Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley (Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties)

Did you know that Jewel Weed is a wonderful first aid plant to treat skin irritations (including poison ivy) or that Aloe Vera can be applied to minor burns? Yarrow is a meadow plant that the native peoples used to treat arthritis and to staunch bleeding, among other things. Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) can be used to reduce swelling and can be applied to bee stings. Plantain is a favorite plant, even though it is not native, as it can used to extract the stinger from a bee sting. Elderberries can be used to strengthen the immune system, but they have to be cooked.

This week, Barbara Huey joins the podcast, Nature Calls:Conversations from the Hudson Valley. Barbara is from Land Stewardship Design and her topic is native Medicinal Plants.Her parents influenced her love of nature and her time at Sage Mountain cultivated her interest in medicinal plants. She focuses mostly on plants that can be applied externally, typically for first aid, but cautions that they don’t replace the need to see health care workers.

It is important to note that while medicinal plants aren’t cure-alls and they aren’t perfect, many herbs and teas offer harmless subtle ways to improve your health. However, many carry the same risks and side effects as manufactured medicines. Many of them are sold with unfounded promises. Pay attention to what the evidence says about each herb’s effectiveness as well as potential interactions or safety issues. Avoid using herbs for infants and children and for those who are pregnant and breastfeeding. Note that most herbs haven’t been tested for safety for those who are vulnerable, and trying herbs isn’t worth the risk.

The USDA Plant ID database is the ‘go to’ resource Barbara Huey uses to identify native plants in New York and the northeast. Medicinal properties are considered secondary properties of these plants that can be bred out with newer cultivars, so the native species are always preferred. But bear in mind that more is not necessarily better when using plants for first aid.

Medicinal plants provide considerable value to pollinators within the landscape. Learning about these plants can also help to increase awareness of the importance of native plants.

Listen in to learn how these plants can be used and what to watch out for when considering their use for medicinal purposes.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Barbara Huey

Photo By: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibienski

Weeds are a constant fact of a gardener’s life. As our guest, Toni DiTommaso, says we can count on three things in life: death, taxes, and weeds.

But if it weren’t for weeds, the world would have less topsoil than it has now, and humanity might have suffered mass starvation by now. Why? Because the plants we call weeds do a vital job in ecosystems: they quickly establish in, protect, and restore soil that has been left exposed by natural and human-caused disturbances. That said, weeds, in addition to being a nuisance, cause more yield loss worldwide and add more to farms’ production costs than insect pests, crop pathogens, root-feeding nematodes, or warm-blooded pests (rodents, birds, deer, etc.).

So perhaps, we should start this discussion with a definition. What exactly is a ‘weed’? The Oxford Dictionary defines a weed as a wild plant growing where it is not wanted and in competition with cultivated plants. Similarly, the Miriam-Webster dictionary describes it as a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth. Penn State Extension tells us that weeds compete with other plants for nutrients, water, and light, as well as potentially harbor diseases and pests. Simply put, a weed is a plant ‘out of place’.

Plants that are characterized as weeds can reproduce via seeds, rhizomes, cuttings or runners. Their seeds are typically plentiful and tiny which can disperse easily and/or remain dormant for many years. They also can grow in less-than-ideal environments, soils, and conditions. As any gardener knows, they tend to grow fast and can outcompete other plants. Weed management can also be frustrating as some of these plants can break off and re-sprout or self-pollinate if pulled out. The best place to begin is to learn how to identify weeds.

In this episode, we are fortunate to hear from Antonio (Toni) DiTommaso, Professor and Section Head, School of Integrative Plant Science Soil and Crop Sciences Section at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). The focus of his research is to gain a more in depth understanding of the basic biological and ecological principles governing weeds to find safe, effective, sustainable and economically viable weed management strategies.

In addition to his teaching and research duties, he is also a co-author of the book, Weeds of the Northeast.The fully updated second edition provides detailed illustrations for easy identification of more than 500 common and economically important weeds in the Northeast including New York.A practical guide, it includes a dichotomous key as well as descriptions and photos of floral and vegetative characteristics, giving anyone who works with plants the ability to identify weeds before they flower. Comparison tables make it easy to differentiate between many closely related and similar species.

Listen to this episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, to learn more about Toni DiTommaso and weeds.This will be of interest to home gardeners, landscape managers, as well as pest management specialists.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Antonio DiTommaso

Photo by: Cornell University CALS

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

Madeline Hooper rejoins the podcast Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to talk about the second season of GardenFit that is available on PBS. GardenFit is a delightful combination of stunning garden tours and practical tips helping viewers learn how to take care of their bodies while taking care of their gardens. Its fundamental premise is that gardening should be joyful, not painful.

The 13 episodes in Season 2 feature passionate gardeners who are also well-known artists, ranging from painters, sculptors, ceramicists, photographers, musicians, designers and culinary pioneers. Learn how creative artistry is often inspired by nature. Take a journey into how art can also spark a vision for an imaginative garden. The show also provides simple, easy-to-learn practical tips and tune-ups to prevent strain and stress , and like a garden tool, use the body correctly.

Madeline is from upstate New York (Columbia County) who has been a gardener for over 30 years. After an exciting career in public relations, a trustee of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and then of the Berkshire Botanical Garden, she honed her gardening skills at Rockland Farm, a ten-acre property that she and her husband have developed from scratch over the past 25 years. The Rockland Farm is open a few times a year to benefit the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program and the Berkshire Botanical Garden’s educational programs. She is very familiar with many aches and pains due to her daily gardening. Her personal trainer has taught her common-sense body movements and self-care to relieve the pains, enabling her to share these tips with us and truly enjoy being in the garden.

Host: Jean Thomas and Taly Hahn

Guest: Madeline Hooper

Photo by: Madeline Hooper

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Eileen Simpson

Resources

Re-join Kristopher Williams from the Capital Region PRISM to learn about invasive plants (Part 2), how they are managed, and what you can do to control their spread. Then Linda Levitt (Flower Power) lets us know all about Peonies, a favorite flower in Hudson Valley gardens. Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas (The Cover Up) close out this episode with a description of Green and Gold and the Dutchman’s pipevine. There’s something for everyone. We hope you listen in!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Kristopher Williams

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Resources and Transcript

Prepare to embark on a captivating journey into the realm of native perennials in this engaging episode of "Nature Calls Conversations from the Hudson Valley." Co-host Tim Kennelty, our resident expert, is your guide as we explore these remarkable, sustainable garden wonders. Whether you're a gardening novice or a seasoned pro, this episode promises valuable insights into the world of native perennials, their resilience, and their magnetic allure to pollinators.

Our exploration spans the seasons, from the early whispers of spring to the full bloom of summer and beyond. Tim generously shares his wealth of knowledge, highlighting how these hardy plants are not only easy to cultivate but also require less water and fertilizer. The ecological significance of native perennials in supporting vital pollinators like butterflies and bees becomes abundantly clear. Join us for an enlightening discussion on how to cultivate native perennials in your own green space. Tim's passion and expertise shines through as he provides guidance on choosing the right plants and understanding their unique characteristics. By tuning in, you'll gain the know-how to create a thriving garden that not only enhances your surroundings but also contributes positively to the local ecosystem. Don't miss this opportunity to nurture your gardening skills and connect with the natural world. Hit that play button, and let's embark on this exciting journey together, discovering the magic of native perennials and their role in sustaining our environment.

Host:  Jean Thomas

Guest:  Tim Kennelty

Production Support:  Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden, Annie Scibienski

Photo by Jay Williams

Climate change is all over the news but what exactly are the implications of higher carbon dioxide levels for the Hudson Valley? While New York State is at the forefront of climate leadership and environmental stewardship, what should we expect relative to extreme temperature and rainfall events?

Join Jenna and Zach, two CCE climate resiliency experts, to learn about potential climate hazards in New York State including an increase in insect, disease, invasive plant pressure as well as potential changes to USDA plant hardiness zones.

While gardeners can look forward to the potential of longer growing seasons, learn what you can do to minimize and adapt to these future climate changes.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Zach Spangler and Jenna Walzack

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Celebrate National Groundhog Day by joining Master Gardeners with a table discussion about these and other Hudson Valley furry wildlife including moles, voles, chipmunks, bears and raccoons. Join Heidi Bock (Trekking the Trails) on a virtual winter hike to Drowned Lands Swamp, one of the Columbia Land Conservancy’s nature trails. Then be entertained and informed by Jean Thomas (It’s All Greek) as she clarifies acronyms such as IPM, GMO, and jargon such as plant ‘habits’. 

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Interview Guests: Jean Thomas, Tim Kennelty, Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Resources:

Groundhogs and Other Furry Wildlife: Woodchucks (psu.edu); Moles (psu.edu); Voles (psu.edu); Chipmunks (psu.edu); Raccoon factsheet (wildlifecontrol.info); Black Bears (psu.edu); Remove or "Take" Nuisance Animals Legally - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation; Legend & Lore | Punxsutawney Groundhog club; Mayor defends keeping Wiarton Willie's death a secret | CTV News; How to control moles and reduce turfgrass damage // Missouri Environment and Garden News Article // Integrated Pest Management, University of Missouri

Trekking The Trails: Drowned Lands Swamp – Columbia Land Conservancy (clctrust.org); Farmscape Wonder Wander: 18 April 2020 | Progress of the Seasons Journal (wordpress.com)

It’s All Greek:: Welcome | New York State Integrated Pest Management (cornell.edu); Etymonline - Online Etymology Dictionary; Plant Information | Chicago Botanic Garden; Plant Finder (missouribotanicalgarden.org)

Tim Kennelty returns with Part 3 of his Good Plant/Bad Plant Retrospective. In this episode he continues with a wealth of information about native plants that are beneficial to the environment, as well as others that tend to be invasive or noxious. Today, Ironweed, Japanese Barberry, Asters, Tree of Heaven and Viburnums are featured.

Ironweed, is a great native, pollinator plant known for its purple flowers and impressive height that will add ‘presence’ to any garden. Ironweed prefers rich moist acidic soils but will grow in average moist to wet soils in full sun. Use in a rain garden, cottage garden, meadow, along streams or ponds or the back of the border.

By contrast, invasive Japanese Barberry is not such a good choice for a garden as it creates a great habitat for the white-footed mouse which is known to be a carrier for tick-borne diseases

Asters, once known as New World asters, are now classified under a different genera, particularly Symphyotrichum. These native plants offer vibrant colors in purple, pink and white while also supporting late-season pollinators, making them an excellent addition to your garden.

On the flip side, the invasive Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), is a non-native plant that has wreaked havoc in many ecosystems, including New York’s. As Tim describes, it’s critical to manage this troublesome plant, which also serves as the primary host for the destructive spotted lanternfly. Listen and learn how to identify, control, and support your local ecosystem.

Viburnums are a very admired and fast-growing flowering landscape shrubs or small trees with a large number of cultivars available. Bloom times span from early spring through June, followed by attractive fruit and great fall foliage. However, not all viburnums are created equal. Learn about the differences between the native and non-native species

Host: Jean Thomas

Guest: Tim Kennelty

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

Are you looking for inspiration to connect with nature and improve your gardening skills? In this episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, Master Gardener Volunteers from Cornell Cooperative Extension share their expertise on potatoes, dry shade gardening, and ground covers and vines.

Looking for something different to make with potatoes? In Patch to Plate, Annie Scibienski's tips for preparing potatoes will have your mouth watering for a healthy and delicious meal. She recommends avoiding foil and microwaves when cooking and suggests adding herbs or other ingredients for added flavor.

Next up, in Made in the Shade, Barbara Bravo's recommendations for drought-tolerant plants that thrive in dry shade are a game-changer for those struggling to cultivate their gardens. Epimedium, brunnera, liriope, hellebores and carex are all options that may work for you.

And finally, in The Cover Up, Jean Thomas and Tim Kennelty discuss the benefits of sedges, bearberry and trailing arbutus as ground covers and vines that support pollinators and provide shelter for insects and birds. Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn from these experts and take your gardening skills to the next level. Tune in to Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley and discover new ways to connect with the natural world around us.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Annie Scibienski, Barbara Bravo

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibienski

Resources

Chris Bowser is a professional educator and environmental scientist with experience in citizen science, estuary and river monitoring, conservation biology, and fisheries science. Part of Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, he coordinates a team with NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program and Hudson River Estuarine Research Reserve. He joins the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley team with a passionate discussion about the Hudson River Estuary.

An estuary is defined as the tidal mouth of a large river, where the tide meets the stream. If you think of New York’s Hudson River, this covers a lot of territory.

According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, estuaries are among the most productive of Earth's ecosystems. Native Americans discovered the Hudson's bounty thousands of years ago; evidence of their existence remains in heaps of oyster shells on its shores. Hudson and Dutch traders wrote of a river teeming with striped bass, herring, and giant sturgeon. More than 200 species of fish are found in the Hudson and its tributaries. The estuary's productivity is ecologically and economically valuable to much of the Atlantic Coast; key commercial and recreational species like striped bass, bluefish, and blue crab depend on nursery habitat here. Bald eagles, herons, waterfowl, and other birds feed from the river's bounty. Tidal marshes, mudflats, and other significant habitats in and along the estuary support a great diversity of life.

The Hudson River Estuary has one of the largest concentrations of freshwater wetlands in the northeastern part of the United States. It has also been found that due to climate change, the rising sea levels have led to an increase in the area of the wetlands.

Chris brings the Hudson River to ‘life’ not only talking about what can be found within it, but also about the wide range of programs to adults and children to help everyone become more acquainted with its value to our broader ecosystem.

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden

Guest: Chris Bowser

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Kathryn Schneider rejoins the podcast with a discussion about the upcoming New York Breeding Bird Atlas. Discover how it is created and how you can help! This is followed by a Linda Levitt (Flower Power) covering an early spring flowering plant, the hellebore. This episode concludes with a description of two wild strawberry plants and the Scarlet Runner Bean (The Cover Up with Jean Thomas and Tim Kennelty).

