don’t even start picking Galas until Aug. 19,” reports orchard co-owner Charlie Smith. “Everything is coming in much earlier this season.”

“Our U-pick operation has been open for several weeks and will run every weekend until all the varieties are finished – probably between the end of September and middle of October,” he says.

Because of the mild winter, apple trees flowered ahead of schedule at T.S. Smith and Sons and other area orchards. “Usually, the trees aren’t in blossom until right around my birthday — April 20. This year, they were blooming on April 1,” says Smith.

In Delaware, temperatures stayed mild throughout the spring so early blossoming wasn’t a problem – it just made for the earlier-than-usual crop. But in Michigan and parts of New England, spring frosts wreaked havoc during a growing season that was running about a month ahead of schedule.

An early April frost is estimated to have wiped out more than 50 percent of the apple crop in southwest Michigan. In Vermont, damage wasn’t as bad; yields were expected to be down 10 to 20 percent, according to the Vermont Tree Fruit Growers Association.

T. S. Smith and Sons has been busy shipping to locations that normally purchase northern apples, in addition to maintaining its regular distribution throughout the Mid-Atlantic. The orchard is one of two large-scale, commercial apple growers in Delaware. The other is Fifer Orchards, outside of the town of Wyoming. Several smaller orchards sell apples wholesale and one, Highland Orchards, in north Wilmington, only sells direct to consumers at its farm store.

Yet, even with just a handful of orchards, apples are Delaware’s most important fruit crop, says Gordon Johnson, a fruit and vegetable specialist with University of Delaware Cooperative Extension.  More than 10.4 million pounds are grown here annually. Peaches, the number two crop, trail behind at around 1.2 million pounds.

At Fifer’s, they began packing apples for commercial shipments Aug. 16, though local sales began much earlier. “We used to ship to Florida and to other long-distance locations,” says Michael Fennemore, a fourth-generation Fifer family member who works on the farm. “But we took a look at transportation costs and realized it made more sense to concentrate on the Mid-Atlantic market. For example, we now sell apples to Wegmans and Harris Teeter grocery stores in the Washington, D.C., area.”

Fifer’s has been in business since 1919. In its early days, word of mouth helped drive sales, as friends and neighbors talked up the orchard’s produce. Today, word of mouth is still a key part of Fifer’s marketing strategy – the only difference being that people talk online, rather than at the general store or the Grange Hall.

Fennemore is responsible for the orchard’s social media efforts and uses everything from Facebook to Twitter to get the word out. The orchard has more than 5,000 followers on Facebook, who keep up a steady conversation of comments and questions.

“I tweet, for example, when Rambo apples are ripe and available in our farm store,” says Fennemore. “People tell me that they have been in line at the bank window or on another errand and head over to the farm when they see our tweets.”

Given the early season, devotees of particular apple varieties should pay close attention to such tweets. “Honeycrisp are really popular and have a lot of fans,” he says. “People expect to come out and get them in October, but this season, we could run out of Honeycrisp by mid-September.”

A common topic on Fifer’s social media sites is what’s happening at the farm that week. Agri-tourism is an important component of the business, with activities ranging from an Asparagus Peak Party in April, to kick off the growing season, to a Cider Fest held late November to mid-December.

Currently, the orchard is gearing up for its Fall Fest, which starts Sept. 19 and will run Mondays-Saturdays until Oct. 27. In addition, U-Pick apples opened yesterday and will continue as long as the apples do.  As Fifer’s website notes, U-Pick is a “great way to enjoy a crisp fall day and experience tree ripened apples.”

This season, it’s also been a great way to enjoy tree-ripened apples on sultry summer days.

Article by Margo McDonough

Photo by Danielle Quigley

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Wilmington teens learn about environment via Green Jobs program

August 7, 2012 under CANR News

On a recent sunny morning, two shimmering blue dragonflies darted by the mauve blooms of Joe Pye weed in a newly created wetland on University of Delaware’s Newark Farm. It created the perfect teaching moment for Jenny McDermott, facilities and land manager for UD’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, as she led a tour for teenagers participating in the city of Wilmington’s Green Jobs program.

