This past week, Master Gardener volunteers Alice and Crystal taught an “Herbology” class at the Modesto branch of the Stanislaus County Library on December 16, 2022. Each year, the library puts on a creative program for children that highlights – you guessed it – books! This year, the library chose the Harry Potter series of books. The theme was “Hogwarts Winter Break.”

This event was created by Amber O'Brien-VerHulst, Library Assistant for the Modesto Library Teen and Children's Department who did an amazing job!  After library staff welcomed in the “Hogwarts students,” they were “sorted” into their respective houses of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff. Next, the students had the opportunity to:

• Make a “Rememberall”
• Visit the Room of Requirements
• Take an “Herbology” class with UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardener volunteers

In the second Harry Potter book called “The Chamber of Secrets,” Harry and his friends take a class called “Herbology.” During one class, their assignment is to repot a magical creature called a mandrake. This plant resembles a small, grouchy baby and has an earsplitting, dangerous scream.

In our Herbology class, the students safely repotted “Aragog's grandbabies,” which were actually spider plants. In the story, Aragog was a very large spider that Harry and Ron met, so we thought these plants were an appropriate choice for the activity. Kids of all ages enjoyed learning about spider plants, naming their spider, and planting it in a pot to take home. Special thanks to MJC nursery for donating the plants!

Speaking of plants, did you know you can study horticultural science in Modesto?

To learn more, stop by the MJC east campus Environmental Horticulture Department to see the classrooms and inviting study lounge, https://www.mjc.edu/instruction/agens/ehs.php and then visit the MJC Nursery and purchase affordable plants grown by students. To learn more, visit their Facebook page at. https://www.facebook.com/MjcPlantNursery/ 

In closing, if you haven't been to the library lately, winter is a great time to snuggle up with a good book! If you don't have a library card, apply for one at a local branch (there are 11!) in Stanislaus County. Check the website for hours and locations at https://www.stanislauslibrary.org/.

 

When you see bees in your garden, you likely see primarily European honeybees, who are crucially important to the Central Valley's agriculture since honeybees pollinate 90% our almond crop. 

With their complex social structure and “waggle dance” to inform hive members where food sources are located, honeybees are fascinating creatures.

But honeybees are not the only bees flitting about the flowers on our crops and in our gardens in search of nectar. There over 4,000 species of bees in California.  

Other Bees

Native bees play an important role in pollinating our plants also.  Native bees are 200 times more efficient at pollination than honeybees. Studies in the Central Valley have shown three dozen or more native bee species provide sufficient pollination services on a single farm.  For example, pollinating an acre of apples requires 60,000-120,000 honeybees; the same area can be pollinated by 250-750 Mason bees.

There are over 1,600 species of native bees in California. Unlike honeybees and Bumble bees, most are solitary in nature, and do not produce honey or wax for consumption by others. In North America, only the European honeybee and Bumble bees build hives and live in colonies.

There are 3 basic types of bee nesting:

• Ground nesting bees, which make up 70% of bees. Mining bees are an example of these.
• Stem and wood nesting bees, such as leaf cutter bees or mason bees, make up another 30% of bees.
• Colony nesting bees, such as honeybees and bumble bees make up less than 1% of all bees in North America.

Bees are in Trouble

Bees are facing many challenges these days due to loss of habitat, pesticides, diseases and infections, invasive species, and climate change.

Some ways you can help:

• Plant a garden full of flowering plants to attract bees and other important pollinators. Make sure you have something bloom during the spring, summer, and fall seasons.
• If you use a pesticide, choose one that is less toxic such as a horticultural soap or oil.  
• Provide a space for nesting bees, with bee houses and bare patches of soil.

Upcoming Bee Talk

As a Master Gardener I have learned so much about bees and can talk about them all day. I am doing an upcoming talk for Modesto Junior College's Science Colloquium, a free, STEM-based speakers' series. If you are as interested in bees as I am and want to learn more about these vital, complex creatures, I hope you will come (parking is also free). I will be discussing bees' anatomy, their life cycle, honeybees' social structure, myths about bees, other bees we find in our area, different nesting habits, why bees are in trouble, how we can help which will include listing some plants for your garden that will attract bees.