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Kathryn Schneider

Resources and Transcript

Dr. Rebecca Pinder, a science professor at Columbia-Greene Community College, joins the podcast, Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley in an informative discussion about salamanders, earth worms and other creatures that can be found in the soil.

There are nineteen species of salamanders found in New York State. Did you know that salamanders rarely have more than four toes on their front legs and five on their rear legs? They are typically found in habitats in or near water or other cool, damp places. Some species are fully aquatic while others are entirely terrestrial as adults.

New York is also home to 30 different species of earthworms, although only five are native to North America. The invasion of jumping worms from Asia has increasingly become an environmental and conservation issue in forest ecosystems as well as urban-suburban landscapes.

Listen to Dr. Pinder discuss these fascinating creatures as well as the research being done to better understand them.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Dr. Rebecca Pinder

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Are you interested in ensuring the beauty and safety of your landscape, and improving your property, while promoting the wellbeing of the environment? Planting trees might be a great place to start. But where should you begin?

Careful tree selection, planting and maintenance is the answer. Caleb White from New Leaf Tree Services joins the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley podcast with an informative discussion on when to engage a tree service and what to expect.

Ideally, a new property owner can request a visit to better understand what is currently on the landscape, learn about the health of the existing trees, and understand what could be done to achieve a homeowner’s goals. Unfortunately, a storm event might result in uprooted trees or fallen tree limbs that require more immediate attention from a tree service to help with tree removal and/or pruning. Both situations are quite common in the Hudson Valley.

Tree services often have a certified arborist on staff who is specially trained to deal with the art and science of planting, caring, maintaining, and diagnosing trees, shrubberies, and other woody plant life. These professionals have spent time and effort mastering their craft to properly and effectively manage the growth and development of trees.

Caleb, who is an arborist, talks about what to look for in selecting new trees for your landscape, especially in light of climate change. He has a clear preference for native species that better suit New York’s ecology and support the insects, birds, and other wildlife. Ornamental options are okay when planted for specific reasons. Did you know that evergreens don’t like to be planted closely together? Something to consider when looking for screening on your property. Learn about the benefits of some of Caleb’s favorite trees including Red Maples, Oaks, American Linden and Eastern Redbud.

Once the tree has been selected and sourced from a reputable nursery, having it properly planted is key to surviving its first year. Consider using biochar and having the soil inoculated at planting time to provide trees with the nutrients that will enable them to thrive. Proper watering is absolutely fundamental. Have you heard about a tree diaper?

Existing trees also need maintenance. A tree service can evaluate the trunk structure, branch structure, cavities, bird activity, etc. to assess the health of the tree and evaluate any existing or potential risks to the home or landscape. Using a service with the proper equipment can help ensure that and canopy pruning, ornamental pruning or tree removal is done safely while also being gentle with the landscape.

Listen to this episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to become better informed should you want/need to consider using a tree service in the future.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest:Caleb White (New Leaf Tree Services)

Photo By: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibienski

Resources

Interest in raising chickens has grown in recent years. This interest can be grounded in harvesting their eggs or their meat or simply for home-grown entertainment. If you're wanting to learn more about starting to raise your own backyard chickens, this is an episode that you don't want to miss!

With over 20 years of experience in owning, operating, and consulting for small farms, livestock, and poultry, Nicole Childrose, ,Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of History at Columbia-Greene Community College. She is deeply inspired by home, family, friends, tenderness, and love for animals, excitement about nature, and passion for everything with a history that has a story to be told. She shares her passion for raising chickens and offers valuable advice on how to care for them, from establishing a routine to proper feeding and watering to keeping the coop clean and secure and good neighbor relations. Nikki also emphasizes the importance of research so that you're informed and well-prepared before starting your flock.

Nikki's passion for chickens is sure to inspire and motivate you to start your own backyard flock, so if you're ready to take the plunge and start raising chickens at home, tune in to this episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley and get started today!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Nikki Childrose

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibienski

Resources

Join Master Gardeners in an informative conversation with Kathryn Schneider, an author and educator about all things birds. Learn what to feed birds in winter, the best feeders, and how to keep squirrels and bears away from them. Then, dream about your summer garden as Linda Levitt (Flower Power) will explain the difference between annuals, perennials, and biennials. Tune in for a winter treat!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Interview Guests: Kathryn Schneider

In Part 2 of the Hum of the Hive retrospective, we’ve once again combined multiple (4) short segments together. So, make sure to listen to the end to hear them all! Hum of the Hive, featuring Linda Aydlett, follows the honeybee through the four seasons.

In the first segment, field bees are the focus of attention. Linda describes the various resources required by a hive to survive. To gather these resources, experienced foraging bees, also called scout bees, use a ‘waggle dance’ to communicate where the nectar or other resources can be found. Listening to this, you’ll appreciate why the field bees are the hardest working members of the hive.

Next, we shift to what happens to a honeybee colony in the spring. Many hives, that are running out of room, swarm to divide the colony. But this is not an impulsive decision. Many preparations are required to successfully accomplish this. The queen needs conditioning to be able to fly to a new location. Scout bees have to find potential places to relocate, and then use the waggle dance to communicate options. Once a favored location is selected, the colony flies off to its new home.

In the third segment, learn about propolis. Some resin honeybees collect resin from trees and shrubs and carry it back to the hive. Then, cementing bees remove the resin from the resin collecting bees and apply it to various uses within the hive. It can be used to seal cracks and crevices in preparation for the winter months, but resin also protects the colony from diseases, due to its multiple beneficial properties.

Finally, in the fourth segment, we shift to the summer months when water may be in short supply. This is called a dearth. Measures are taken to survive in difficult times. For example, they may limit the size of the colony by not allowing drones to return to the hive. Fewer bees mean fewer mouths to feed. They might also resort to cannibalism, or robbery to ensure the continuation of the colony. It can be tough to be a bee!

We welcome your feedback on the first or our retrospective series to help you find content on a specific topic in one place. E-mail us at colgremg@cornell.edu.

Everyone loves flowering bulbs (e.g., tulips, daffodils, gladiolas, etc.) but many may not know how to go about ordering and planting them. Timing is critical for spring flowering bulbs that need to have a cold period before they bloom. Thus, they need to be planted in the fall. Summer flowering bulbs (including tubers and rhizomes), that are typically not cold hardy, are planted in the spring. They need to be lifted and stored indoors as they won’t survive our New York winters. Some (like cannas and begonias) may benefit from being started indoors in the spring.

Planning is important for both types in order to determine how many bulbs to plant. Bulbs selection or fencing is key if you have a lot of wildlife. They should be planted at a depth that is triple their height. And don’t plant them in a row if you want them to look ‘natural’. Deadheading their stems (not their leaves) is key after flowering so that the bulbs focus on storing energy to rebloom the following year. Careful planning by placing them with other plants can help to screen the bulbs once they finish flowering.

Join Master Gardener Jean Thomas on this Nature Calls 101 podcast episode to gain confidence to successfully include bulbs in your garden landscape.

Host: Tim Kennelty

Guest: Jean Thomas

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden, Annie Scibienski

In Part 2 of this Pests and Pathogens Retrospective episode, common issues such as houseplant problems, anthracnose and powdery mildew are discussed. These are three short segments that were previously aired, but we’ve repackage them to easier listening.

Dede Terns-Thorpe and Jackie Hayden, Master Gardener Volunteers from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties, are back on Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to let you know what to look for and what you can do about it.

We start with Anthracnose diseases which are caused by fungi that infect stems, branches, leaves and fruits of a wide variety of deciduous trees and shrubs as well as garden vegetables. Sycamore, ash, maple, oak and privet are especially susceptible in New York. The symptoms of these diseases are more severe in years of extended cool, wet spring weather.

If you notice bugs around your houseplants, first isolate the plant and then identify the pest. Early infestations might be removed by hand picking, scraping with a fingernail or addressed using a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Spraying a sturdy plant with water or an insecticidal soap will often remove many pests. In this segment, learn about common houseplant pests (e.g. aphids, mites, scales, mealy bugs, thrips, leaf miners, etc.) and the best ways to control them.

Several different genera of fungi cause powdery mildew which looks like white powdery spores growing on the upper leaf surface of the lower leaves of a plant. Hear Dede and Jackie talk about this common summer pathogen by answering questions such as “What is powdery mildew?” “How do I manage a powdery mildew infestation?” or “What are best practices to minimize the odds of a reoccurrence of powdery mildew?” There’s lots to learn about managing this common pathogen.

Hosts: Jean Thomas

Guests: Dede Terns-Thorpe and Jackie Hayden

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

Community Gardens are a timely topic for this episode where you’ll hear from Kim Bender and Eliza Spear on the how the Community Garden in Coxsackie, NY was founded and maintained. They also touch upon the very popular Coxsackie Farmer’s Market. Then learn all about irises with Linda Levitt (Flower Power).This episode concludes with coral being the color of the day in a conversation about Heuchera and Native Honeysuckle on the latest Cover Up segment with Jean Thomas and Tim Kennelty.  Enjoy!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Kim Bender and Eliza Spear

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support from: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden,

Transcript and Resources

A meadow can be defined as a piece of land covered with mostly grass and often wildflowers in it. Meadows provide cover, food, and nesting sites for birds, insects, and other wildlife. They can be thought of a way to provide food security for pollinators. These grasslands also help to absorb stormwater runoff, helping prevent flooding and soil erosion.

So how can you start a meadow? How do maintain one? Are there specific native species and/or sedges that should be planted to create a meadow? What are realistic expectations when starting a meadow or trying to increase biodiversity within one? How can you best manage the appearance of a meadow?

Join Caleb White and Debra Wren to get answers to these questions and more on this week’s edition of the podcast, Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley. Their focus at New Leaf Ecological Landscapes is on converting lawns and otherwise barren spaces into native meadows and wooded areas utilizing native trees, shrubs, plants, and grasses.

Enjoy!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Caleb White and Debra Wren

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden, Annie Scibienski

Resources

In this episode, Kelsey Jean West from CCE joins us to talk about Leave No Trace, an ethical approach to visiting public parks and conservation areas. Then Tim Kennelty features the Dogwood and Garlic Mustard (Good Plant/Bad Plant). This podcast episode concludes with a focus on the value of scarecrows (Hits and Myths with Devon Russ).

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Kelsey Jean West

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Transcript and Resources

Welcome to The Cover Up Retrospective Part 2. This conversation features potential ground covers and ornamental vine choices to consider for your own garden. Master Gardener Volunteers Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas share some of their favorites in these three previously aired segments.

The first segment starts with a discussion of Green and Gold (a.k.a. golden star) which is a low-growing, clump-forming herb. It thrives in full sun or part shade with long-blooming yellow flowers. This ground cover is climate resilient, slow-growing, and does not have to be ‘pampered’. Dutchman’s pipe, a relative of wild ginger, is a vine that can grow 15-30 feet in length and width. It’s a great option if you want to create a privacy screen as long as it’s given a strong support to grow on.Its tiny flower even attract hummingbirds.

Purple and white flowers are the theme of the second segment. Wild Geraniums (cranesbill) and native Wisteria are the focus. A cousin of the annual geranium, the native wild geranium is a hardy perennial that comes in a range of cultivars forming mats of foliage that look great planted under shrubs or with spring bulbs. Don’t confuse the native American Wisteria with the invasive variety that can pull down structures and spreads easily. The native version can grow 15-40 feet so it does need a sturdy support. Planted in full sun, it will reward you with fragrant blooms that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

The final segment features golden ragwort and climbing hydrangeas. Tim likes golden ragwort for its bright yellow flowers as well as its ability to compete with invasive plants like garlic mustard and Japanese stilt grass. It thrives in moist shady locations, naturalizes rapidly and has a long spring blooming period. Spreading via underground rhizomes, it forms clumping colonies and attracts multiple bees, butterflies and moths. Climbing hydrangeas, like other vines, need a sturdy support, like plenty of water, but are not very aggressive. Known for their attractive reddish-brown bark, they are happy in partial shade and produce fluffy white clusters of lace-cap flowers.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guests: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Photos by: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

Did you know that there are 800 species of eels? They are an important element of the natural food web as well as a source of food and bait. Eels are born in the ocean but live most of their lives in fresh water, before returning to the ocean to spawn. The American eels are born in the seas around Bermuda, before they start a year-long migration to the Hudson River. They can be found along the Atlantic coast including the Chesapeake Bay up to the Saint Lawrence River region.

Join Kelsey Jean West from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess County in a fascinating discussion about eels, including a research project that counts the eels that migrate up to the Hudson River. There is still a lot of mystery around the eel, so the citizen science research project that has been going on for over 13 years helps the Department of Environmental Conservation make regulatory decisions to help protect this endangered species.

The Hannacroix Creek is one of twelve locations along the Hudson River where local volunteers count the glass eels (the one year old American eels in the third of six stages of maturity) as they reach their freshwater homes where they stay through adulthood. They eventually grow to be up to 4 feet long and as heavy as 17 pounds and can live anywhere between 10 to twenty years in fresh water. Then they eventually return to their birthplace in the Atlantic Ocean where they spawn at the end of their lives, and the cycle starts again.

Learn more about eels including how you can engage with this citizen science project on the podcast, Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Kelsey Jean West

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Hydrangeas are a very popular landscape shrub and the topic of this podcast episode on Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley. 

What’s the difference between a lace cap and a mophead hydrangea? Why isn’t my hydrangea flowering? Where should a hydrangea be planted? How do I figure out what kind of hydrangea I have in my yard? When should hydrangeas be pruned? How do I get my white hydrangea flowers to turn blue? Or pink? What are other landscape plants to consider that offer similar ‘showy’ flower displays? Why don’t the hydrangea plants I receive as gifts overwinter? Join podcast founders and Master Gardener Volunteers (Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas) in a round table discussion about hydrangeas and get your questions answered.

