- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
The 10 x 6-foot mural, which graces an outer wall of the Matthiasson Winery on Dry Creek Road, Napa, depicts more than 80 arthropods (insects, spiders and centipedes), several bird species, mammals (bobcat, deer, rabbits, squirrels, a pocket gopher), a gopher snake, mycorrhizal fungi and even earthworms, according to the three project leaders, UC Davis distinguished professor Diane Ullman and assistant professor Emily Meineke, both of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, and retired lecturer Gale Okumura of the Department of Design.
The project is the culmination of a spring quarter class, Entomology 001, “Art, Science and the World of Insects,” taught by Professors Ullman and Meineke. Ullman, founding co-director of the UC Davis Art/Science Fusion Program, described the project as “a collaboration between students and instructors in ENT 001; community members from Davis, Woodland, and Napa, and Matthiasson Winery; and the UC Davis Art/Science Fusion Program."
Praising the Arts/Science Fusion Program, the chancellor said the program "helps advance some of UC Davis' key goals, which are outlined in the university's 10-year strategic plan, titled 'To Boldly Go.' That first goal is to provide an educational experience that prepares all our students to address the needs and challenges of a diverse and changing world. The type of course that produced this mural helps advance this goal, by connecting art and science to enhance student learning in a truly innovative way. Another key goal is for UC Davis to be a role model for diversity. This program's strategy for teaching always includes community engagement, which attracts diverse students and fosters inclusivity through hands-on learning and collaborative teamwork. I also appreciate how the Arts/Science Fusion Program fosters community engagement."
Ullman noted that the general education class, "Art, Science and the World of Insects," was founded in 1996. It's been taught ever year since, "attracting students from every major offered on the UC Davis campus," she said.
The course--"taught with the notion that patterns, harmonies, symbols, and perceptions are shared across borders and disciplines--creates accessibility and inclusion for people that would otherwise fear science, or fear art," Ullman told the crowd. "Not only does this paradigm provide a new and innovative classroom learning experience, it creates collaborations between different kinds of students and the community."
The concept of an art/science paradigm "opened the door for students and community members to interpret the scientific endeavors of the campus and science of entomology," said Ullman, praising the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences "that supports this innovative method of teaching and extending knowledge to the public."
After advancing from research to a primary design, "the next step was to translate our research into visual narratives using design principles we learned from Gale," Ullman said. "With our designs in hand, the process of fabricating the artwork from clay began. Clay is a rich material with great memory, coming from the earth near Davis. In our classroom, every piece is used, recycled and carried forward."
"Once all the pieces of have been sculpted, glazed and fired in a kiln, assembly of the mosaic begins," Ullman related. "Everyone, students and community members contributed to assembly and grouting of the mosaic—truly a mosaic of human intention, creativity and will. We mixed our own grout and each color is custom designed after experimentation and consideration. Most artists would ask for 6 months to a year to complete a project of this size and scope. We completed the process in a mere 10 weeks, the scope of a quarter at UC Davis."
Ullman said that the 83 UC Davis students involved in the project "worked hard, learned about entomology, and the interactions between insects and people."
Meineke, an urban landscape entomologist, was unable to attend the Aug. 16th unveiling. Meineke and her husband Joe Kwon just "brought our newest Aggie, Genevieve Se Hwa Kwon into the world," Ullman told the gathering.
In a joint statement, Ullman and Meineke related that The Secret Life of Vineyards was designed to reflect the ecosystem within and around an organic vineyards as it progresses from early spring to harvest. A Cabernet Sauvignon vine is the centerpiece of the mural, shown from the first bud in the spring to harvest time in the autumn...The work is an ode to the importance of biodiversity and balance in the ecosystem in which wine vines are grown and reflects the passion of the Matthiasson Winery for sustainable viticulture.”
The professors credited artist Amanda Larson of Half Moon Bay "with the engineering and building of the hanging system, as well as the installation."
Resources:
- UC Davis Mural to Be Unveiled, news story, published Aug. 8, 2023, on the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology website
- PowerPoint detailing the project from start to finish. This includes artist statements.
- Author: Lauria Watts
If were inspired by our Fermentation class and you have made some Kimchi, try some of the following recipes. If you have not made your kimchi, well what are you waiting for?:
Kimchi Fried Rice
2 cups cold cooked rice
2 teaspoons oil
1 egg, beaten
green onions, thinly sliced (whites and greens), as many as you wish
Kimchi, diced coarsely, as much as you wish (I suggest 1/2 cup diced)
salt and pepper to taste
Have all of your ingredients at the ready.