“When we put this wetland in, some people were concerned that we’d have more mosquitoes in the chicken houses nearby but we actually have less of a problem. Can anyone tell me why?” asked McDermott.

“Dragonflies eat mosquitoes,” replied Elijah White, a 14-year-old who, in summer, lives with his mother in Wilmington and in Georgia during the school year. “We learned that from Mr. Jim White when we were at the DuPont Environmental Education Center.”

The eating habits of dragonflies is just the start of what White and nine other youth are discovering about the environment during this summer’s Green Jobs program. A partnership between the University of Delaware, the city of Wilmington and six other organizations, the six-week paid work experience exposes the students to a variety of environmental topics.

The teens discovered where their drinking water comes from during a visit to the city’s water treatment plant. They learned how to map GIS coordinates and the ways that scientists use geographic information systems at UD’s Water Resources Agency, a program unit of the Institute for Public Administration in the School of Public Policy and Administration. They removed invasive plants from the Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge and found out why these species are harmful even if — as one student noticed – they sometimes have attractive flowers and foliage. They toured UD’s Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes, where they kayaked and then splashed around in the water as they caught aquatic critters in seining nets.

“I loved the trip to Lewes; it was fun,” said Jonathan Tucker, a 17-year-old rising junior at Newark High School whose mother encouraged him to apply for the Green Jobs program. A self-confessed “indoor guy,” Tucker said he now has a better appreciation for the natural world around him. “Yeah, there’s something to be said for nature,” said Tucker. “I’m amazed at how much land there is at the Urban Wildlife Refuge, even though it’s in the city.”

“I really like technology and want to work in the technology field,” he added. “Now that I’m with Green Jobs, I’ve been thinking it would be cool to design hybrid cars that run on plant-based fuels.”

Regardless of whether Tucker works in the biofuels industry or ultimately chooses another career path, he is picking up useful job skills this summer, including public speaking and resume writing.

“Although Green Jobs is centered on the environmental field, we want to help the students develop skills they will need to work as professionals in any career field,” said Martha Corrozi Narvaez, associate policy scientist at UD’s Water Resources Agency and the mastermind behind the Green Jobs program.

Several new features have been added to Green Jobs, which is now in its second year. “One thing I’m really excited about is that each participant has been paired with a mentor this summer,” says Narvaez. “These experts will provide one-on-one guidance, training and insight into a variety of environmental careers. The hope is that many of these relationships are sustained so that if the teens have a career question next school year, they feel comfortable contacting their mentor by email or phone.”

The teens also have a mentor in program counselor Adib Rushdan. A 2006 UD grad, Rushdan was employed in the medical technology field for several years before recently completing a stint in Wilmington city schools with AmeriCorps. He said that he plans to earn his teaching certification. “I’m enjoying my work with the Green Jobs students,” said Rushdan. “They’re a good group of kids. Green Jobs is a valuable program; it exposes teens to many different things outside of their normal experiences.”

Such as a modern milking parlor – that’s not an everyday experience for most American teens. The UD parlor was empty when McDermott and the students walked through it – it was close to 11 a.m.; way past milking time. McDermott explained that corn and alfalfa are grown on 120 acres of cropland to feed the farm’s 100 dairy cows and that some of the milk is sold to a cooperative. “Chances are, if you drink milk and live in Delaware then you’ve had UD milk before,” said McDermott.

As for what happens to the rest of the milk supply, the Green Jobs students discovered the tasty answer to that question on the last stop on the tour – at the UDairy Creamery, which produces premium ice cream from milk from UD’s dairy cows.

Cherry vanilla? Chocolate marshmallow? Delaware River mud pie? Who knew that learning about the environment could be so sweet.

Article and photo by Margo McDonough

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Butterfly season only average, according to UD entomologist and others

July 17, 2012 under CANR News, Cooperative Extension

Brian Kunkel’s weekend strolls at Middle Run Natural Area make him see red – not because he’s angry but because the red admiral butterfly has been abundant at this 850-acre park east of Newark. A large, red-banded butterfly, the red admiral has been seen in large numbers throughout Delaware this summer.