Then, Linda Levitt joins us with a new Flower Power segment to talk about Holiday plants including how to care for them. Amaryllis, Holiday Cactus and Poinsettias are all discussed.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty, Jean Thomas, Teresa Golden and Linda Aydlett

Guest:  Linda Levitt

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Resources

This episode of the podcast, Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, contains a potpourri of interesting topics.

Jean Thomas (It’s All Greek to Me) returns with a discussion of the Dutch influence on the Hudson Valley, including the wide variety of terms we use today that find their origins to the Netherlands. We all know that bulbs come from Holland, but are you aware of other common vocabulary terms like gherkin, coleslaw and cookie are derived from the Dutch? The Dutch influence on the Hudson Valley continues today.

Plant trials are the focus on Tools of the Trade with Tim Kennelty. Have you wondered how botanists evaluate which plant varieties perform best under certain conditions? Which cultivars are pollinator favorites? What one are the most disease resistant? Which native plant species will work best in your garden? On-line resources from the Mount Cuba Center in Delaware and the Chicago Botanic Garden are discussed which provides the answers.

Garden maintenance is the focus of this latest episode of the Veggie Patch with Teresa Golden. Watering, weeding and fertilizing are discussed as key elements to keep a vegetable garden thriving. Get answers to: How much water is needed? Does mulch really help to suppress weeds? What’s the value of fertilizer? In addition, she’ll cover some common garden tools that will make caring for your veggie patch easier.

Thanks for listening to Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Jean Thomas, Time Kennelty and Teresa Golden

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Annie Scibienski, and Teresa Golden

Resources

This podcast episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley is perfect for summer!

Master Gardener Annie Scibienski starts us off with a yummy segment on a wide range of ways to prepare zucchini and summer squash, some simply using your pantry staples, while others are more creative. If you’d like to know how to cook squash blossoms, make frittatas, or serve it with eggs or rice, this segment is for you. Your mouth will be watering!

This is followed by a segment from Master Gardener Barbara Bravo on how to add contrast and texture to your summer shade garden. Leveraging plants like Ligularia ‘Britt Marie Crawford’, Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’, Athyrium niponicum, Dryopteris Ferns and others, your shade garden doesn’t have to be ‘boring’.Keep it going into the fall with Colchicum autumnale ‘Pleniflorum’ a/k/a Autumn Crocus, or Asarum Europa a/k/a European wild ginger.Listen to the possibilities!

Master Gardener Devon Russ closes out this episode by dispelling the common myth that watering your garden on a hot summer day will result in leaf scorch. In reality, this condition is caused by either drought, root damage, or acidic damage. Learn about the science behind leaf scorch to keep your garden thriving.

Here’s hoping that you get to enjoy a wonderful New York summer in sun and shade!

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden

Guests: Annie Scibienski, Barbara Bravo, and Devon Russ

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibienski

Join Master Gardeners, Jean Thomas, and Tim Kennelty, in a conversation with Evon Antonio and Connor Young about CCE of Columbia and Greene Counties and their programming. Then listen to some practical tips about how to site a vegetable garden with Teresa Golden (The Veggie Patch) and learn how honey bees survive in the winter with Linda Aydlett (The Hum of the Hives).Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas Interview Guests: Evon Antonio and Connor Young

Resources

CCE: Cornell Cooperative Extension (ccecolumbiagreene.org)

Veggie Patch: Cornell Cooperative Extension | Food Gardening (ccecolumbiagreene.org) ; Untitled-2 (unh.edu); How to Start a Vegetable Garden | University of Maryland Extension (umd.edu) ; Explore Cornell - Home Gardening - Vegetable Growing Guides

Hum of the Hive: Beekeeping calendar for the Northeast; Honeybee Democracy; Honeybee Colony Thermoregulation – Regulatory Mechanisms and Contribution of Individuals in Dependence on Age, Location and Thermal Stress

Transcript

This episode contains three previously aired segments about a common topic that have been put together for easier listening. Tools of the Trade is a series of descriptions of essential tools that Master Gardeners use to research and answer questions about our natural environment. Master Gardener Volunteer Joan Satterlee provides detailed explanations of each tool including how it is best used.

The topic of the first retrospective segment is iNaturalist, which is a website or app that can be used to identify plants, insects, and animals. Launched in 2008, it uses photographs and artificial intelligence to help you explore your surroundings. Available on iOS and Android operating systems, there is no fee to use it. There is even a version, called Seek, that is an alternative for beginners.

Are you looking to find native plants for your garden? Stay tuned for information about the Audubon Native Plant Database. Once you enter your zip code, you'll find a listing of all the native plants that are from your area. You can organize the search results in many different ways such as type of plant, features, or even the type of bird it may attract. There are lots of search options and filters to get even more information specific to your interests.

The last segment in this episode features a gardener's classic resource for woody plants: the Dirr's Manual of Woody Landscape Plants written by Michael Dirr. Organized by botanical name, this gardening 'bible' also has an index of common names that can be extremely helpful. It provides information about the plant's leaves, bids, flowers, fruit, size, hardiness, and diseases, among other things. It even describes its landscape value. While this manual contains line drawings, if you prefer photographs, consider investing in the Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs as another potential resource.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guest: Joan Satterlee

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Taly Hahn, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith,

Resources

Corn on the cob, fresh-picked from the garden, farm stand or farmer’s market, is a delightful summertime treat. Many Americans think of it as an American barbecue staple, but corn is actually a global food. Master Gardener Annie Scibienski is back with another From Patch to Plate segment. This time she talks about corn and everything that goes well with it. The long list of options will make your taste buds clamor for it. Fire-roasted corn salad anyone?

Do you know the difference between an acronym versus an initialism? Both are formed by using the first letter of each word in a phrase. The difference is that acronyms are pronounced as a word, while initialisms are spoken as a list of letters. Master Gardener Jean Thomas provides various examples of each type on It’s All Greek To Me. She also demystifies ecological acronyms like AVID, CRISP and PRISM.

Talking about differences, how can you tell if you have fruit flies or fungus gnats flying around your home? Master Gardeners, Jackie Hayden ad Dede Terns-Thorpe, provide the answers on this Pests and Pathogens segment. (Hint: If they are flying around your house plants, they are probably fungus gnats.)They also provide suggestions on how to get rid of them.

So enjoy your New York summer with this latest episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Annie Scibienski, Jean Thomas, Jackie Hayden, Dede Terns-Thorpe

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibienski

Resources

It’s been said that people who spend time in nature are generally healthier and happier. In addition, people who have positive experiences in nature are more likely to volunteer and vote with the environment in mind. The Columbia Land Conservancy (CLC) is a non-profit organization that brings people together to conserve, appreciate, and enjoy land.

Columbia County, in New York State, is home to one of only two forested wildlife corridors that cross the Hudson Valley and are essential for plants and animals moving in response to climate change. If this corridor is fragmented by development, it will fail. These landscapes are essential for recreation, the economy, sequestering carbon, reducing air and water pollution, preventing fires and floods, and filtering drinking water. They’re also threatened by poorly planned development, climate change, and invasive species. For nearly 40 years, CLC has collaborated with individuals, communities, and partners to ensure Columbia County is a beautiful, livable, resilient place.

CLC is the only conservation organization focused exclusively on protecting land in Columbia County. In addition to permanently protecting land with legal tools like conservation easements (which limit future development), CLC provides educational resources for land management for landowners, municipalities, and conservation-minded partners. CLC is recognized across the country for its innovation when it comes to protecting farmland and recognized by local farmers as an essential partner in land protection. CLC and its partners use a variety of tools to protect farmland, keep it affordable, support the next generation of farmers, and facilitate relationships with farmers and community members. Last year, the CLC and its partners held over 50 free and low-cost educational programs that provided opportunities for people to fall in love with the world around them. With the help of volunteers, donors, and supporters, they maintain ten Public Conservation Areas, with nearly 30 miles of trails, for recreation, reflection, and restoration.

On this episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, join Troy Weldy and Sara Cashen as they talk about the history of this impactful organization and how they continue to collaborate with landowners to ensure about 30,000 acres of land is conserved and protected in perpetuity. And learn about the numerous volunteer opportunities to get involved and to get to know nature better. Listen in!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Troy Weldy and Sara Cashen

Photo by:

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibienski

Resources

Welcome back to part 2 of the Veggie Patch Retrospective where we compiled together three previously aired short segments on various aspects of vegetable gardening. Instead of searching for the content in previous episodes, we’ve put these shorter segments together in a single episode for your listening convenience. Especially as winter drags on, it’s helpful to be able to dream of warmer weather when you get back into enjoying your garden.

This specific episode is about three popular vegetables found in home gardens: Tomatoes, Beans, and Cucurbits (cucumbers and squashes).

Tomatoes are one of the most beloved garden plants, but they can also be frustrating to grow. Learn about the best time to plant them (soil temperature is key so don’t be in a hurry), space them, and water them. Unfortunately, you will learn that tomatoes are as popular with pests and pathogens, as they are with humans. Learn how to spot them and manage them so that you can have a productive and delicious crop to harvest.

Legumes are another category of popular crops. They include the popular pea (garden, snap, snow and other types) and beans. Legume seeds can typically be planted directly in the ground so there is no need for seed starting or buying transplants. There are also many types of beans to experiment with. There are the traditional bush beans (perhaps one of the easiest to start with), pole beans (that require supports but produce a larger yield) and runner beans (whose plants are sized between bush and pole). Beans can be enjoyed raw, or cooked and can also be dried for future use. Legumes are very versatile crops, as well as being delicious and healthy too!

Cucumbers and squashes (members of the cucurbit family) are also home garden favorites. One of the secrets to a productive crop is to harvest the fruits regularly before they get too big. There are so many options available to grow so experiment with them to determine your favorites.

Listen to Teresa Golden, Master Gardener Volunteer, as she talks you through the various aspects of growing these vegetable crops and enjoy!

Host: Teresa Golden

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

A fungus is any member of the group of organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as mushrooms. Fungi, like animals, acquire their food by absorbing dissolved molecules, typically by secreting digestive enzymes into their environment. Fungi do not photosynthesize. Growth is their means of mobility, with spores that may travel through the air or water.

Fungi are known as the principal decomposers in ecological systems. When a tree falls in the forest, whether someone hears it or not, the fungi get in there and excrete enzymes to break down the building blocks of wood. As they do this, they are extending out through the wood, breaking down certain things that bacteria can’t. Because of them we don’t have big stands of dead wood in the forest. They excrete enzymes and break down wood and other things too. They can take our human waste products, like coffee grounds, and break them down. We can grow healthy food from things we throw away, like cardboard, coffee grounds, paper – any kind of wood-based material. What’s left behind after the mushroom digests it is growable soil.

There are more fungi than there are animals and plants combined. Ninety percent of plant roots have mycorrhizal fungi attached in a symbiotic relationship, where the fungi is mining nutrients that the plant roots can’t reach and transferring those nutrients to the plant’s roots in order to keep that plant alive. Not only are they doing that to one plant, but they’re also interconnected between multiple plants.

Understanding this is changing the way scientists look at evolution. We used to look at the trees and say they’re fighting for sunlight, that they’re individualistic. In reality, there is a lot more cooperation under the soil. The species that cooperate with the most with other species are the ones that are thriving. This changes the way we look at our forests as well as how we treat other species.

A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. The name “mushroom” has been given to over 38,000 varieties of fungus that possess the same threadlike roots and cap. And, while mushrooms and toadstools (poisonous mushrooms) are not the most numerous or economically significant fungi, they are the most easily recognized.

Self-described “mushroom guy,” John Michelotti’s mission is to spread information about the incredible benefits of fungi, and their capacity to change the way we look at our relationships with each other and the world. He is the founder of Catskill Fungi, which produces the highest quality triple-extracted health tinctures from fungi that are wild-crafted or grown on the Michelotti family farm in Big Indian, NY. Their aim is to empower people to grow edible mushrooms as a source of fresh food, to heal themselves through utilizing health properties of fungi, and to explore the historical uses and present-day innovations of this exceptional fungi kingdom.

As former President of the Mid-Hudson Mycological Association (MHMA), John co-founded the Catskill Regional Mycoflora Project as well as the Gary Lincoff Memorial Scholarship. He serves as Medicinal Mushroom Committee Chair and is a Poison Control Consultant for the North American Mycological Association. He is an instructor for the Wild Mushroom Food Safety Certification courses in NY. He was chosen by the Catskill Center as a "Steward of the Catskills" for his contribution to the environment. He served on the Mushroom Advisory Panel for Certified Naturally Grown to develop ecological standards in mushroom production. John has presented at the New York Botanical Gardens, Telluride Mushroom Festival, and North American Mycological Association Annual Foray, as well as several colleges and universities.

Listen to John on Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, learn about mushrooms and get inspired to work with fungi to improve your health, community, and the environment.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: John Michelotti

Photo by: Catskill Fungi

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Resources

Dr. Abbey Cash is in her 20th year as a Master Gardener Volunteer and has a passion for growing Roses in Columbia County. Trained as an educator, having taught in elementary, and at the college level, Abbey is also an avid hand-fan collector as well as a grower of annuals, perennials and bulbs. She joins the podcast, Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, in a discussion about demystifying the challenges of growing roses in Zone 5 in New York State.

Understanding hardiness zones is key to the selection of a rose that will grow well in the Hudson Valley. Abbey takes us through the many things to look for when picking a good, healthy rose to purchase. There are many different types of roses to choose including hybrid teas, floribundas, climbing roses, miniature roses and tree roses. While not discussed in this episode, make sure to avoid the multiflora rose, an invasive species in our area (see more information in the resource section).

