The Wonders of Weeds

What might be offensive to many – those “weeds” in unmown areas have a lot of value not only to wildlife but humans too. It was Ralph Waldo Emerson who said “What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not been discovered.” Milkweed is one example of a common plant that serves many purposes. Perhaps its virtues have been, and continue to be discovered.

image: wikimedia.org

According to ScienceDaily:

“Common milkweed is the only food source of monarch butterfly caterpillars. But for some farmers, the plant is also a valuable source of floss that can be harvested for use as a hypoallergenic filler for high-end pillows, comforters and jacket linings.“

flickr photo: Monarch Butterfly caterpillar on common milkweed uploaded by NatureFreak07

In studies at the ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, Ill., Harry-O’kuru devised a procedure for using zinc chloride to catalyze the conversion of milkweed oil’s triglycerides into ultraviolet (UV)-light-absorbing compounds called cinamic acid derivatives. HUH?

What this means is Common Milkweed can be used to make sunscreen.  Harry-O’kuru’s milkweed-oil-based sunscreen also contains natural antioxidants such as tocopherols, which are often added to cosmetics as skin-nourishing ingredients.

The sunscreen’s unique combination of fats and waxes may also qualify it as biodegradable and help keep it from washing off during a swim. Its current form is a clear liquid, but gels, creams, sticks and aerosol sprays are also possible, according to Harry-O’kuru.

Read full article at ScienceDaily.com >>>

Native plants in your yard support richer abundance of wildlife than do common suburban landscapes

Properties planted with native species vs. those planted with cultivated ornamentals support significantly more caterpillar species and birds, according to researchers at the University of Delaware.

Photo by bruce mcgranahan

The research and findings are described in the paper Impact of Native Plants on Bird and Butterfly Biodiversity in Suburban Landscapes by KARIN T. BURGHARDT, DOUGLAS W. TALLAMY,∗ AND W. GREGORY SHRIVER,  Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716-2103, U.S.A

Several avian (abundance, species richness, biomass, and breeding-bird abundance) and larval lepidopteran (abundance and species richness) community parameters were measured from June 2006 to August 2006 in southeastern Pennsylvania.  The findings …

Native properties supported significantly more caterpillars and caterpillar species and significantly greater bird abundance, diversity, species richness, biomass, and breeding pairs of native species.  Of particular importance is that bird species of regional conservation concern were 8 times more abundant and significantly more diverse on native properties. In our study area, native landscaping positively influenced the avian and lepidopteran carrying capacity of suburbia and provided a mechanism for reducing biodiversity losses in human-dominated landscapes.

It seems intuitive that native plants would support the wildlife species native to the area.  Here is scientific evidence to support that claim.

While invasive plants have been recognized as a threat to biodiversity, non-native plants that are popular in suburban landscapes have not been considered a threat because most of them are ornamental and lack invasive traits.  But, since these plants are favored by landscapers and homeowners, they have come to dominate millions of acres of the suburban landscape.  The loss of diversity associated with the lack of native vegetation does have an impact on biodiversity.

Winter Tree ID February 21

Feb 21: Winter Tree Identification

On Saturday, February 21, 2009 10am you can Join Virginia Department of Forestry’s Bryant Bays on a walk around the center’s trails and learn how to identify a variety of native and non-native deciduous trees common to our part of the Blue Ridge.

WHERE: Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, 11661 Harpers Ferry Road Purcellville VA 20132 For more information contact Attila at 540-668-7640.

Feb 21: Winter Tree Identification

Learning to identify trees when there are no leaves requires a knowledge of branching patterns and learning to identify species by their buds and other clues.

Saturday, February 21st, the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship will host WINTER TREE IDENTIFICATION beginning at 10am

Bryant Bays, of the Virginia Department of Forestry, will lead the walk around the center’s trails and show you how to identify a variety of native and non-native deciduous trees common to our part of the Blue Ridge.

For more information contact Attila at 540-668-7640.

Directions

When will the mighty Chestnut return?

As a child growing up in Pennsylvania I remember walking in the woods and seeing enormous tree stumps.  As a small boy I’m sure they seemed even larger than they really were.  I recall asking my father about these wonderous remnants of what must have been towering and majestic trees. He told me they were what remained of American Chestnut trees that had been killed by “the blight”.