Heat a medium heavy steel or cast iron frying pan till it is HOT. Pour in 2 teaspoons oil, swirl to coat pan, toss in the rice. Cook, tossing the rice constantly until it is hot. Make a well in the middle of the rice and pour in the egg; cook, stirring the egg into the rice gradually until egg is cooked. Stir in the green onions and stir fry briefly until they turn a brighter green. Toss in the Kimchi and stir fry just until it is warmed--do not overcook. Serve immediately.
How about using some chopped kimchi in a grilled cheese sandwich to spice it up?
(Thank you Serious Eats.com)
2 tablespoons butter, cut into three even pieces
2 slices hearty white bread, such as Pepperidge Farm or Arnold [some sourdough perhaps?--L. Watts]
2 slices American, Cheddar, or Jack cheese [and a good, melty Muenster would be good! -L. Watts]
1/2 cup kimchi, drained and roughly chopped
Kosher salt if desired
Melt one third of butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat until foaming subsides. Add both bread slices and cook, swirling occasionally, until pale golden brown on bottom side, about 2 minutes.
Transfer to a cutting board toasted-side-up. Place one cheese slice on top of one slice of bread. Top with kimchi and second cheese slice. Close sandwich, with both toasted sides facing inwards.
Melt one more piece of butter in the skillet and reduce heat to medium low. Add sandwich and cook, swirling occasionally, until deep, even golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove sandwich using a flexible metal spatula. Add the remaining butter. Return sandwich to skillet cooked-side up. Season with salt. Cook, swirling occasionally, until second side is deep, even golden brown and cheese is thoroughly melted, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.
And last but not least, Kimchi and Avocado Quesadillas!
(Thank you My Recipes.com )
8 flour tortillas, 7 to 8 in. in diameter
1 jar (14 oz.) kimchi, drained and chopped
2 cups shredded jack cheese
2 avocados, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
Cilantro leaves
Top 4 tortillas evenly with kimchi, then with cheese, avocados, and remaining tortillas.
Mix oil, vinegar, and sesame seeds in a small bowl; set aside.
Heat a 12-in. frying pan over medium-high heat. Toast each quesadilla until lightly browned and cheese has melted, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Slice each quesadilla into wedges, sprinkle with cilantro, and serve.
Border images on right courtesy of:
Bayartai [CC0], from Wikimedia Commons
and
푹푹이 [CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
- Contact: Shane Feirer
- Author: Yana Valachovic
Recently I was fortunate to work with the IGIS team in Santa Rosa and Sonoma to explore why so many homes and buildings were lost in the October Tubbs and Nuns Fires. With the IGIS's Shane Feirer we collected drone-based video to record how the fires burned through the vegetation near and around the lost structures.
We observed several sites where there was little fire activity in the forests or woodlands, yet the homes burned. This type of video helps us document how devastating a wind-driven ember fire can be and of the important lessons we can learn to be better prepared for wildfire.
From this experience I came away with a painful reminder that we all need to do a better job at focusing on fuels near our homes (e.g. combustible wood mulches used in landscaping, lawn furniture, leaf accumulations, dry landscape plants, etc.), especially in the 5 feet immediately adjacent to our homes. While the Tubbs Fire originated in grassy area in Calistoga it easily picked up embers from the burning vegetation which were moved by the 40-70 mph winds and created spot fires ahead of the flaming front. In short time these embers were blasted into homes via attic or soffit vents (critical to let moisture out of a building) or they ignited combustible materials close to buildings; these types of exposures are the primary way the Tubbs Fire started to consume homes. Eventually the Tubbs Fire moved to the more densely populated areas of the Fountain Grove subdivision in Santa Rosa and with each new home that was ignited a new source of embers were created. The embers that came from the burning buildings included 2 x 4s, chunks of wood the size of a frisbee, and other materials. These materials were blasted over Highway 101 on to homes and businesses in the urban center of Santa Rosa- a place most thought could not be impacted by wildfire. The winds persisted till mid-morning on October 9th providing considerable time for an ember to find a weakness in the home. All of us hope we never have a fire like this again, but as history shows us, California's most damaging fires typically occur in the September and October and are often wind-driven.
For many years UC has worked in educating homeowners about fire preparedness in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). These fires have resulted in the largest number of structure losses to date in California and we all need tools to better understand how to learn from these experiences. I greatly appreciate IGIS's willingness to help me collect some critical data in a time sensitive manner.
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
St. Patrick's Day is the "wearing of the green," but it's also the "wearing of the yellow."
Wild mustard, that is.
If you drive through the hills of Napa, around St. Patrick's Day, or from January through March, you'll see bee hives nestled in the green landscape with a flourish of mustard (Brassica spp.).
It's a child's delight, a photographer's dream, and a painter's inspiration. But mustard is also a good cover crop and bee food.