Once you bring a rosebush home, the fun is only beginning. There are many things to consider in selecting a site where the rose will thrive.6 hours of morning sun with one side protected is ideal. Creating a soil ‘formula’ (with cow manure, compost, peat and slightly acidic soil) is also a key to success. The planting process is also multi-faceted but will improve your odds have having a beautiful rose to grace your landscape for years to come.

Once the rose if planted, however, you are not ‘done’. Keeping your new roses healthy and free of insects and/or diseases may involve the use of fertilizers, sprays or powders that need to be applied periodically. Roses also require some TLC (tender, loving care) and grooming. Understanding the basics of pruning will help to keep your roses producing either individual stems, climbers, or a beautiful hedge throughout the season. But water only when really needed, keeping the water at the base of the plant, not on the leaves, to avoid the dreaded ‘black spot’.

There is also work to be done to prepare roses for the winter, cutting them back (except for climbers), burying the knob at the base of the plant with soil, and spreading the area with pine needles and pine branches and/or straw. These actions are reversed in the spring to prepare the plants for another growing season.

Listen to this episode of the podcast, Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, to improve your odds of successful rose growing!

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden

Guest: Abbey Cash

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Are you a new homeowner in the Hudson Valley?  Do you have questions about where to start when making an existing garden your own?  This podcast episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley might just be a great place to start. Realtor and Master Gardener Volunteer Candidate, Eileen Goble, provides lots of good suggestions.

Assessing what is already planted, meeting your wildlife neighbors, watching how much sun or shade your property gets during different times of the year, testing your soil, determining how much effort you are willing to put into maintenance, and understanding what will grow in this New York climate, are all things to think about before you dig in and start planting. Whether you are thinking about annuals, perennials, shrubs or trees, making an investment in time to plan your new landscape will pay off in years to come.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Eileen Goble

Production Support:  Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

In this episode of Nature Calls, we're delighted to sit down with Lisa Gallina, Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE), Columbia and Greene Counties. Lisa's journey to CCE started with her early involvement in Cornell's Extension programs through 4-H in Dutchess County, New York. Her career path is a unique blend of environmental management, high-tech recruiting, and a return to her true passion for environmental education. Throughout our conversation, Lisa's unwavering commitment to youth programs and educational initiatives shines through, reflecting her experiences across colleges, nonprofits, and CCE programs.

As the Executive Director, Lisa's role encompasses a multitude of responsibilities. She describes herself as a catalyst for positive change, emphasizing her focus on nurturing a vibrant organizational culture within CCE, ensuring financial stability, and fostering professional growth among the staff. Lisa also delves into the historical significance of Cooperative Extension programs, rooted in the Morrill Act of 1862, highlighting their pivotal role in bridging the gap between research-based knowledge and local communities.

Our discussion with Lisa offers a glimpse into the diverse array of programs provided by Cornell Cooperative Extension. From youth-oriented endeavors like 4-H to comprehensive master programs for adults, including Master Gardeners and Master Forest Owners, these initiatives have a profound impact on individuals and communities alike. Lisa's passion for community engagement and her vision for a future where people unite to learn and collaborate shine through, making this episode a source of inspiration and hope for a more interconnected and informed society. Tune in to this insightful conversation for a compelling exploration of education, community building, and positive change.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Lisa Gallina, Executive Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Columbia and Greene Counties

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden, and Annie Scibienski

Join us in this fascinating chat with Bonnie Warwick, a lifelong resident of Red Hook, NY and a key member of the Dutchess County Sheep and Wool Growers Association and the Elmendorph Hand Spinners Guild. Known for her magical touch in natural dyeing, Bonnie takes us through her lifelong journey from learning to knit at five years old, her stint in Panama, and her endless experiments with natural dyes in New York’s Hudson Valley. Bonnie’s family had a farm stand and introduced her to plants. Since then, her diverse experiences included her early exposure to knitting, working with indigenous people in Panama, becoming a nurse, delving into the world of sheep breeds, and transitioning from synthetic dyes to natural ones. This all fueled her passion for fiber arts and natural dyes, driven by sustainability and uniqueness. Get a peek into her dye kitchen at the Dutchess County Fair and learn about her unique techniques in working with different types of metals, waters and plants to achieve the desired colors.

Bonnie also touches on her experiments with natural dyes, highlighting the challenges of achieving consistent colors due to factors like water quality and mordants. Bonnie also mentions her cotton cultivation project and the various cotton varieties she grows, which come in brown, green, and white (who knew!) and her extensive dyeing garden, which features around 80 different plants used for natural dyeing. She discusses the challenges of growing certain plants and the need to rotate beds due to soil nutrient depletion. Bonnie shares tips for those interested in natural dyeing, including online resources, books, and the use of simple jars to start experimenting.

Bonnie doesn't hold back in sharing her wealth of knowledge about natural dyeing and crafting techniques. Listen as she guides us on how to duplicate a fabric color, manage a dyeing garden and the intricacies of dyeing natural fibers. She touches on her experiments with natural dyes, highlighting the challenges of achieving consistent colors due to factors like water quality and mordants. Bonnie also mentions her cotton cultivation project and the various cotton varieties she grows, which come in brown, green, and white (who knew!). She talks about spinning wool, the different tools used, and the importance of this skill in our everyday life. Bonnie also discusses the challenges of growing certain plants and the need to rotate beds due to soil nutrient depletion. She shares tips for those interested in natural dyeing, including online resources, books, and the use of simple jars to start experimenting.

You’ll be inspired by her stories and pick up some great advice if you're looking to get started in natural dyeing or spinning. So tune in to Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, get comfy, and let Bonnie take you on a journey through the wonderful world of natural dyes and handcrafts.

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Annie Scibienski 

Guest: Bonnie Warwick 

Photo by: Teresa Golden 

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden, and Annie Scibienski 

Welcome to the third retrospective episode featuring previously aired short segments about Tools of the Trade with Tim Kennelty and The Grateful Shed with Annie Scibienski. They discuss Tools that most gardeners deem essential.

The episode starts off with Tim Kennelty discussing two resources that help you choose perennials for your garden. The Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware is a not-for-profit organization that has a great display garden and offers courses on native plants and ecological gardening. They also conduct three year native plant trials to determine which cultivars of a certain species might work best. Plants are rated on their habitats, floral display, disease resistance, among other factors. The web site includes lots of photos and basic information on each cultivar. Similarly, the Chicago Botanical Garden website focuses on herbaceous and woody plants. They also conduct trials to identify the best cultivars looking at factors that include the plants ability to respond to winter damage. Both are useful resources when looking to design a garden or add some additional plants to an existing one.

Next, Annie Scibienski discusses garden forks of which there are many varieties. The typical garden fork has a horizontal 'shoulder' with four tines that is used for loosening and lifting hard-packed soil. It can also be used to mix compost or other fertilizers into the soil. Look for a garden fork made out of forged steel and either a hickory or ash wooden handle. Pitch forks or hay forks are an option to break up and turn compost or aerating soil in addition to working with hay. A hand fork is useful to use for weeding or cultivating shallower areas. There's lots to learn about forks!

Annie comes back for the last segments when the discussion shifts to shovels, spades and trowels, A shovel has a bowl shaped blade with a pointed tip and typically a longer handle to break up the ground, dig holes, or move dirt and other materials from one place to another. A spade typically has a straight-edged blade flat made with pressed steel and a handle made of a hardwood. It's great for edging a garden bed or lawn, cutting through compacted soil, slicing roots, and typically offers greater precision in digging. A trowel is typically used with one hand to dig small holes, transplanting seedlings, or even scooping potting soil. The right tool for the right job makes any gardening task easier.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guests: Tim Kennelty and Annie Scibienski

Photos by: Tim Kennelty and Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Taly Hahn, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith, Jean Thomas

Resources

If you like birds, you will love this episode! Birds spark a deep wonder and help us to understand the living world. When birds disappear, they’re signaling that we’ve stressed our landscapes and oceans. When we make changes and they rebound, it signals hope that we can find ways to flourish and protect the natural world.

Becca Rodomsky-Bish, Project Leader from Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology, joins us in a wonderful conversation about our feathered friends, the Lab, and the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). Becca's focus in environmental education includes native habitats, sustainability, and conservation.  Beyond the Lab, she is an avid gardener creating beautiful gardens to feed her family as well as the wildlife in her area. 

The “GBBC” is a February event that has united birdwatchers around the world for over 25 years. For one weekend each year, citizen scientists submit their bird observations from their home or in their community. The GBBC engages backyard bird watchers and helps guide people in creating bird-friendly homes and yards. This is something that everyone can engage in as a citizen scientist.

And it’s just one project supported by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology whose mission is to interpret and conserve the Earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds and nature. The Lab brings together the agility and impact of an on-the-ground nonprofit organization with world-class science and teaching as part of Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Together, they transform data into knowledge by pioneering new techniques that combine citizen science, machine learning, and data visualizations. Their studies explore the earth’s biodiversity, the processes that have generated it, and ways to conserve this abundance of life. Key partners in much of this research are the many thousands of people who volunteer for citizen-science projects.

The Lab created Merlin, a very popular application that helps identify birds by answering some simple questions, or via their photos, songs and calls. The Lab also developed and manages eBird, a database that engages a global audience in sharing observations to empower research and conservation of birds and ecosystems. Through the exploration, analysis, and visualization of massive data sets, insights are revealed on the distribution, movements, status, and trends of birds through time and across hemispheres.

Learn how you can participate in this process with the Great Backyard Bird Count.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Becca Rodomsky-Bish

Photo by: Cornell University Lab of Ornithology

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connolly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

An herb is defined as a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities. Many can be used fresh from the garden during the growing season or dried for use during cooler months. Popular herbs include basil, oregano, rosemary, parsley, dill, sage, thyme, mint, chives and cilantro. But there are so many others.

Briana Davis, co-owner of Greene Bee Greenhouse ltd. located in Cornwallville, NY, joins podcast hosts, Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden, in a lively discussion that covers the basics on how to grow culinary herbs. That’s why we call this a ‘101’ episode.

Briana is an avid gardener, horticulturalist, plant collector, and responsible land steward. She describes how some herbs are best grown from seed while others, that take longer to establish, are best grown from a plant. While kitchen herb gardens are very popular, many herbs can be planted among vegetables or flowers to add color, texture or scent.

Herbs are very versatile and come in many cultivars. Briana describes how she uses ones that she grows in her own garden and sells in her greenhouse. She also discusses various ways to preserve them so that they can be used beyond the growing season.

This will make your mouth water and taste buds explode! Enjoy this new episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley.

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden

Guest: Briana Davis

Photo by: Jean Thomas

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, and Robin Smith

Resources

Anxious? The combination of the recent pandemic, world events, plus the looming impacts or climate change have all resulted in many mental health challenges in many individuals. Mindfulness is a technique that helps to improve mental health. Mindfulness can be described as the awareness that emerges through paying attention, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally to an unfolding experience, moment by moment. A broader focus on nature-based mindfulness has been proven to be very beneficial to reducing anxiety.

Join Luke Vitagliano, a native of Westchester County in New York’s Hudson Valley, in a great conversation about Nature and Mental Health. As a doctoral candidate, Luke has research focused on creating and implementing a group nature-based mindfulness intervention aiming to reduce anxiety among college students. This approach can be expanded to others, children and adults alike. Learn about multiple nature-based health interventions, and how listeners can practice mindfulness on a daily basis.

Share Luke’s passion for enhancing mental health benefits and integrating mental health and wellness services with the great outdoors on this episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Resources

William Bryant Logan re-joins the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley podcast in a fascinating discussion about pollarding, a pruning practice. Bill is the author of Sprout Lands, Oak, Air, and Dirt, the last of which was made into an award-winning documentary. In addition to being the executive director of Landis Arboretum, he is on the faculty of the New York Botanical Garden. He has spent the last three decades working in trees. He is a certified arborist, and founder and president of Urban Arborists, Inc. 

In earlier times, regions could not prosper without its inhabitants knowing how to cut their trees so they would sprout again. Pruning the trees didn’t destroy them. Rather it created healthier, more sustainable and diverse woodlands.

Pollarding is a pruning system involving the removal of the upper branches of a tree, which promotes the growth of a dense head of foliage and branches. The practice was a common practice in Europe since medieval times, and takes place today in urban areas worldwide, primarily to maintain trees at a determined height or to place new shoots out of the reach of grazing animals.

Traditionally, people pollarded trees for fodder (to feed livestock) or for wood. Fodder pollards produced "pollard hay" for livestock feed; they were pruned at intervals of two to six years so their leafy material would be most abundant. Wood pollards were pruned at longer intervals of eight to fifteen years, a pruning cycle tending to produce upright poles favored for fencing and boat construction. Nowadays, the practice is typically used for ornamental trees.

Pollarding tends to help trees live longer by maintaining them in a partially juvenile state and by reducing the weight and windage of the top part of the tree. Older pollards often become hollow, so it can be difficult to determine age accurately. Pollards tend to grow slowly, with denser growth-rings in the years immediately after cutting.

Learn more about this practice in New York State on this episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Bill Logan

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, and Annie Scibienski

The Master Gardener Volunteer Program is a nationwide educational program, and in New York State, consists of a corps of volunteers who are trained by Cornell Cooperative Extension in the science and art of gardening. Master Gardener Volunteers are volunteers from the community who enjoy gardening and use their horticultural skills and expertise to educate others. In return for their training, Master Gardener Volunteers donate their time teaching the community about their gardening and the environment. Master Gardener Volunteer activities might include offering lectures and workshops at libraries, schools and in the community, answering horticultural inquiries, creating and staffing horticultural booths at shows and fairs, providing advice to the public at farmer’s markets, garden centers and other venues, and Increasing awareness of integrated pest management, water quality and conservation and other environmental issues. Being a Master Gardener Volunteer is both a rewarding and gratifying experience. Master Gardeners add beauty and knowledge to the many lives they touch.