Chestnut, in particular what we called “wormy Chestnut”, was the most coveted wood in Pennsylvania.  Its warm color and resistance to decay made it ideal for all sorts of woodworking and was the structural framework and siding for the most durable barns.  So what happened?

Through the first-half of the 20th century, the American Chestnut tree (Castanea dentata) was the dominant forest tree species in Pennsylvania and the East but it was virtually eliminated from the landscape by an Asiatic blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) carried on exotic plant materials imported by plant explorers in the late 1800s.

Huge American Chestnut Tree photo from www.chattoogariver.org

According to a post at Physorg.com,

A decades-long process of introducing blight resistance by cross-breeding Chinese chestnut trees with American chestnuts, and then back-crossing the hybrids with American chestnuts to select for desirable American chestnut form and traits, seems to be close to bearing fruit. “We have a six-generation breeding program — we think that will be adequate for both full American character and blight-resistance,” said Sara Fitzsimmons, Northern Appalachian regional science coordinator for the American Chestnut Foundation and a research support technologist in Penn State’s School of Forest Resources.

Mighty Giants: Photo courtesy of the Forest History Society

“The fifth generation trees are currently planted at the Penn State Arboretum and at our Meadowview facility in southwestern Virginia. We collected seed from those trees last year and we actually have sixth-generation plants growing in pots right now at Penn State.”

Those potted plants could be — indeed should be – blight-resistant, according to Fitzsimmons. But it will be years until researchers know for sure. “Does this process work? Honestly, we don’t know,” she said. “But we will be testing it in the next 10 years to be sure the blight resistance is there.”

“It may take 100 or 150 years to see these trees restored to Eastern forests on any sort of large scale,” Fitzsimmons conceded. “But it might not be much more than 10 or 15 years until folks can go to local garden stores or nurseries and buy blight-resistant chestnut trees. That’s exciting.”

Even if the sixth-generation trees now being grown don’t produce satisfactory blight-resistant seed, Fitzsimmons is confident that blight-resistant American chestnut trees will be developed soon. “Even if this plant material doesn’t pan out, we have so much material coming through the pipeline that it will do the trick,” she said.

GO TO SOURCE PAGE AND READ FULL ARTICLE >>>

Visit THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT FOUNDATION Homepage >>>

Female plants say yes on molecular level

Via Science Daily

“Like humans, the mating game isn’t always easy for plants. Plants rely on external factors to bring them potential mates in the form of pollen grains. When pollen grains arrive, an introduction occurs through a “conversation” between the pollen (the male part of the flower) and the pistil (the female part of the flower). In this conversation, molecules take the place of words and allow the pollen to identify itself to the pistil.”

Red hibiscus flower. Researchers have identified pollen proteins that may contribute to the signaling processes that determine if a plant accepts or rejects individual pollen grains for reproduction. (Credit: iStockphoto/Adam Dodd)

“Unlike an animal’s visual cues about mate selection, a plant’s mate recognition takes place on a molecular level,” said Bruce McClure, associate director of the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center and researcher in the MU Interdisciplinary Plant Group and Division of Biochemistry. “The pollen must, in some way, announce to the pistil its identity, and the pistil must interpret this identity. To do this, proteins from the pollen and proteins from the pistil interact; this determines the acceptance or rejection of individual pollen grains.”

Go to Source Page >>>

Leesburg’s Urban Forests subject of November 5 program

Trees on the Town: Leesburg’s Urban Forest

Jay Banks, Urban Forester and President of Virginia’s Urban Forest Council will tell us about the results of Leesburg’s recent Urban Tree Canopy Assessment.

Image from http://pixdaus.com/

He’ll explain how this assessment was done using cutting-edge technology, what it tells us about Leesburg’s urban forest today, and how it can guide us in the future.

Date: Wed., Nov. 5 (7:30 – 8:45 p.m.)

Location: Rust Nature Sanctuary, 802 Children’s Center Rd., Leesburg, VA — space is limited for this free program so RSVP early to Cliff Fairweather at 703-737-0021.