Indeed, honey bees crave mustard just like folks on "Irish Day" crave corned bee and cabbage (with that yellow condiment made from mustard seeds).
We have all listened to the forecaster on the evening news talk about the weather in the Bay Area’s various microclimates. And most of us have had the experience of driving just a few miles through wildly varying weather. While most of Northern California enjoys a Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers, local weather can change mile by mile.
The New Sunset Western Garden Book divides Napa County into four climate zones. Each zone is influenced by elevation, slope and exposure. But what does that really mean to the Napa Valley gardener?
Take a walk through your own garden and notice the variation in light, temperature and moisture. A journey of just a few feet in your own backyard may take you from one set of conditions to another. In all likelihood, your garden is a collection of discrete areas with different environmental characteristics and planting possibilities.
Examine these different areas with an eye to finding just the right spot for the right plant. Understanding your garden’s microclimates could involve documenting daily sun angles, minimum and maximum temperatures, wind direction and rainfall. Or it could simply involve a quick plot of shady and sunny areas. Using just the information about sun exposure and soil moisture, you can probably identify four microclimates in your yard:
- Dry soil in sun
- Dry soil in shade
- Moist soil in sun
- Moist soil in shade
Use these four groups as a framework. At the nursery, you’ll find most plants labeled with information about suitable climate zones, sun versus shade preference, drought tolerance, full-grown size, and disease and pest problems. Use this information to match plants to the right spot in your garden.
The following plant suggestions come from the University of California Cooperative Extension’s “Healthy Garden Tips: Creating Microclimates in the Garden,”adapted from an articleby Peggy Sullivan.
For dry soil in sun: Consider silver bush, flannel bush, red monkey flower, lavender, rosemary, ornamental grasses, agapanthus, lemon thyme and mint.
For dry soil in shade: Consider ceanothus, monkey flower, California wild fuchsia, Siberian and Japanese iris, and New England aster.
For moist soil in sun: Consider spider wort, cardinal flower, ribbon grass, horsetail and hosta.
For moist soil in shade: Consider ferns, broad-leafed bergenia, dogwood, azalea, Japanese maple, elephant’s ear, maidenhair fern, tree fern, common calla, caladium and hosta.
Keep in mind the seasonal variation in sunlight. One of the most changeable factors in my own yard is the play of sun versus shade. I have areas that receive full sun year round and others that are shaded most of the time. A south-facing wall regularly gets eight hours of sun and is great for vegetable growing. Since the area receives drip irrigation, it’s an example of moist soil in sun.
Just steps away, an area under a grapefruit tree in the lee of a garden shed is in perpetual shade—an example of moist soil in shade. Other areas only receive sun when the leaves have dropped from the neighbor’s trees. These zones provide havens in the summer for plants that prefer shade while providing sunny exposure for cool-weather growers.
Just as bodies of water, mountains, hills and valleys affect wind patterns and temperatures, so do the structures and the terrain on your property.
- South- and west-facing stucco walls provide radiant heat that can help ripen summer vegetables. The growing season of a frost-tender plant can be extended by planting it here.
- Eaves can provide a measure of frost protection and relief from direct rain for delicate plants.
- Fences can provide zones of shade along the south side of a yard and zones of reflected heat on the north side.
- North walls receive little direct sun and provide shelter for plants that prefer a shady environment.
- Trees and hedges can act as wind breaks.
- Planting on sloping ground takes advantage of the warming of cold air as it flows downhill.
Finding the right plant for the right place goes beyond choosing appropriate size and desirable color. Knowing the different environments in your garden can aid you in making more informed plant choices.
With an eye to a year-round garden, choose plants and vegetables that bloom and produce in different seasons and that thrive in the conditions that change foot by foot and month by month in your garden.
Vegetable Workshop: Napa County Master Gardeners will lead a workshop on “Cool Season Veggies” on Sunday, August 18, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Yountville Community Center, 6516 Washington Street, Yountville. Grow your own vegetables even when days are short and nights are cold. The key is starting while weather and soil are still warm. Learn which vegetables will thrive in cooler temperatures, how to protect them from heat when they are getting started, and how to time plantings for months of harvest. $15 per person ($10 for Yountville residents). Register through Town of Yountville, Parks and Recreation: Mail in or Walk in registration (cash or check only). For additional information, call (707) 944-8712 or visit their web site.
Master Gardeners are volunteers who help the University of California reach the gardening public with home gardening information. Napa County Master Gardeners ( http://ucanr.org/ucmgnapa/) are available to answer gardening questions in person or by phone, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to Noon, at the U. C. Cooperative Extension office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa, 707-253-4143, or from outside City of Napa toll-free at 877-279-3065. Or e-mail your garden questions by following the guidelines on our web site. Click on Napa, then on Have Garden Questions?