Date: Wednesday, September 14
Time: 3:15 – 4:15pm
Location: Modesto Junior College West Campus, 2201 Blue Gum Ave., Science Community Center in room 115

Denise Godbout-Avant has been a Master Gardener in Stanislaus County since 2020.

 

 

 

When I was in the 6th grade, we were given an assignment to read books from several different topics (i.e. history, famous people, a classic) and write a book report on each. Being a voracious reader since pre-school, I quickly went through all the assigned topics but one. . .science. Sadly, we hadn't had much exposure to science in elementary school. 

My teacher commented the deadline for doing the assignment was coming up and I wouldn't get an ‘A' in English if I didn't complete the project. I responded I didn't know of any science books to read. He suggested I go to the school library. 

I told the librarian of my situation and she guided me to a book about honeybees. I liked bees (though I'd been stung once!) but knew little about them other than they spent time around flowers. That book revealed the complex and fascinating world of honeybees to me. I was enthralled. I have been enamored with bees and science ever since. I eventually obtained degrees in science and education which led to a worthwhile career that included being a biology instructor, museum educator and lab technician. All because of a book on bees. . .I am forever grateful to my 6th grade teacher and the school librarian. 

All About Bees Talk

As a Stanislaus County Master Gardener, I have the privilege of joining fellow Master Gardener Heidi Aufdermaur in presenting a talk on “All About Bees,” to share my love of bees. Learn why they're so valuable, different kinds of bees, (there are over 1,600 native bees in California!), their life stages and habits, why they're in trouble, and how home gardeners can help bees thrive. I hope you'll join us! 

When: Tuesday, April 26, 2021, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Where: Harvest Hall Rooms D & E at the Agricultural Center at the corner of Crows Landing and Service Road in Modesto
Address: 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, CA 95358
Cost: Free
Instructors: Master Gardeners Heidi Aufdermaur and Denise Godbout-Avant
Questions: call (209) 525-6862
Sign Up online: http://ucanr.edu/bees/2022

Denise Godbout-Avant has been a Stanislaus County Master Gardener since 2020.

It's happening.

The UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day is planned for Sunday, March 6, 2022. This is the 11th year of this free, science-focused event. It was initially scheduled for Feb 20, but was changed due to concerns about the Omicron COVID-19 surge and making the event accessible to undergraduates. 

It will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the UC Davis Conference Center, 550 Alumni Lane, with special access "field trips" to places like the Department of Entomology and Nematology's Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven, a half-acre bee garden on Bee Biology Road.

COVID-19 pandemic precautions kept the 2021 event virtual (traditionally it's scheduled for Presidents' Day Weekend) but in 2022 it will be in person. And, of course, state, county and university safety guidelines will be closely followed. "Currently those are UC Davis-symptom survey approval, masks, and either a vaccine card  or a negative  test from the prior 72 hours," says coordinator Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator for the Bohart Museum of Entomology. "We will have people checking at the front doors. UC Davis requires a safety plan for an indoor event for over 100 people and so we are developing that and will be working with event conference center staff to ensure we are following all the guidelines. We are excited to try in person this year after our 100 percent virtual event last year, but we want to be smart and safe about it for us as well as for visitors." 

In the past, participants enjoyed visiting these collections in person:

• Anthropology Museum
• Arboretum and Public Garden
• Bohart Museum of Entomology
• Botanical Conservatory
• California Raptor Center
• Center for Plant Diversity
• Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven
• Nematode Collection
• Marine Invertebrate Collection 
• Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology
• Paleontology Collection
• Phaff Yeast Culture Collection
• Viticulture and Enology Collection

Stay tuned for which collections will be featured at the 2022 event in the UC Davis Conference Center, and what special- access field trips are planned. The committee is working out the details at its Zoom meetings. For up-to-date information, visit the the UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day and follow on Twitter and Facebook. 

Just be sure to clear your calendar for Sunday, March 6, 2022. The 11th annual UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day is happening.