Trees send out chemical warnings

This is from a post at Sustainablog …

During unusually high temperatures and droughts, researchers have found that walnut trees emit large amounts of aspirin into the air, possibly as a warning to other trees to prepare for the changes.

flickr image: walnut tree by sciondriver

Scientists with National Center for Atmospheric Research hope that the findings will open new doors to study how plants impact air quality, but also to develop a warning system to tell farmers when crops are beginning to fail. Scientists have long-known that plants in laboratory settings can produce aspirin-like chemicals, but this study is first known record of plants emitting noticeable levels of the chemical into an ecosystem when under stress … READ MORE AT SUSTAINABLOG >>>

We never learn …

Spotted Knapweed. Image US Forest Service

Biocontrol agents, such as insects, are often released outside of their native ranges to control invasive plants.  But scientists in Montana have found that through complex community interactions among deer mice, native plants and seeds, the presence of an introduced fly may exacerbate the effects of the invasive plant it was meant to control. The authors report their results in the September issue of the journal Ecological Applications.

Read More at Science Daily >>>

Algae tells scientists about water quality

flickr image: Algae uploaded by SuperFantastic

From msnbc.com via Reuters by Ari Rabinovitch …

TEL AVIV – Scientists in Israel have discovered a new way to test for water pollution by “listening” to what the plants growing in water have to say.

By shining a laser beam on the tiny pieces of algae floating in the water, the researchers said they hear sound waves that tell them the type and amount of contamination in the water.

“It is a red light, telling us that something is beginning to go wrong with the quality of water,” said Zvy Dubinsky, an aquatic biologist at Israel’s Bar Ilan University. “Algae is the first thing to be affected by a change in water quality.”

Read More at msnbc >>>

We need more Guerrilla Gardeners!

I am so enthralled with this new movement that this is a follow-up to my post on August 28th, They sneek in at night … While I don’t want to advocate anything illegal (like trespassing) I do think there are a lot of public and private spaces that need beautification.  Imagine discovering each morning, on your walk or commute to work, that gardens keeping popping up in yards, open spaces, and “lost” corners.

“Guerilla gardeners scope out their communities, make a plan and then head out on covert operations to vandalize the cities with nature. There are a million different ways to guerilla garden, but whether you choose to do it solo or with a group, in a public space or in a neighboring junkyard, these 12 steps can help make sure your beautification efforts are a success.”

Guerilla Gardeners caught in the act. Image from WebEcoist.org

Troops, here’s 12 steps taken from WebEcoist:

1. Take stock of neglected patches of land in your area. They might be vacant lots, sidewalk parkways, medians, highway shoulders, or public parks. Possibilities to beautify these spaces are practically endless – all it takes is some DIY spirit.
2. Pick a space to start with and plan what you’d like to do with it, when, how and with whom. You’ll need to decide on a budget, to make sure you don’t end up biting off more than you can chew. Gardening, when not planned carefully, can get expensive. Pick an area close to home, and stay small to start. You can find other guerilla gardeners in your area at the forums on GuerillaGardening.org, or bring some friends.
3. Find a cheap source of plants. One of the best is your own backyard if you’ve got one, or other gardeners in the area. A great place to check for free unwanted plants is Freecycle.org, where gardeners often offer up plants when they’re making changes to their own green space. You can also make friends with a worker at a nursery, who can get you plants that look less than perfect for a bargain. Even cheaper is to plant seeds rather than plants, which will bloom into beauty over time rather than providing instant gratification, but need more care in the interim.
4. Choose your plants wisely. Native plants appropriate for the natural conditions of the area are best, since they won’t need a whole lot of water or special soil. Plus, you’ll avoid accidentally introducing invasive species into the ecosystem. GuerillaGardening.org recommends choosing hardy plants that can stand up to careless trampling by pedestrians as well as plants that make a big impact with color or texture. Evergreen shrubs, herbs and bulbs are great choices.
5. Gather up some tools. You don’t need an arsenal of expensive equipment – at the least, though, you should have a trowel and some gloves. A large spoon can sub for a trowel when necessary. If you’re a gardening newbie, you might want to pick up a book or read a gardening primer online.
6. Plan to get muddy – and to run if necessary. Wear pants that you don’t mind getting stained, since you’ll be kneeling in dirt and splashing a bit of mud around when you water everything. It’s also a good idea to cover your shoes in plastic bags to protect them (and take the bags off if you have to make a quick getaway) or Wellington shoes, which protect your feet and don’t look like obvious gardening gear. Dark clothing is best.
7. Bring some kind of easy-to-carry container to haul off waste like nursery pots and weeds. A plastic storage tub, 5 gallon bucket or large reusable sack will make it easy to haul it all off to a dumpster and/or compost bin when you’re done.
8. Carry out your ‘attack’ at a time when you won’t be bothered, and make sure you have adequate transportation. Nighttime is generally best. If you don’t have a car, a bicycle will work for small jobs if you can strap all of your plants and supplies to your back.
9. Plan to water everything. If there isn’t a source of fresh water nearby, you’ll need to occasionally bring some in watering cans or other containers to keep the plants happy. Some ambitious guerilla gardeners even keep barrels full of water in the backseats of their cars, with a spigot and hose connected at the bottom.
10. Check on your efforts regularly. Add compost when necessary, and pull weeds. Don’t let all of your efforts go to waste from neglect, or your guerilla gardens will turn back into ugly spots in desperate need of care.
11. Seed bomb desolate areas if you can’t easily get to them. Seed bombs are simply balls of compost, clay and seeds that you can throw over fences or into other hard-to-reach areas for beauty in unexpected places.
12. Spread the word about guerilla gardening in your area. Talk to other gardening enthusiasts about your work, put posters around the area where you’ve gardened, and network with others online.

