- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
The California Center for Urban Horticulture and the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology are co-sponsoring a workshop,"Bee-ing a Better Bee Gardener," focusing on pollinators in the garden, on Saturday, Sept. 23 on the UC Davis campus.
The event takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Room 2 of Kleiber Hall. It is a fundraiser for the Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven, the half-acre garden next to the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility on Bee Biology Road, west of the central campus.
Following the program at Kleiber Hall, participants will visit the haven and are invited to purchase plants at a pollinator plant sale.
Organizers said that "you should plan to attend only if you are a Master Gardener, 'keen' gardener, or have an introductory background knowledge to one of the following: entomology, botany, horticulture, or plant/insect morphology or taxonomy."
The agenda includes:
7 a.m. Check In: Pick up materials and enjoy coffee and a light breakfast
7:50 Welcome
Dave Fujino, director, California Center for Urban Horticulture
8 a.m.: Research Overview of the UC Davis Bee and Pollination Program
Extension apiculturist Elina Lastro Niño, Department of Entomology and Nematology, UC Davis
8:45: The Role of Floral Traits and Microbial Inhabitants on Pollinator Attraction
Rachel Vannette, assistant professor, Department of Entomology and Nematology, UC Davis
9:30-9:45 Break
9:45: Effects of Neonicotinoids on Pollinators
Maj Rundlof, Department of Biology, Lund University
10:45: Great Garden Plants for Pollinators
Ellen Zagory, director of horticulture, UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, UC Davis
11:45-12:30 Lunch
12:30: UC Davis Honey Bee Haven Research Update
Christine Casey, haven manager, Department of Entomology and Nematology, UC Davis
1:30-3: Open House at Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven Garden
Questions and answers with Christine Casey
Pollinator identification presentation
Special pollinator plant sale with difficult-to-find varieties
For registration and directions, see the CCUH page. The registration fee of $50 includes a continental breakfast and lunch. For more information, contact program manager Eileen Hollett at eahollett@ucdavis.edu or (530)-752 6642.
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
When you see honey bees foraging on the early blooming oxalis, that's a sure sign that February is approaching.
And that means it's time for some mead, music and a bee-influenced dinner.
The UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center is hosting its third annual fundraiser, The Feast: A Celebration of Mead and Honey, from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 6 in the Robert Mondavi Institute of Wine and Food Science. Reservations are now underway. (See registration page.)
Mead, says Amina Harris, director of the Honey and Pollination Center, is "the world's oldest fermented beverage."
What's mead? "It's a fermented blend of honey, water and often fruits, yeast, or spices that dates back to about 7000 BCE," Harris says. Ceramic shards found in Jiahu, Henan Province, China held a mead-like residue, according to Patrick McGovern, the leading authority on ancient alcoholic beverages. According to the BBC the number of meaderies in the United States has increased from 30 to 40 to more than 250 in the last 10 years.
The event, to take place in the Mondavi Institute's Sensory Building on Old Davis Road, will begin at 6 with cocktails, live music, hors d'oeuvres and the featured ginger mead from Schramms Mead in Michigan. Select wines, honey lemonade and sparkling mead also will be served.
Ann Evans, author of the Davis Farmer's Cookbook, and Kathi Riley, caterer and former chef at Zuni Cafe, San Francisco, will serve a Mediterranean-style dinner.
Harris says the menu will include a triple avocado salad, followed by "a tagine of chicken, vegetables and couscous served family-style. A light cheese course will accompany a dessert mead flight with a wonderful citrus almond torte closing the festive evening."
Proceeds from the dinner will be used to support the outreach and education programs of the Honey and Pollination Center. Its mission is “to make UC Davis a leading authority on bee health, pollination and honey quality," Harris says.
Tickets for the dinner are $125 and are available online at http://honey.ucdavis.edu/. For more information contact Amina Harris at aharris@ucdavis.edu.
- Author: Russell D. Hill
The Ballico Cressey 4-H is having a Car Wash!! If you need you car washed or just want to support our 4-H please come to the old Ballico Store on Saturday, April 10th from 11:00 to 3:00. The old Ballico Store is located on the corner of Santa Fe and Ballico Avenue. Donations accepted. We hope to see there.
Whitney Sherron
Ballico Cressey 4-H President
- Author: Russell D. Hill
Snelling 4-H’s
7TH Annual BBQ Chicken Dinner
“ Live & Silent Auction”
To be held Saturday March 27th
@ the Snelling Merced Falls School Gymnasium
Dinner 5:30pm – 8pm * Take outs available
Live & Silent Auction starting at 6:30pm
Dinner - $6.00
Dessert & Refreshment booth.
There are many great items, with more donations still coming in. There will be something for everyone! Please come join in the fun for the evening and help support the youth of Snelling 4-H.
For more information please call 563-6380