In this episode, Rosemary Armao joins the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley podcast with a perspective on the Master Gardener Volunteer program. As a recent graduate of the training process in Albany County, she provides a candid discussion about the training process as well as what she’s learned being a Master Gardener.

Rosemary Armao, a native of Albany, is an adjunct professor of journalism at UAlbany. She has worked as a reporter and editor at various wire services and newspapers. She has trained journalists and worked on media development projects throughout Eastern Europe and Africa. She is also a former executive director of Investigative Reporters and Editors and former president of the Journalism and Women Symposium. She also has her own podcast, Armao on the Brink, which is focused on a discussion of the biggest stories across the globe that are bring society and culture to the brink of an abyss.

As a relatively new Master Gardener, her MGV perspective might be of interest to anyone considering becoming one. She talks about the rigors and rewards of the program during the training as well as ‘post-graduation’. Because she took the classes during the pandemic, the process was modified due to the inability to meet in person during that time period.

She discusses some of the key things she learned as a result of the training which includes leveraging the experience of other gardeners, learning from web sites of land grant universities, reading seed catalogues, and the value of hands-on experience. Rosemary helps to demystify the process of becoming an MGV and as well as what’s involved with volunteering with Cornell Cooperative Extension.

If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer, contact your local Cornell Cooperative Extension to ask about the schedule for training classes in your county.

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden

Guest: Rosemary Armao

With this episode, we are introducing the first of our retrospective series. These periodic episodes compile previously aired short segments on a specific topic. This one, features Master Beekeeper and podcast co-founder, Linda Aydlett and is all about honeybees.

This episode starts with some fascinating insights into how honeybees survive in winter. Their secret? They form winter clusters and shiver to keep each other nice and warm. Then stay tuned for the next segment to learn about the roles honeybees must fulfill within the hive. Linda describes the life of a Queen Bee, which turns out not to be as glamorous as the name might imply. As the only fertile egg layer, the queen bee is focused solely on perpetuating the colony. Learn about the importance of nutrient-rich royal jelly that helps the queen successfully perform her role.

But there’s even more! This episode concludes with a description of the worker caste of honeybees. They represent the largest number of bees in the hive. The role of the worker bees is to perform all the other functions required for the hive to thrive. Unlike the queen bee, the worker bee’s role evolves over her relatively short lifespan from a nurse bee to a house bee, and finally to a field bee. This segment focuses mostly on the house bee as it transitions to a field bee. Fascinating indeed!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Linda Aydlett

Photo by: Damien TUPINIER on Unsplash

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, and Annie Scibienski

One thing the pandemic taught us is the importance of our National Parks. The Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site is no exception. With over 300 acres of trails, gardens, Springwood (the FDR Homestead), and the FDR Presidential Library, this is a wonderful place that is worth a visit. Admission is free, but there is a fee if you'd like to tour the house. A home, a farm, and an experimental forestry plantation, Springwood is an enduring memorial to the 32nd and longest serving President of the United States. 33 acres were deeded to the National Park Service with instructions to maintain the house, flower gardens, orchard, and vegetable garden as they were during FDR’s time. The National Park Service opened the land to the public in 1946.

The nearly two acre FDR Home Garden was a central part of life for the Roosevelt family. FDR grew up working and playing in the garden as did his children and grandchildren. It remained important to him long after his childhood. The Home Garden, nearly two acres in size, was a central part of life for the Roosevelt family. Franklin D. Roosevelt grew up working and laying in the garden. It shaped his ideals of sustainability, land stewardship, support of the grow-your-own movement in the 1940s, and the legacy of his presidency.

This garden and the rest of the Springwood estate were managed by FDR’s mother, Sara Roosevelt, and maintained by gardener William Plog. The high quality produce fed the Roosevelt family and their staff. The farm was a prime example of gentleman farming in the Hudson Valley. The current vegetable garden was designed to replicate the Roosevelt’s garden with as much historical accuracy as possible. The heirloom vegetable varieties grown today are cultivated using modern organic practices including composted manure from the horses on the property to fertilize the garden. The garden is maintained with the support of volunteers who help plant, maintain, and harvest the crops. The garden is used for a variety of educational programs and remains free and open for the public to enjoy.

Anna de Cordova joins the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley podcast to talk about the historic site and the home gardens. Anna is a horticulturist with the National Park Service focused on the home gardens in Hyde Park. Prior to her current role, she worked at numerous other historic sites including Locust Park in Poughkeepsie.  She loves the public outreach and volunteer aspect of working at a historic garden site.  She thrives at the intersection of science, art, and history, and has lots to share about the FDR Home Garden.

Listen and learn about FDR’s love of the land, and value for the findings of science, both of which helped to shape the conservation policies and focus on clean water for the country.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Anna De Cordova

Photo by: National Park Service 

Resources

In this episode, join Master Gardener Volunteers in a fascinating conversation with Tracey Testo of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties. She discusses the many wildflowers and woodland foraging opportunities that can be found in the forest. Tracey brings her passion and an amazing wealth of information that inspires us to take a fresh look at the world around us. Then stay tuned for Pests and Pathogens featuring Dede Terns-Thorpe and Jackie Hayden who discuss beetles, both good and bad. Finally, Joan Satterlee (Tools of the Trade) tells us how the Audubon Native Plant database can help you choose just the right native for your landscape.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Tracey Testo Smith

John Michelotti rejoins the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley podcast to continue his mission to spread information about the incredible benefits of fungi, and their capacity to change the way we look at our relationships with each other and the world. John is the founder of Catskill Fungi, which produces health tinctures from fungi that are wild-crafted or grown on the Michelotti family farm in Big Indian, NY. John co-founded the Catskill Regional Mycoflora Project, serves as Medicinal Mushroom Committee Chair, and is a Poison Control Consultant for the North American Mycological Association.

He describes the various parts of a mushroom (e.g. gills, pores, teeth, etc.) that produce spores which are the way that fungi reproduce. He recommends that mushrooms be cooked for us to get the nutritional benefits. In addition to food uses, mushrooms can be used medicinally. Certifications are required to sell mushrooms commercially. People can become quite ill if they consume mushrooms that are not safe to eat. Some mushrooms can also be deadly. Traceability is key to understand the source of the mushrooms, especially when sold to restaurants.Foragers are encouraged to have liability insurance if they plan to sell mushrooms. Knowledge about how to identify mushrooms is key if you want to find mushrooms for personal use. Mushroom walks and conferences are great sources of information.

Fungi break down plants. Anything that is plant-based can potentially be decomposed by mushrooms and make good soil in the process. Conserving soil and habitat is key to protecting fungi in the future, especially with the risks of climate change. Understanding fungi brings us closer to better understanding the interconnection being all members of the universe.

Learn about the incredible benefits of fungi, and their capacity to change the way we look at our relationships with each other and the world. Get inspired to grow edible mushrooms as a source of fresh food, heal yourself by using the health properties of fungi, and explore the historic uses and present-day innovations of the fungal kingdom.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: John Michelotti

Photo By: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Resources

Tim Kennelty returns with another Good Plant/Bad Plant segment. This time he talks about Ironweed, a great native, pollinator plant known for its purple flowers and impressive height that will add ‘presence’ to any garden. Then, he explains why the invasive Japanese Barberry is not such a good choice for your garden as it creates a great habitat for the white-footed mouse which is known to be a carrier for tick-borne diseases.

Then Jackie Hayden and Dede Terns-Thorpe are back with another segment of Pests and Pathogens. Thís time they discuss a category of blisters, galls, and spots on leaves and trees that are caused by a rust fungus. Learn all about them here!

Finally, we have a new recurring segment called Patch to Plate. Annie Scibienski, a new Master Gardener volunteer, highlights ingredients from the home garden and how they can be used in the home kitchen. In this segment, she features root vegetables and uses them to create Maple-Glazed Carrots and a Hidden Beet pound cake. Yum!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty, and Jean Thomas

Guests: Tim Kennelty, Dede Terns-Thorpe, Jackie Hayden and Annie Scibienski

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibiencki

Resources

GardenFit is the hit national public television series with co-hosts and executive producers Madeline Hooper and Jeff Hughes. A first-of-its-kind series, GardenFit is a fusion of destination, gardening, and self-care, teaching viewers how to take care of their body while taking care of their garden. On the television show, you can tour gardens across America and learn gardening tips and techniques to avoid stress and injury.

Madeline Hooper, who lives in Columbia County in New York State, joins the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley podcast with tips on how to garden safely by using your body correctly. Before devoting herself wholeheartedly to gardening, she forged an extensive career in public relations, specializing in marketing. But her talents extend to many forms of physical activity including tennis, ballroom dancing and gardening. In her spare time, she also volunteers at the Berkshire Botanical Garden where she is also a Vice-Chair.

As we all know, gardening is a great activity for both the mind and the body. Madeline offers many suggestions to garden safely. She suggests dividing garden tasks into 30-minute chunks to avoid exhausting any one muscle group. She also advises that we all learn to be ambidextrous so that we work both sides of our bodies equally- not just our dominant side. Putting one foot in the direction you are bending will help with balance and protect your knees. Squatting when bending down also protects the knees as long as you don’t let your knees go beyond your toes. To protect your back, make sure to use your hips to lift items. Posture is also very important in and out of the garden. She encourages everyone to move your shoulder blades downward towards the pockets of your jeans. This raises the chest and puts you into a more aligned posture.

There is a lot to absorb in this episode while you also get a sneak preview of what’s coming in Season Two of the television series, Garden Fit. Enjoy!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Madeline Hooper

Photo from: Madeline Hooper

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, and Annie Scibienski

Barbara Bravo, Master Gardener Volunteer from CCE of Ulster County, joins this Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley podcast episode to enlighten us about a variety of things to consider with shady landscapes. Understanding different levels of shade, setting appropriate plant expectations, and focusing on foliage, are just a few topics covered. Once established, shade gardens require less watering and maintenance, making them a favorite for many New Yorkers.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Barbara Bravo

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Resources

Welcome back to Part 2 of the Good Plant/Bad Plant retrospective that includes previously aired short segments on beneficial plants as well as invasive ones. In this episode, Master Gardener Volunteer, Tim Kennelty, talks about the benefits of dogwoods, milkweed, and coneflowers, as well as the challenges associated with garlic mustard, multi-flora rose, and mugwort.

The first segment features a family of about 50 species of trees/shrubs/sub-shrubs that grace the landscape with multi-season interest with spring flowers, berries in mid/late summer and fall color. Dogwoods are fairly easy to grow and have great spring flowers for pollinators, nutritious fruit for birds and many are host plants for butterflies and moths. In contrast, the non-native garlic mustard is an invasive herb. It is a biennial, maturing over two years. In its second year, it produces thousands of seeds (that can be viable for 10 years), which when they germinate, they push out beneficial native plants, inhibit growth of other plants, and quickly become dominant in the landscape.

The second segment features milkweed, a butterfly magnet, which offers both ornamental and wildlife value. As you probably know, milkweeds are the only host plant for monarch butterflies. Milkweed flowers are rich in pollen and nectar and are extremely attractive to native bees, wasps and beetles, as well as more than 400 different species of insects. With more than 70 species of milkweeds in North America, there's a milkweed for you. On the other hand, the multiflora rose is a perennial shrub from Asia that was once planted for erosion control, wildlife enhancement and to deter roaming animals. But today, multiflora rose is considered an invasive plant as it quickly forms thickets, pushing out native plants and inhibiting nesting birds. A single plant can produce up to 500,000 seeds per year, viable for up to 10 years, and dispersed by birds and other fruit eating animals.

This episode ends with a segment about featuring the purple cornflower (echinacea purpurea), a favorite New York native garden perennial, beloved by butterflies and hummingbirds. Seed heads, if not removed, become a great food source for birds in the winter. Tolerant of heat, drought and poor soils, the flowers look great in a mass planting or in flower arrangements. But Tim also discusses the challenges of dealing with mugwort (artemisia vulgaris). Mugwort is a perennial weed in the daisy family. It grows in loamy or sandy soils in forested areas, and along roadsides. It spreads by rhizomes and can form dense mats. This plant has been listed as invasive in several states.

But remember, if you want to support wildlife in your yard, make sure to plant natives.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guest: Tim Kennelty

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

Resources

Welcome to another episode of the podcast, Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, with something for everyone.

Annie Scibienski starts us off discussing the wide variety of tender greens that can be grown in spring gardens in the Hudson Valley. You probably know all about lettuce, but arugula and spinach are also great spring greens that are fun to grow, cook and eat! Gain some tips and techniques on Patch to Plate.

Then listen to Barbara Bravo talk about a wide range of options to add height to a New York shade garden which usually consist of low-growing plants. But structure and interest can be added with a number of shade tolerant plants such as flowering quince, giant fleece flower and goat’s beard. Ninebark is one of her favorites. Typically known as a medium shrub native to the eastern and central United States, there are ninebark cultivars that do well in shade. In addition to being a pollinator favorite, most varieties are drought tolerant too. Learn more on Made In the Shade.

Dede Terns-Thorpe and Jackie Hayden on Pests and Pathogens finish up this episode with a discussion about a popular pest of zucchini and other members of the cucurbit family: the dreaded Squash Vine Borer. As one of the earliest insects to show up in the garden as a moth, it can wreak havoc on a garden if not caught early. Learn some tips and tricks to help avoid and manage problems.

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden

Guests: Annie Scibienski, Barbara Bravo, Dede Terns-Thorpe and Jackie Hayden

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibienski

Resources

Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley is back with another informative episode that's sure to captivate all nature lovers! Hear from experts with tips on how to cook asparagus, a popular springtime perennial. Then learn about some different fragrant vines that may work in your garden. Finally, explore the validity of popular myths about strong smelling soaps as deer repellents.