Read More at WebEcoist >>>

They sneek in at night …

A small group of people huddle in the shadows, waiting for nightfall.  They have a plan and they need the cover of darkness to pull it off.  The unwary property owner has no idea what is about to happen on their land. Then, concealed by darkness they go to work.  Digging, planting, gardening.  Yes, they are Guerrilla Gardeners!

Guerrilla Gardening.org

According to a post at WebEcoist …

As part of the guerilla gardening movement, … activists seek to take back those forgotten areas and turn them into lush gardens, regardless of who actually owns them. Also called “pirate gardening”, guerilla gardening is all about improving public spaces and making sure that potential garden spaces don’t go to waste.

Though it’s technically illegal – akin to squatting in an abandoned building – most of the time, guerilla gardeners don’t meet much resistance from landowners. It’s easy to see why. Unless the property owner has an immediate plan for the site, they often don’t mind seeing it beautified, so long as the gardeners aren’t profiting from it. And guerilla gardening isn’t about profit. Most food that is planted gets eaten by the people who tend the gardens, and given freely to the community.

Go to Source Page >>>

Check out Guerrilla Gardening.org >>>

Loudoun now part of Emerald Ash Borer quarantine area

Image via Wikipedia

greener loudoun published a prior post on July 12th titled “Emerald Ash Borer killing local Ash trees“  We now have an update from the local cooperative extension office:

Here is an update on the Emerald Ash Borer in Loudoun County, Virginia:

Loudoun County is now part of the quarantine area due to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).  Please visit the VCE Loudoun County site (http://offices.ext.vt.edu/loudoun<http://offices.ext.vt.edu/loudoun>), click on local programs, then Emerald Ash Borer to access a factsheet.  Read about this pest and visit the listed sites so that you are familiar with what an Ash tree looks like and the EAB so you will be knowledgeable about the EAB and the quarantine.

If you think you think you have an infested ash tree in Loudoun County call 703-777-0373

How tall can a tree grow?

People have always been fascinated by how some trees, such as Douglas fir or redwoods, can grow so tall,” said Barb Lachenbruch, a professor of wood science at Oregon State University. “This is not an easy thing to do. Think about trying to drink water through a narrow, 350-foot-long straw. It takes a lot of suction.”

From a post at NewsVine from the AP:

flickr image: Giant Redwood tree uploaded by glenh00

Moisture evaporating from leaves reduces pressure in the narrow channels inside the tree, drawing water upward. But researchers say the process seems to have a height limit. The longer the column of water the more likely it is that an air bubble will get into the tube — a sort of tree embolism — blocking the water flow, researchers report in Tuesday’s edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

At a point of about 350 feet, air bubbles become so common they defeat the tree’s ability to move water upward, according to the researchers who are working to understand how trees adapt to their environment.

The research was led by Jean-Christophe Domec of North Carolina State University. It was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Read More at Source Page >>>

Roadside flowers good for drivers, good for environment

“From small, manicured beds of flowers maintained by community volunteers to extensive landscaping projects along America’s byways, roadside gardens are taking root. Aside from the obvious aesthetic benefits, studies indicate that roadside beautification, including landscaping and gardens, can help drivers reduce stress, frustration, and aggression, while helping maintain safe highways. Implementing simple, cost-effective beautification projects can enhance communities and improve quality of life for residents and travelers.” -ScienceDaily

image: VDOT

America’s highways and some city streets have beds of flowers. For example, the Virginia Wildflower Program plants wildflowers in the median of Virginia’s highways. The program is supported through fees generated by the purchase of special license plates.