“The red admiral is experiencing an irruption – a rapid and irregular increase in population numbers,” says Kunkel, an entomologist with UD Cooperative Extension. “It’s not just here in Delaware; this irruption also has been reported in New Jersey, the Poconos, western New York and other Northeastern locales. The last time a red admiral irruption was seen locally was 2001.”

The red admiral is the bright spot for Delaware butterfly watchers this summer. All in all, it’s shaping up to be just a so-so season for butterflies.

“Butterfly numbers were good at the end of May and into June but then things really backed down,” says Sheila Vincent, a group program coordinator for the Delaware Nature Society who maintains Ashland Nature Center’s Butterfly House.

“Mid-July to mid-August is typically the peak of butterfly activity in Delaware but we’ve seen fewer individuals flying,” says Vincent, “Right now, I don’t think we’re going see a repeat of 2011 and 2010, both of which were very good years for butterflies.”

Butterfly populations are influenced by a complex interplay of temperature, moisture and food supply. Different species are impacted by different factors. For example, a species that overwinters in the adult form – such as the mourning cloak — will have better survival rates in milder winters, says Kunkel. If the butterfly’s host plant flourishes during a rainy spring, odds are that butterfly will do well that season, too.

“With so many factors influencing population density, I can’t begin to speculate on why overall butterfly numbers appear lower this year,” says Kunkel.

Delaware has about 120 species of resident breeding butterflies. Considering that most states have about 100 species, Delaware is a pretty good spot for butterfly watching.

“Delaware is home to both the Piedmont Plateau, in the north, and the Coastal Plain, in the middle and southern parts of the state. This makes for a greater diversity of butterflies,” says Vincent. “For example, we don’t get cloudless sulphur butterflies in the Piedmont but on occasion you see a straggler cloudless sulphur fly up from the Coastal Plain.”

If you want to attract butterflies to your yard, Kunkel has two important tips. “First, get lots of plants that caterpillars like,” he says. “Gardeners tend to focus on nectar plants that provide adult butterflies with energy but you also need plenty of food sources for caterpillars – the next generation of butterflies.”

Most caterpillars eat only one specific plant or from one plant family. Do your research. If you love the great spangled fritillary butterfly, plant violets, the food source for this butterfly’s caterpillar. If it’s Eastern tiger swallowtails that you’re trying to attract, plant tulip poplar, sweetbay magnolia and black cherry trees.

If you’ve always prided yourself on a flawless, neat-as-a-pin garden, you may not like Kunkel’s second piece of advice – “tolerate insect feeding.”

Caterpillars eat the leaves and stems of plants, which mean, of course, little holes on the leaves of your plants. “If you want to enjoy the sight of the pipevine swallowtail butterfly, with its brilliant blue wings, you’ll have to accept that your pipevine plants are going to get chewed up a bit by this butterfly’s caterpillars,” says Kunkel.

At the University of Delaware Botanic Gardens, feeding the caterpillars is seen as just as important as feeding the butterflies. The gardens’ Lepidoptera Trail, which opened in 2009, features a wide range of plants to attract caterpillars.

“The trail is not a butterfly garden, which is designed to attract butterflies to feed on nectar,” says garden director John Frett. “It is an ecosystem to attract Lepidoptera throughout their life cycle. It’s a place for them to lay their eggs, which become larvae or caterpillars before entering the inactive pupal stage and then emerging as butterflies, moths or skippers.”

Besides, caterpillars are cool in their own right. “Take the caterpillar of the spicebush swallowtail butterfly. It looks like something out of a cartoon,” marvels Kunkel.

This caterpillar features oversized fake eyes on its thorax and is a garish neon green color at certain stages of development. The fake eyes and bright color is supposed to make the caterpillar look like a snake and thus scare away birds and other predators.

The Lepidoptera Trail, as well as the rest of the UD Botanic Gardens, is open daily from sunrise to sunset for free self-guided trails. For more info, go to http://ag.udel.edu/udbg or call 302-831-0153.

Article by Margo McDonough

Photo by Brian Kunkel

This article can also be viewed on UDaily.

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