Up first is Patch to Plate, with Annie Scibienski, who shares her wealth of knowledge on all things asparagus. From growing to cooking and preserving, Annie provides some great tips to help you make the most out of this delicious perennial vegetable. She suggests different cooking methods, including blanching, grilling, and stir-frying, and shares some mouth-watering recipes like Pan Roasted Asparagus and Asparagus Quiche without crust. So, if you're a fan of asparagus or want to learn more about this nutritious and flavorful vegetable, don't miss this segment!

Next, Jean Thomas and Tim Kennelty are back with The Cover Up, with a focus on flowering vines. Passionflower is a beautiful climbing vine with white and purple or blue flowers. There are now hardier varieties that can survive in zone 5. While it blooms from midsummer to early fall, each flower only lasts about one day. The Kiwi vine is another interesting option that can grow up to 33 feet long and has some varieties that are hardy to zone 4. A native of China, it has green heart shaped leaves that are spirally arranged on the stem and a flower that has a slight resemblance to the kiwi bird. Both passionflower and kiwi vine can be fragrant additions to your garden if you can provide the appropriate support for them to climb.

Finally, Devon Russ debunks some myths about deer repellents in Hits and Myths. As many gardeners know, deer damage can be a significant problem, and there are many so-called remedies out there. Devon explores the effectiveness of strong-smelling soap and concludes that it's not a magic bullet. Instead, she recommends using deer repellents that contain eggs or creating a simple homemade egg and water spray. She also suggests that gardeners might want to consider using a protective cage or fence. So, if you want to protect your garden from deer damage and learn the truth about deer repellents, you won't want to miss this segment!

So, whether you're a seasoned gardener or just love nature, this episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley is packed with useful information and fascinating stories that are sure to entertain and educate. Tune in now and join the conversation!

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Annie Scibienski

Guests: Annie Scibienski, Tim Kennelty, Jean Thomas, Devon Russ

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden, Annie Scibienski

Master Gardener Volunteer, Shelley Haefner, from Old Chatham (Columbia County) is passionate about gardening, nature photography and the great outdoors. She re-joins the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley podcast for an informative discussion about Kid-Friendly Gardening.

As a mother of two, and the organizer of a summer gardening program for children in Chatham (NY), Shelley has lots of ideas and practical experience to get kids engaged in gardening and keep them interested throughout the season.

Perhaps the easiest way to get children engaged with nature and gardening is to make it fun and treat it as a game or play. Consider making a bug bingo game or treating the garden as a place for a scavenger hunt. A pole bean race is one way for kids to have fun. Have you thought about using hornworms with parasitic wasps to introduce a child to pest control? Using edible flowers (pansies, nasturtiums, herbs, etc.) in an arts and crafts project is another possibility.

Obviously, gardening tasks should be tailored or customized to the age, attention span, and the interests of the individual child. Some are interested in getting their hands dirty. Others prefer to look at the garden from a more scientific perspective. Others can be encouraged to get engaged in learning about nature from an artistic or culinary perspective. Pizza gardens anyone? How about a sensory garden? Kids can also create a photo journal of their experiences in the garden. Shelley offers lots of ideas and suggestions based on the age of the child and their interest areas.

Listen in to learn more about how to engage children in gardening activities and make some memories with your family.

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden

Guest: Shelley Haefner

Photo By: Shelley Haefner

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Spring weather refocuses us on our lawns. Join David Chinery from Cornell Cooperative Extension as he talks about turf issues and the best way to care for or improve our lawns. Then join Heidi Bock (Trekking the Trails) as she explores Borden’s Bond, near Chatham, New York. This 1.6 mile trail features a great forest setting that can be used for hiking, walking, trail running and nature trips. We hope you get inspired and get outdoors!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: David Chinery

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support:  Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Resources and Transcript

In this episode, join Master Gardener Volunteer and this podcast co-creator, Jean Thomas, in an informative conversation about seed catalogs. Learn about their history, their changing content and how to read them. This will be followed by a new segment, Pests and Pathogens, featuring Dede Terns-Thorpe and Jackie Hayden who discuss how to diagnose plant problems. The episode concludes with Joan Satterlee, who provides insights into Tools of the Trade, focused on a plant identification tool, iNaturalist. Listen in!

Seed Starting is a very timely topic for this podcast episode.   Briana Davis, from Greene Bee Greenhouse ltd. located in Cornwallville, NY,  joins hosts Jean Thomas and Tim Kennelty, for a wonderful overview of the ‘behind-the-scenes’ process used to grow a wide variety of vegetable and perennials, including ~40 tomato cultivars.  Then stay tuned for the Veggie Patch, with Teresa Golden, where she discusses how to determine and improve the quality of your soil to grow a healthy garden.  Finally, stay tuned for The Hum of the Hive with Linda Aydlett where the focus shifts to the role of the House Bee.  Fascinating indeed! 

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Briana Davis

Resources and Transcript

Join us in this exciting podcast triple-feature!

In Patch to Plate: Peppers and Tomatoes, Master Gardener Volunteer Annie Scibienski shares her expertise on growing and savoring these flavorful Hudson Valley garden favorites. Discover the joys of growing and enjoying tomatoes and peppers and how these garden favorites can be the stars of your menu planning as she discusses their unique qualities and offers valuable insights into incorporating them into your meals. If you're looking for inspiration or are looking for a simple, under-30-minute dinner ideas, Annie has you covered with delicious recipes you won't want to miss.

Then, in Good Plant, Bad Plant: Asters and Tree of Heaven, Tim Kennelty explores the ecological impact of these distinct plants, from native asters to the invasive Tree of Heaven. Asters, once known as New World asters, are now classified under a different genera, particularly Symphyotrichum. These native plants offer vibrant colors in purple, pink and white while also supporting late-season pollinators, making them an excellent addition to your garden. On the flip side, the invasive Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), is a non-native plant that has wreaked havoc in many ecosystems, including New York’s. As he describes, it’s critical to manage this troublesome plant, which also serves as the primary host for the destructive spotted lanternfly. Listen and learn how to identify, control, and support your local ecosystem.

Lastly, on the inaugural episode of The Grateful Shed: Garden Forks, Annie comes back to introduce you to the essential garden fork and its versatile uses, along with other fork types. Dive into the world of garden tools and elevate your gardening skills. As a new addition to the Nature Calls line-up, this segment of The Grateful Shed, introduces you to the world of garden tools. The garden fork, also known as a spading or digging fork, has many versatile uses, from loosening soil to mixing compost. Learn why choosing a fork with an ash or hickory handle is essential for long-lasting performance. She also dives into other types of forks, including the pitchfork, broad fork (or u-fork), and hand fork, explaining their specific purposes and benefits. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a beginner, understanding these tools will help you maintain a successful garden.

Don't miss out on this informative episode to help you elevate your gardening knowledge and skills!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Annie Scibienski and Tim Kennelty

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibienski

Cultivate Catskill is an all volunteer group dedicated to the beautification of their village. It all started over a dozen years ago when Shelly Pulver, who has lived in Catskill for 55 years and President of the organization, saw an email about hanging baskets. She thought that installing them along Main Street was something that could be done. Over a dozen years later, the village, with a population just under 4000, has over 90 hanging baskets along both Main Street and Bridge Street to the delight of the local residents..

Joining Shelly in this endeavor is her long-time friend, Robin Smith, who is a native Catskillian, Treasurer of the organization, and has been a Master Gardener Volunteer for over 20 years. The two of them along with another dozen volunteers get together every year to help plant pride in their community. In addition to the hanging baskets, they install brightly colored annuals in numerous urns and other containers, care for multiple pocket parks adding seasonal flowers, and  make the downtown shopping district attractive and inviting for visitors and residents alike.

The local Tree Council, spearheaded by Hudson Talbott and now part of Cultivate Catskill, has planted over 76 trees in the village along Main Street and more recently in the cemetery. They even worked with the Village Board to create a Tree ordinance to protect and maintain the local trees. Their combined efforts have contributed to a kind of renaissance of the downtown area. To get started they worked with a national organization, America in Bloom, which helped to prioritize their efforts and provided a framework that helps revitalize other municipalities. With their guidance and a lot of hard work, the Bank of Greene County and the Department of Public Works have become great supportive partners in this initiative.

To fund their efforts, they have sold memorial bricks, held cookie sales, applied for grants, hosted a Holiday House tour, and still hold monthly Trunk Sales (on the 2nd Saturday of the month between May and October). They decorate for all seasons including funding Holiday snowflake lights (complete with swags that cross the street). Working with local merchants, they organized 'Caturday' and Winter Solstice Strolls events, became an official non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and have gradually expanded their focus beyond Main Street. Uncle Sam's Bridge becomes a feature during the summer months adorned with window-boxes overflowing with multi-colored flowers. The Howard Street and Mott Street slides (alleyways) get attention, as do the Blue Star Park, Policeman's Park, Leggio Park, and now Dutchman's Landing. Recently, working with the local Fortnightly Club, they built a Sprayground (a.k.a. a spray playground) at Elliott Park for children and adults to enjoy during the summer months.

Volunteers are always welcome especially to weed and water. Listen in to learn more and potentially apply this approach to your community.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests; Shelly Pulver and Robin Smith

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tally Hahn, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith, Jean Thomas

Weed management is the bane of existence for many gardeners and one of the most critical aspects of farming and land management. Finding safe, effective, and culturally appropriate weed management solutions is a challenge but can be addressed by betting understand the life cycle of the specific weed that is causing a problem.

Dr. Bryan Brown is a Senior Extension Associate, NYS Integrated Pest Management and Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Integrative Plant Science Horticulture Section at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He joins Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to discuss Weeds and IPM (Integrated Pest Management). Bryan’s focus is on improving the management of weeds while minimizing the environmental, economic and human health risks.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a decision-making process that uses science-based information on the life cycles of pests (including weeds) and their interaction with the environment to manage damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard, to people, property, and the environment. In the case of weed management, it may involve hand pulling, tilling the soil, covering the soil with cardboard, solarization, other mechanical removal means, or chemical controls. IPM weed management steps typically include:

1. Identifying the plant(s)that are the source of the problem.
2. Understanding the biology and economics of the weed, where it is found, and any potential ‘Achilles heel’.
3. Monitoring plants including any natural controls (insects, competing plants, etc.).
4. Establishing any injury thresholds to understand the potential damage from infestations, its natural enemies, the sensitivity of the site, and the weather. Actions should be taken only when the potential damage is justified.
5. Selecting an appropriate control strategy.

• Cultural practices include modification of habitat or operating procedures to minimize damage and enhance natural control. Choosing plant varieties that are resistant to pests, or adjusting planting time, fertilization, tillage, and harvest operations to have the most beneficial effect on the weed management situation.
• Biological controls including predators, parasites, and diseases.
• Chemical control involves selecting an herbicide with the lowest toxicity to humans and non-target organisms and using it in such a way as to prevent or minimize undesirable environmental effects. After carefully reading the label, the lowest effective dosage of chemical is applied at the appropriate time of year.
• Evaluating the weed management program and improving it when possible.

In this episode, you’ll learn about the importance of understanding the weed’s life cycle, whether it’s an annual, biennial, or perennial to assess potential control techniques. For annuals, it’s critical to stop the plant from going to seed. For perennials, interrupting the plants' ability to send energy to its spreading roots is key to success. So using cover crops or mowing at the right time of year and the right height can make a difference. Hoes can help with mechanical removal. There are many types available, but the best one is a personal preference.

Research efforts are underway to determine potential biological controls for some problematic weeds like Japanese knotweed. As Bryan says, there are lots of new developments coming to help with weed management in the future.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Dr. Bryan Brown

Photo by: Cornell University

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

The word perennial can have two meanings. As an adjective, it can mean long lasting or continually recurring. As a noun, it refers to plants that have a life cycle lasting more than two years. They may die back seasonally, but even in their dormant phases, their root systems are living and will continue growing when conditions are right. While perennials can last many years, that doesn’t mean it’s a stagnant topic. New cultivars are developed, tested and released every year.

In the first of a two-part episode, wholesale perennial grower, Joe Behn of Behn’s Best Perennials, joins the podcast, Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, in a lively discussion about the newest flowering plants that have captured the attention of gardeners in New York State. He shares valuable insights on the hottest new cultivars, their ability to resist deer, rabbits and drought conditions, and even some plants that are incredibly robust. In this episode, the discussion focuses on perennials that will bloom in spring and summer.

Tune in and take some notes as you learn about these exciting new flowering plants.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Joe Behn Photo by: Tim Kennelty Production Support: Teresa Golden, Linda Aydlett and Annie Scibienski

Resources

David Newman from Arthur’s Point Farm in Ghent, NY, joins the podcast, Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to talk about ecological restoration and soil health using agroforestry and biochar.

Agroforestry is a land management approach that combines with agriculture and trees. Planting trees, shrubs and hedges on farms can give Hudson Valley farmers healthier soil and higher yields – not to mention creating vital homes for wildlife. As well as having a massive positive impact on the soil, the environment and wildlife, agroforestry also boosts productivity as diverse systems are more productive than monocultures. Integrating trees into the landscape also helps to enhance biodiversity and foster climate resilience.

Applying biochar may also increase the fertility and health of acidic soils and also increase agricultural productivity. Biochar is a lightweight black residue, made of carbon and ashes, remaining after the pyrolysis of biomass. Biochar carbon remains in the ground for centuries, slowing the growth in atmospheric greenhouse gas levels. Simultaneously, its presence in the earth can improve water quality, increase soil fertility, raise agricultural productivity, and reduce pressure on old-growth forests. Its porous nature is effective at retaining both water and water-soluble nutrients.