According to their FAQs, VDOT plants approximately 2,500 pounds of wildflower seed each year. You can see VDOT’s wildflower list here. VDOT says well-kept highways help reduce accidents and litter; colorful plantings help fight “highway hypnosis” and driver fatigue; and wildflowers contribute to the environment by providing a source of nourishment for songbirds and beneficial insects.

image from VDOT: Red Corn Poppy and Rocket Larkspur on VA Byway Route 39, near Goshen in Rockbridge County

According to a post at ScienceDaily, roadside gardens maintained by community volunteers, or extensive landscaping projects along America’s byways, are taking root. They also discuss a recent article that introduces the “linear garden”; a new, dual-purpose method to enhance roadsides while providing teaching gardens for students and community members. Dr. Sandra Wilson, Associate Professor of Environmental Horticulture at the University of Florida’s Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC), and a team of researchers designed and planted a linear garden along a road at the entrance to the University of Florida and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Fort Pierce, Florida.

“The idea originated when existing university gardens, used as teaching labs for students, reached maximum plant capacity. We needed to find a way to teach students about plants in a limited amount of space, and that need paralleled our community’s interest in enhancing local roadside beautification projects” Wilson explains. “A linear garden is an efficient, space-saving way to present plants for teaching purposes, and also serves to beautify the roadside throughout the year”.

With minimal installation and maintenance costs, students and professors established the linear garden in a single strip measuring three feet wide by 2,426 feet long, which includes 817 plants. The garden was designed to showcase landscape plants commonly used in south-central Florida, and year-round visual interest was maintained by planting trees, palms, shrubs, ground covers, and grasses. The new linear garden is used as a teaching experience for students as well as provides visual interest for residents and passers-by.

Emerald Ash Borer killing local Ash trees

The Emerald Ash Borer is an import that is killing native Ash trees in the area. While not yet reported in Loudoun, Fairfax County is taking extensive precautions to try to contain the pest. Chris L. Jenkins of the Washington Post wrote an article titled “After Five-Year Absence, Destructive Beetle Discovered in Trees in Herndon, Newington“. According to Jenkins:

The emerald ash borer, a tiny exotic beetle responsible for killing at least 40 million ash trees from Michigan to Maryland, has reappeared in Fairfax County after a five-year hiatus, officials said yesterday. The insect — no more than one-half-inch long and one-eighth-inch wide — was found this week in 30 ash trees in Herndon and at least 10 in Newington. Fairfax and Prince George’s counties are believed to be the only Washington area jurisdictions that have been invaded by the beetle, which has burrowed its way through at least seven states since it appeared in southeastern Michigan in 2002.

State officials probably will destroy not only the infected ash trees but also those nearby. There are an estimated 2 million ash trees in Fairfax. Officials estimate that nationwide 30 million ash trees have died in six years.

The beetle has a cylindrical shape and metallic green sheen. Symptoms are a tree “dying from the top down” because the insects cut off the tree’s ability to distribute water. Sometimes ash trees push out sprouts from the trunk after the upper portions of the tree dies.

If you think you have an Ash tree that shows the signs of attack by the Emerald Ash Borer you should contact your local state forester (Loudoun County does not currently have one), Loudoun County Arborist Dana Malone (703-777-0397) or the local Cooperative Extension Office (703-777-0373).

Go to Washington Post Article for More >>>

How to identify the Emerald Ash Borer >>>

Other Resources:

Ash Tree Identification Bulletin
(PDF, 5.01MB)
Kimberly Rebek and Mary Wilson – criteria to properly identify ash trees.

Native Borers and Emerald Ash Borer Look-alikes
(PDF, 6.27MB)
February 2005 – Photos of insects that look like emerald ash borer.

Distinguishing Ash from other Common Trees
(PDF, 0.50MB)
This key is intended to help you distinguish between some common deciduous landscape trees frequently confused with ash, including: elm, boxelder, mountainash, walnut and hickory

Don’t be Fooled by Emerald Ash Borer Look-Alikes!
(PDF, 0.66MB)
Distinguish between these beetles that could be confused with emerald ash borer.

