Artful Rainwater
As this issue of the newsletter considers water in the landscape, view an Artful Rainwater Design Symposium with Stacy Levy, an artist whose sculptures covey and infiltrate stormwater in beautiful yet purposeful ways.
Support Queen Bumble Bees
The arrival of spring signals the return of bumble bees. Xerces Society offers guidelines for establishing habitat that will sustain the bees as they begin to wake up and throughout the year. Read more at xerces.org.
Native Plants for Native Pollinators
Heather Holm, author of Pollinators of Native Plants, offers 8 ½ x11 posters featuring native plants and the native bees they support. Other posters feature native bee and butterfly habitat. Find the downloadable pdfs at pollinatorsnativeplants.com.
Can Carbon Smart Farming Play a Key Role in the Climate Fight?
Markets are emerging to pay farmers to store more carbon in the soil by using improved agricultural practices. But flows of greenhouse gases into and out of soil are complex, and some scientists are questioning whether these efforts will actually help slow global warming. Read more in YaleEnvironment360.
Tick Season Has Begun
Ticks are out and Tick Talk has begun. Undeterred by COVID-19, ticks are active in the landscape. UMass Extension continues its TickTalk series this year on the second Wednesday of each month at noon. Previous webinars are archived and available for viewing. Find out more at UMass Extension.
Examine the Incredible World of Insects
UMass Extension has begun a series of short videos focused on insects. The first episode features Gypsy Month (Lymantria dispar). Find more at InsectXaminer.
Activities for Yourself and Your Kids
With many public spaces across the country closed to visitors as we work to slow the spread of COVID-19, online opportunities for engagement have sprung up along with spring bulbs. Here is a small sampling of places where you can glimpse spring on your electronic device.
~ Coastal Maine Botanic Garden Family Facebook Group
~ Our Gardens Your Home with Longwood Gardens
~ Brooklyn Botanic Garden Virtual Visits
Other gardens offer activities for adults and children:
~ The National Trust: 50 Things to Do Before You’re 11 ¾
~ Mass Audubon Explore Nature at Home
~ Tower Hill Botanic Garden Educational Resources
Check the website of your local public space to discover what’s available in your area.
Mass Land Trust Conference Moves Online
Although the in-person conference was cancelled, several conference sessions will be presented through a series of free webinars in April and May. Find the complete listing of sessions and registration information at MassLand.
Calls for Presentations
Integrated Pest Management Symposium
Proposals are invited for the 10th International Integrated Pest Management Symposium -Implementing IPM across Borders and Disciplines to be held March 15-18, 2021 in Denver, CO). Sessions or individual presentations can address any aspect of IPM, such as research, Extension, regulatory actions, policy, and IPM in practice. Find out more at ipmsymposium.org. Proposals due by June 30, 2020.