Learn how you these techniques can be applied to improve the health of your land.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: David Newman

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden, Annie Scibienski

Pollinators are the subject of this passionate conversation with Master Gardener Volunteer and podcast co-founder, Tim Kennelty. Learn about their role in the ecosystem and some of his favorite bees, butterflies and moths. Then join Teresa Golden in a segment about how to start seeds at home for your Veggie Patch. This is followed by another fascinating description of the role of field bees with Linda Aydlett (Hum of the Hive). Lots of great content in this episode!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Jean Thomas

Photo by Tim Kennelty

While you may have heard about ‘gleaning’, do you actually know what it is? In a gardening and nature context, gleaning is about the gathering of leftover grain or other product after a harvest.

Long Table Harvest, which serves Columbia, Dutchess and Greene Counties, is a non-profit organization that enables sustainable food surplus redistribution by connecting local farm surpluses with emergency food sites and community based organizations.

Unfortunately, the current state of food insecurity is such that food pantries and other sites continue to report record high usage, upwards of 50% increases since 2020, which has been attributed both to the pandemic and the current imbalance in the cost of living relative to wages. When Long Table Harvest was established in 2016, they stepped into an emergency food system that was lacking in quality fresh food options. Since then, they have provided a unique food distribution service to a variety of sites -- providing fresh produce, meat and dairy from predominantly organic growers to improve options and accessibility.

Their gleaning program, launched in 2016, is based on strong partnerships with area farms which provide reliable weekly distributions of fresh fruits, vegetables and proteins to food pantries, youth programs, senior living centers, subsidized housing, and community organizations. They work with over 64 farms from June through November, to pick-up already harvested produce, and then distributing tens of thousands of pounds of food to over 30 recipient sites on the same day to maintain peak freshness. Gleaning in the winter months is more sporadic, with the occasional distribution of storage vegetables. A seedling program helps residents grow their own food and a meat and cheese program rounds out the types of food that is distributed.

Learn from co-founder, Aravah Berman-Mirkin, and gleaning coordinator, Sarah Grinberg about their work and its impact on local food pantries and the community.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Annie Scibienski

Guests: Aravah Berman-Mirkin and Sarah Grinberg

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibienski

Resources

Listen to a wonderful virtual tour of Berkshire Botanical Garden, located in Stockbridge, MA, with Master Gardener Volunteer Linda Levitt. She provides a vivid description of the history of these gardens as well as an overview of what you’ll see if you stop by. Then stay tuned for a segment on the Spongy Moth (formerly known as the gypsy moth) with Dede Terns-Thorpe and Jackie Hayden (Pests and Pathogens).This forest pest defoliated many trees last summer and this episode may help you to understand what can be done to manage any reoccurrence. Finally, Dirr’s Manual of Woody Landscape Plants is the topic of Tools of the Trade with Joan Satterlee. This ‘go-to’ guide helps you learn to identify and help these plants thrive.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Linda Levitt

Photo by Tim Kennelty 

Production Support:: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Resources and Transcript

Eli Joseph-Hunter is the featured guest on this episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley. As proprietor of the Greene Bee Greenhouse, Ltd, listen to his discussion with CCE Master Gardeners as we learn about Plants for Winter Interest. Then stay tuned for the first segment of Good Plant/Bad Plant where Tim Kennelty will talk about oak trees and Japanese Knotweed. This episode concludes with a discussion by Devon Russ (Hits and Myths) about the science associated with planting by the phases of the moon. Enjoy!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Interview Guests: Eli Joseph-Hunter

Photos: see attached (pick your favorite!)

Part 3 of the Veggie Patch Retrospective wraps up with 4 more short segments about gardening for edible food crops. Master Gardener Volunteer, Teresa Golden, continues to provide advice to the beginner and experienced gardener about how to tend a successful vegetable garden.

The first segment focuses on root crops including beets, carrots, radishes, onions, turnips, parsnips, potatoes, among others. The category gets its name because their edible roots grow under the soil. Knowing the growing season of the specific crop you are growing i s one key to success. They tend to be directly sown into the soil but proper spacing is also very important. Consistent watering is also key as is storing them properly once harvested.

Next is all about garden maintenance and tools. Maintenance revolves around weeding, watering, and fertilizing.  Make sure to water the soil, not the plants. One way to control weeds is to mulch, but whatever you do, don’t let the weeds got to seed to prevent an even bigger challenge in the future. Adding organic matter (like compost) is the preferable way to fertilize but if you do use supplemental chemical fertilizers, make sure to read the labels and apply them correctly. The right tools can make garden maintenance easier so listen in to learn the best tools for the job.

The segment on extending the gardening season focuses on various ways to keep the soil warm.  Cloches, cold frames, row covers, low tunnels and high tunnels are all discussed. Hopefully, this discussion can help you decide which approach might work best for you.

Finally, the Veggie Patch series ends with a segment about putting your garden to ‘bed’ for the winter. Once your crops are harvested, this involves pulling all dead or unproductive plants and either composting them (if they don’t have seeds) or discarding them. Remove all cages and supports, making sure to clean them before storing them for the winter. Testing your soil pH in the fall will inform you of any needed amendments (like compost). This is a great time to sanitize, oil, and sharpen your garden tools for the next season.

We hope this series gives you the confidence to start and nurture your home vegetable garden.

Host: Teresa Golden

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support : Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

The Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley team was honored to meet with Joel DuBois who is the Executive Director at Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District (GCSWCD), as well as chairman of the Greene County Planning Board. and a board member at the Greene Land Trust.

There are 58 Soil and Water Conservation Districts across New York State. Each is focused on an individual county's specific needs. They are all dedicated to the best management of natural resources.

Greene County is located in southeastern NY and is home to the northernmost Catskill high peaks and is bordered on the east by the Hudson River. The GCSWCD has been in existence since 1961. Since its inception, they have developed a diverse conservation program to address local needs, and assist landowners, local municipalities, as well as state and federal agencies in their conservation efforts. One of their focus areas is watershed management, including both policy and programs.

A watershed can be defined as the area or land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins or seas. As Greene County (along with Schoharie County) is home to New York City's drinking water supply that serves 9 million people, managing water quality is of prime importance. The watershed is the largest unfiltered water system in the country so maintaining the health of the system saves the expense of building an expensive water filtration system. The only treatment NYC's water receives is some ultraviolet light exposure.

So the Soil and Water Conservation district spends a lot of time reducing any turbidity (cloudiness) of the water typically due to glacial lake clay. Other causes of turbidity include flooding or long term channel migration. The network of roots from the forest trees along the watershed areas helps to stabilize the soil and becomes a natural filter for the water.

But stream water quality is also a focus where they install buffer initiatives. For example, with the landowner's permission, GCSWCD will plant native trees and shrubs in fallow fields up to 300 feet away from a stream.

GCSWCD typically plants over 3,000 trees each year, but they sell another 4,000 annually at their bare root plant sale as a public service. Trees can be ordered in late winter and picked up around Earth Day in April. They come in bundles of 10. Compost, fertilizer, and tree tubes (to protect the seedlings from deer browse) can also be ordered for pickup during the annual sale.

The GCSWCD can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and offers volunteer opportunities to interested residents. Listen in to the good work that is being done to help the entire community today and into the future.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Joel Dubois

Photo By: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Taly Hahn, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith, Jean Thomas

Joellen Lapman from the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program joins Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley for a fascinating (and scary) discussion, All About Ticks. Learn about the latest news and research on ticks and tick-borne diseases

Ticks are related to spiders but can be much more dangerous to humans. How many diseases are connected with ticks? Unfortunately, it’s much more than Lyme’s Disease.

Climate change and our warmer winters are enabling different kinds of ticks (other than the black-legged deer tick) to move into the Hudson Valley. (The only place you can avoid ticks is in Antarctica!) Do you know the relationship between mast years for nut trees (e.g., oaks, hickory, etc.) and ticks? Do pesticides help? Is addition to deer, controlling the mice and chipmunk population is also important.

Personal prevention is key, but having flu-like symptoms in the springtime may be a signal to check for a tick-borne disease. Anytime you are off pavement, you are in tick territory. Permethrin on clothing helps. But did you know that putting clothing in the dryer (not the washer) will kill ticks? Checking pets for ticks is just as important as checking yourself. There is lots of information that can be found on-line (not all of it ‘sound’) about the removal of ticks, but the key is to avoid ‘upsetting’ the tick.

Joellen provides a wealth of valuable information. Get caught up on the latest science related to ticks!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Joellen Lapman

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Productions Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Resources

Kristopher Williams from the Center for Invasive Species Management rejoins the podcast with an informative discussion of the many invasive pests that can be found in the Hudson Valley including the emerald ash borer, hemlock wooly adelgid, spongy moth, spotted lantern fly, feral pigs, as well as what individuals can do to minimize the spread of invasives.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Kristopher Williams 

Resources

Dig into this podcast episode that includes comfort food cooking with brassica vegetables, insights into both native and non-native viburnums, and helpful information on various types of garden shovels,

Annie Scibienski, a Master Gardener Volunteer, starts us off with a new From Patch to Plate segment about cooking with cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli. Awaken your taste buds with her descriptions of recipes involving these popular vegetable varieties.

Viburnums are a very admired and fast-growing flowering landscape shrubs or small trees with a large number of cultivars available. Bloom times span from early spring through June, followed by attractive fruit and great fall foliage. However, not all viburnums are created equal. Learn about the differences between the native and non-native species from Master Gardener Tim Kennelty on Good Plant/Bad Plant.

Have you ever stopped to think about what a groundbreaking invention the shovel is?  Annie Scibienski returns with a discussion about different types of shovels on The Grateful Shed. The shovel, spade, and trowel are featured with descriptions of the benefits of each type and their uses in the garden.

We hope you find some interesting bits of new knowledge on this episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Tim Kennelty and Annie Scibienski

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibienski

Annuals, a term dating back to the 14th century, are plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season or single year. That means, they germinate, flower, set seed and die in one season. Annuals are loved because they bloom throughout the spring and summer. Typically, smaller than perennials, they don’t have time to focus on gaining height but rather expend their energy on flowering since they only last a single season. They come in a wide variety of beautiful colors and shapes. After the first frost, they’ll die off and typically won’t regrow the following year, although you might find that some of their seeds may germinate.

Master Gardener Volunteer, Maureen Mooney, joins the podcast, Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, in an informative discussion about popular annual flowers that grow in New York State. As part of the 101 series, this episode is geared towards new gardeners as well as those who have lots of experience under their belts.

Whether used in containers or garden beds, most annuals thrive in full sun. They can be grown from seed or purchased as plants to add lots of color in your garden. Less expensive than perennials, they are great plants to experiment with, as you can replace them the next season in different spot or replant them in a different color to change things up. Maureen talks about many of her favorites including zinnias, celosia, larkspur, and others that also make great flowers for a cutting garden.

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Annie Scibienski

Guest: Maureen Mooney

Photo by:

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden, and Annie Scibienski

Justin Wexler returns to Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to share his vast wealth of knowledge about the Indigenous People who used to inhabit the Catskill Mountains and the surrounding area. Understanding the past practices employed by the native inhabitants, we can better steward our natural environment today.

When first encountered by European settlers, the Lenape were a loose association of closely related peoples who spoke similar languages and shared familial bonds in an area which spanned what is now eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Lower Hudson Valley to the lower Catskills, and eastern Delaware. Many area locations are still referred to by names from these indigenous peoples. Hereditary leadership passed through the maternal line. They lived in several small towns along the rivers and streams that fed the waterways. Agricultural land was managed by women and allotted according to the subsistence needs of their extended families.

As Justin researched the history of the Hudson Valley and its occupants, he made connections with descendants of the Lenape, now dispersed to communities in Ontario, Wisconsin and Oklahoma. After befriending residents of those communities, he hosted Lenape people who came to visit their homeland. He continues to make links with organizations that would help represent their culture and history. Each weekend throughout the summer, Justin and his partner, Anna Plattner, invite visitors to the property, Wild Hudson Valley, to learn about edible plants, medicine, folklore, history, and both ancient and modern forest farming practices. They offer guided nature walks and workshops geared toward all ages. Their programs help both children and adults connect with nature.

Listen to this episode to reconnect with the culture of the Hudson Valley's native inhabitants and get inspired to learn more about nature, history, and wild foods.

Hosts: Teresa Golden and Jean Thomas

Guest: Justin Wexler

Photo by: Jean Thomas

Production Support: Linda Ayd

William Bryant Logan joins the Nature Calls: Conversations for the Hudson Valley podcast to talk about Oak Trees in New York State. Having spent the last three decades working in trees as a certified arborist, Bill is the author of Sprout Lands, Oak, Air and Dirt, the last of which was made into an award-winning documentary. He is on the faculty of the New York Botanical Garden.  He joins us for a two part discussion.  The first is on oak trees.  The second (up next) will be about pollarding.

Oaks are one of the oldest and most widely spread trees on earth. They existed well before humans, most likely between 40 million and 60 million years ago.

Did you know that there are nearly 600 species of oak trees. They all fall into two categories: white oaks (with rounded lobe leaves) or red oaks (pointed lobe leaves).

The highest population of oak trees can be found in North America, especially in Mexico, where about 160 species grow, and 109 of those are endemic. Ninety species live in the US. The national tree of America is the oak tree.

Oak trees are so resilient because their seeds are cased in hard shells (acorns). Acorns and leaves are coated with tannic acid, which also prevents fungi and insects from harming them.

All oaks produce acorns, but because they only ripen on adult trees, they symbolize patience and endurance.

An oak can produce ~10 million acorns during its lifetime, but only 1 in 10,000 acorns grows up to be another oak tree. The rest become a key food source for birds (e.g. woodpeckers, ducks, pigeons), small mammals (squirrels, chipmunks, mice), as well as larger mammals (deer, bears).

