The Nutrition Policy Institute is seeking to hire data collectors to contribute to a study in childcare centers across San Jose and Gilroy, Calif. The study consists of a multi-level intervention to promote healthy beverage intake through childcare—Healthy Drinks, Healthy Futures or Bebidas Saludables, Futuros Saludables. Data collectors will observe and measure the amount of water and food children consume in one day at child care. They will need to: have the ability to sit/stand for at least 4 hours; be patient, detail-oriented, and observant; have relevant experience in the field of nutrition and dietetics; candidates with an interest in pediatric nutrition...
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Monarch butterflies seem to be as scarce as hen's teeth around here.
And since hens have no teeth, that's pretty scarce.
And then it happened.
A late in-star monarch caterpillar appeared on our milkweed in our Vacaville pollinator-predator garden on the very last day of July.
We watched it munch the wilting milkweed leaves in the triple-digit temperature.
For one day.
The next day, Aug. 1, it vanished, never to be seen again. Did it pupate? Did the California scrub jays get it?
The scrub jays nesting in our cherry laurel hedges are prime suspects. They devour everything in the garden, from honey bees, longhorned bees and dragonflies to assorted butterflies,...
- Author: Sherry Blunk
When offered the opportunity as a Master Gardener to be trained and unleashed on CA to ID and log sighting of the Tree of Heaven (TOH) (Ailanthus altissima), I jumped at the chance. TOH is an invasive, wildly hearty, rapidly growing deciduous tree native to China and Taiwan. Additionally, TOH is the preferred host plant of the dreaded Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) (Lycorma delicatula), a large planthopper (adult ~1” long) that can successfully feed on over 100 different plant species, including grapes, stone fruits, and hardwoods. Like aphids, the SLF has a hypodermic needle-like mouth which punctures the plant's soft tissue to feed; while their bodies excrete a sticky, sugar-rich fluid (honeydew) that promotes sooty...
- Author: Lanie Keystone
Traveling is always an eye-opening experience; we learn so much and gather so many new and inspiring ideas. Our summer in British Columbia continues to be filled with such eye-opening surprises.
We are staying in a lovely area of Surrey, BC called Ocean Park/Crescent Beach. The city of Surrey is the fastest growing city in BC, outpacing its neighbor, Vancouver, and now reaching over 500,000 people. But it still feels like a quiet, much smaller town. My hunch is—it's the trees! And more importantly, it's the urban forests.
Many cities boast beautiful tree-lined streets or parks with lovely trees. Many cities and towns...
Summer is in full swing and while it's been quite hot in many parts of California, it's been very cool in others. That's why UC IPM's Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist is a useful tool to help you figure out what to do in your region each month!
Here are some general tips for the month of August to prevent pests and their damage in the garden and landscape. Visit the tool to see more pest management to-dos in your region.
- Manage ants around landscapes and building foundations using insecticide baits and trunk barriers.
- Prune off...