Virginia Native Plant Society Summer newsletter

View or download the Virginia Native Plant Society Summer 2008 Newsletter.

<LINK to VNPS HOME PAGE>

The Virginia Native Plant Society (VNPS) was founded in 1982 as The Virginia Wildflower Preservation Society. It is a statewide organization with approximately 2000 members supported primarily by dues and contributions. Membership is open to anyone, amateur or professional. Its purpose is to further appreciation and conservation of Virginia’s native plants and habitats. Incorporated in Virginia as a not-for-profit, publicly supported organization, it is tax-exempt under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. The Society’s work and activities are carried out by volunteers.

The Society’s programs emphasize public education, protection of endangered species, habitat preservation, and encouragement of appropriate landscape use of native plants.

Make your green garden greener with these 8 tips

I liked this post from Live Science called 8 Ways to Green Your Garden By Trey Granger

Although your garden may seem very green by definition here are 8 ways to reduce the impact your garden has on the environment as a whole.

1. Plant Within Your Environment.

Before you start growing something, do some research to see what it needs to survive in your area. Otherwise, you may end up using lots of water and other resources to have “something different” in your backyard.

2. Water in the Mornings.

Like it or not, some of the water meant for your plants will evaporate before it reaches the soil. This is compounded on a hot day. Watering in (or setting your sprinkler timer for) the morning can save 50 gallons of water a week.

3. Compost.

Soil and fertilizer are expensive, so why not make your own? Take organic waste from your kitchen (fruit/vegetable peels, egg shells) and mix with yard waste (leaves, flowers) and water. The result is compost, which is rich in nutrients and will help your plants grow.

4. Find Second-Hand Supplies.

You may not want to buy underwear used, but how about a shovel or wheelbarrow? Look for these items at garage sales and thrift shops before buying a new one. If you do buy new, ask if the products come with a warranty so they will last you a long time.

5. Reuse Your Pots.

Plants die, but pots rarely do. Save the pot and soil if one of your plants expires. You can even create your own pots by drilling a hole in old butter containers or flipping over a drum. If a pot breaks, you can usually glue it back together with no loss of quality.

6. Grass-cycle.

One of the least fun tasks of mowing the lawn is picking up the scraps. It’s actually beneficial to your garden to leave them there. The grass clippings will provide nutrients to the remaining yard as they decompose. Plus, you’ll have one less plastic bag to dispose of.

7. Recycle Yard Waste.

If you decide that composting isn’t for you and you enjoy picking up grass clippings, definitely recycle your yard waste. This material takes longer to decompose in a landfill when buried under a pile of plastic. Plus, if your local community accepts yard waste you may be able to exchange it for compost to use in your garden. Recycle yard waste using Earth 911.

8. Use Natural Pest Management.

Pests can wreak havoc on your garden. But you don’t need pesticides to keep them away. Pesticides harm all kinds of living things, including humans. Plus, they can be easily transferred into natural bodies of water and our water treatment systems are not designed to remove pesticides. You can plant natural pest repellants like chrysanthemums and marigolds nearby. Learn other ways to practice integrated pest management.

Go to source web page >>>

Leaves can regulate their own temperature

From Nature News:

Leaves keep their cool

Leaves resist temperature extremes regardless of the weather.

by Heidi Ledford

Whether growing in the heat of Puerto Rico or in the icy chill of northern Canada, tree leaves are able to buffer against the outside temperature, new research has found.

A survey of 39 North American tree species over an area spanning 50° of latitude has shown that plants protect one of their most important functions – photosynthesis – by maintaining average leaf temperatures at around 21 °C (70° F), regardless of the weather.

The findings, published this week in Nature ¹, could have implications for how scientists use tree rings to model past climates, and how they predict future responses to climate change.

Three Olives, the Absolut cure for poison ivy

(According to a post at thedailygreen)

Defeat Poison Ivy

“For many, one of the hazards of enjoying the great outdoors is an encounter with poison ivy, oak or sumac.”

According to this post, many people have reported that if they immediately pour vodka over an area that has contacted poison ivy, the alcohol will wash away the culprit, urushiol oil, and they won’t experience an uncomfortable reaction. Some have said that the vodka needs to be at least 100 proof to work.

Others have argued that straight rubbing alcohol works better, but we’re guessing you may not have that as handy if you are on your average picnic.

Read 9 more uses for vodka