Acorns are nutritious and contain large amounts of protein, carbs, fats, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and niacin.

Oaks played a crucial role in human history as well. Early humans built their homes, created tools, and constructed strong ships from oak wood. Furniture, flooring, and wine barrels are among many products that still use oak today.

Oak trees can either be deciduous or evergreen. They are more often evergreens in warmer climates with mild winters. Their canopy provides shade for plants and soil, a source of food to certain animals, and of course, oxygen to living organisms. As a keystone species, supporting many pollinators, an oak tree makes an excellent addition to any landscape.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Bill Logan

Photo by: Jean Thomas

Production Team: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, and Annie Scibienski

Reducing negative impacts associated with wildlife is a common concern of many residents of New York’s Hudson Valley. In this first part of an informative discussion, we explore how to peacefully coexist with black bears, white-tailed deer, and coyotes.

White tail deer are becoming a more common issue in rural and suburban communities with deer/vehicle collisions and their over-abundance is often associated with damage to forests and gardens. Black bears frequently have been regarded by humans as nuisances, but the reality is that they tend to steer clear of humans, unless food (often garbage) is left around for their perusal. Coyotes also have a reputation for targeting pets in the Hudson Valley. In reality, they view dogs as competitors within their territory and thus small dogs should be kept on a leash to minimize contact with coyotes.

Learning about these animals and their behaviors can help us understand how to peacefully co-exist with them and learn how to control any damage created by their presence. When residents need help with their non-human neighbors, licensed wildlife control operators can help. Learn about the on-line training that is available to become a wildlife control operator and some of the issues they encounter.

Paul Curtis is a Professor and Department Extension Leader focused on Natural Resources and the Environment at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He joins the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley podcast team in an enlightening discussion about living with wildlife in New York State.

Paul obtained his Ph.D. in Zoology from North Carolina State University in 1990. He is a co-author of the National Wildlife Control Training Program, and a Certified Wildlife Biologist® with The Wildlife Society. During the past 30+ years, Paul has provided leadership for the Wildlife Damage Management Program at Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He has published more than 80 papers dealing with the management of human-wildlife interactions. His research interests have included resolving wildlife conflicts in suburban, forested, and agricultural landscapes, wildlife fertility control, and managing community-based wildlife issues. He is currently working on methods to better monitor deer impacts to forest regeneration and enhance biodiversity.

Listen to the first of a two-part discussion about living with other wildlife on the podcast, Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Paul Curtis

Photo by: Cornell University

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

Just as perennials are long-lasting and recurring plants, Joe Behn, wholesale perennial grower of Behn’s Best Perennials, is back again! He re-joins a lively conversation with Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas about flowering perennials. This time, they cover some of the newer perennial plant choices for the second half of the flowering season – late summer into fall. Joe shares his knowledge of the unique features of these plants, including their hardiness, and discusses his personal favorites. Don't miss this chance to hear from a local Hudson Valley expert in the industry and discover the latest trends in the world of perennials in New York State.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Joe Behn

Production Support: Teresa Golden, Linda Aydlett and Annie Scibienski

Resources

The spongy moth (lymantria dispar) is a non-native, foliage eating insect that threatens deciduous trees and impacts humans. It is considered one of the 100 most destructive invasive species worldwide. Originally from Europe and Asia, spongy moths made their debut in the Massachusetts in 1869 in an unsuccessful attempt to introduce silk production to the US. They complete one generation in a full year with a life cycle that consists of four stages:

• Egg: Females lay eggs in masses of 500-1000 in August. The egg masses are beige with velvety texture and spongy consistency.
• Larva (caterpillar): The larval stage typically lasts about 7 weeks. Larvae are most active during May and June. The caterpillars partially or entirely strip trees of their leaves. They prefer oaks, especially white and chestnut. But they’ll also eat alder, aspen, basswood, birch, hawthorn and willow trees.
• Pupa (Cocoon): After feeding and accumulating far, the larvae pupate.
• Adult (moth): The adult emerges from the pupa and reproduces

If you have damaged, compromised, or beloved trees in your landscape, be prepared to treat those trees early if spongy moth injury is expected. Talk to an arborist about applying a well-timed insecticide treatment. Also, consider adding a tree band in late May. These trap spongy moth caterpillars as they hike up and down a tree. Don’t forget to fertilize the tree to improve its ability to recover from spongy moth damage. And make sure to water your tree on dry days to prevent any added stress from drought.

Dr. Clive Jones is a terrestrial ecologist with expertise in biodiversity and environmental management. Working with the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY, he joined the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to talk about the recent outbreaks of spongy moths in the area. Clive has spent much of his career studying how organisms physically modify the non-living environment and the consequences for those species, other species and ecological processes. He has also contributed to understanding complex interaction webs in oak forests that connect oaks and acorns with insect outbreaks like spongy moth. He joins Dr. Charles Canham, another senior scientist at the Cary Institute who specializes in forest ecology and management.

We hope you find this conversation and interesting as we did.

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden

Guests: Clive Jones and Charles Canham

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Resources

Jackie Hayden and Dede Terns-Thorpe are back with part 3 of our retrospective series about Pests and Pathogens. In this episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, you’ll hear about some common issues New York gardeners face such as rust fungus, squash vine borer, fruit flies and the emerald ash borer (EAB).

We’ll start with a category of blisters, galls, and spots on leaves and trees that are caused by a rust fungus. Humid, warm weather creates an excellent environment for many plant pathogens grow. Rust fungi are among the most common pathogens.While most rust fungi will not kill their host plants, they can weaken them to the point of not being functional in the landscape anymore. Learn more as Master Gardeners, Dede and Jackie, delve into this category of pathogen.

If you care about preserving the environment, stay tuned as Jackie and Dede discuss the emerald ash borer, an invasive species that has caused significant damage to the ash tree population in North America, including New York State. They cover everything from the beetle's life cycle to the measures being taken to prevent further spread.

Next is a segment on a popular pest of zucchini and other members of the cucurbit family: the dreaded Squash Vine Borer. As one of the earliest insects to show up in the garden as a moth, it can wreak havoc if not caught early. Learn some tips and tricks to help avoid and manage problems.

Lastly, how can you tell if you have fruit flies or fungus gnats flying around your home? No, they are not the same things.Both are tiny but fruit flies are larger than gnats. If they are flying around your house plants, they are probably fungus gnats. Dede and Jacki help you tell the difference between them and also provide suggestions on how to get rid of them.

So this episode has a little bit of something about both pests and pathogens. By listening in, you will be armed with lots of information about how to deal with them.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guests: Dede Terns-Thorpe and Jackie Hayden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

Julia's Local is a garden--to-table restaurant serving rustic American cuisine withulia's Local is a garden--to-table restaurant serving rustic American cuisine with a Scandinavian twist. Located in Round Top (Greene County), NY. After a multi-year building renovation, the restaurant was opened about four years ago. Three of the key forces behind the restaurant joined Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to talk about the restaurant and how they bring fresh produce to their patrons every day.

Julia Joern has lived in Round Top since 1999. Her background includes architecture, design, and public relations. She purchased the building that houses the restaurant in 2019, initially for a boutique company that organized public and private programs, and was the host of 'Hudson Valley Work of Mouth', a radio show on WGXC/90.7 FM interviewing creative people throughout the Catskills, Hudson Valley, and Capital Region. She loves working with creative people who know how to make 'something' from basic materials.

Chef Henning Nordanger is a native of Bergen, Norway. Escoffier-trained, he gained experience working in large hotel restaurants and mountain resorts throughout Norway. A quarter of a century after arriving in the United States, he worked in New York City in restaurants and as a private chef. He moved to Sullivan County in 2006 and after a stint as a carpenter, opened and ran his first restaurant. Henning's Local (Sullivan County) between 2012-2024. He has developed long-time relationships with many regional, sustainable agricultural businesses throughout the Catskills and the Hudson Valley.

'Tractor Dan' Hartquist, a fruit and vegetable farmer originally from Columbia County, moved to Round Top once he bought a house in Greene County. Purely by chance, he met with Julia and Henning, and the rest is history! There is a wonderful collaboration between Henning and Dan selecting what to grow to enhance the menu in the restaurant. Using organic practices, they continually try new produce yet need to balance the new with some of their standard fare. If there is extra, they package offerings that can be purchased retail. But their produce is always picked the same day so everything is at its peak of flavor..

Learn about the history of this restaurant, the backgrounds of the individuals involved, and how they create a menu from what the garden produces throughout the year

Your taste buds will waken hearing about their eggplant parmesan tomato soup, and tomato salads,

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Julia Joern, Henning Nordanger, and Dan Hartquist   

Photo by: Julia's Local

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Taly Hahn, Tim Kenelty, Amy Meadon, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Eileen Simpson, Robin Smith

Wine is an alcoholic drink made from fermented fruit. Yeast consumes the sugar in the fruit and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Wine is most often made from grapes, and the term "wine" generally refers to grape wine when used without any qualification. But note that, wine can be made from a variety of fruit crops, including plum, cherry, pomegranate, blueberry, currant, and elderberry. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are major factors in different styles of wine. These differences result from the complex interactions between the biochemical development of the grape, the reactions involved in fermentation, the grape's growing environment, and the wine production process.

Like most of New York, the Hudson Valley is home to many grape varieties, including Cabernet Franc, Gamay, Syrah, and Albariño. Hybrid varieties like Noiret, Chelois, Seyval, and Baco Noir are also popularly grown throughout the area. The unique climate and soil are particularly beneficial for Native American, French American, and European grape varieties.

J. Stephen Casscles rejoins the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley podcast as he talks about Wines of the Hudson Valley. He is a grape grower, winemaker and author, from Athens, NY, (Greene County) after an illustrious career as an attorney. In addition, he lectures on wine, grape cultivation, 19th century American horticulture and landscape architecture at botanical gardens and historical societies throughout New York and New England.

In today’s episode, Steve talks about his book Grapes of the Hudson Valley which includes a description of some of the basics of wine production. This can be challenging as the grape variety and the current year’s weather (both winter and summer) can influence the sustainability and sweetness of the grapes. He touches upon the wide range of dessert wines on the market and where they are made. He also focuses on the people beyond the hybridizers. Due to the wide variety of grapes grown in New York, wine producers can produce a wide variety of hybrid wines.

Listen to this episode and learn about the science and ‘art’ behind wine production.

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Robin Smith

Guest: Steve Casscles

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Resources

This weekly podcast episode for Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley answers some of the most frequently asked questions we, as Master Gardener Volunteers, receive from gardeners in New York State. 

“Why should I mulch my garden?” “What kind of mulch should I use?” and “How deep should the mulch be spread?” Devon Russ, Master Gardener Volunteer from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties, separates mulch facts from fiction in a segment about mulch on her segment, Hits and Myths.

Then hear from Dede Terns-Thorpe and Jackie Hayden, also Master Gardeners, talk about a common summer pathogen by answering questions such as “What is powdery mildew?” “How do I manage a powdery mildew infestation?” or “What are best practices to minimize the odds of a reoccurrence of powdery mildew?” Listen to the segment on Pests and Pathogens.

Finally, on Tools of the Trade, Master Gardener Joan Satterlee is back talking about the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder. It answers questions we often get like “What’s a good plant resource?” “How do I find plants that will work in my particular micro-climate?” and “What’s a native flowering plant that thrives in hardiness zones 4 to 6 that can tolerate coexisting with rabbits?”

Gardeners, new and experienced, will find something of interest in this episode. Enjoy!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Devon Russ, Dede Terns-Thorpe, Jackie Hayden, and Joan Satterlee

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Resources

Welcome to the second part of our Tools Retrospective with Master Gardener Volunteer, Joan Satterlee, which consists of 3 previously aired segments known as Tools of the Trade. Learn about some great resources that many gardeners consider essential.

This episode starts off with a short segment about bird identification. The Merlin app developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology was developed over 10 years ago with contributions of photos and recordings from over 5000 birders around the world. It's very easy to use as it asks you very easy questions such as where and when you saw the bird, its size, colors (up to 3), and what activity the bird was engaged in when you saw it. It then provides you with photos and a brief description to help you identify what you saw. It also has a sound ID feature that allows you to make a recording and the app tells you what birds you are hearing. A very useful tool to better understand the world around you.

Next, learn more about perennials with three great resources. "Essential Perennials" is organized by botanical name but has a handy common name index too. It provides information such as the plant's flower color, bloom time, foliage characteristics, and light requirements."Gardening with Perennials by Month" is another great book featuring 700 different species, with great descriptions, that is organized by bloom time, as well as providing information on growing conditions and potential plant diseases. So if you are looking to create a garden with something in bloom all season, or a garden with plants that are in bloom at the same time, this book is for you. Finally, for beginners, check out "Perennial All Stars" featuring 150 different options. Plants are selected for their long bloom times, ease of maintenance, ability to grow in a variety of conditions, and reliability to come back year after year.

The third segment in this episode features the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder. You might wonder why we recommend this for Hudson Valley Gardeners, but it is such an easy, ready-to-use web tool. You can search by both botanical and common name with over 8,000 plant listings that are concise, informative and consistent. It includes 17 attributes for each plant including zone, bloom time, bloom description, suggested uses, noteworthy characteristics, etc. So it's a wonderful tool for New York gardeners.

Next time, we'll have even more tool resources that you may find helpful.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guest: Joan Satterlee

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Taly Hahn, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Resources

Did you know that half of the world’s agricultural land is degraded? According to the World Economic Forum, this leads to farm productivity losses and is a risk to food security in the future. They define Regenerative Agriculture as a focus on improving the health of the soil that has been degraded by the use of heavy machinery, fertilizers, and can restore agricultural land and pesticides used in intensive farming. When soil is healthy, it produces more food and nutrition, stores more carbon and increases biodiversity – the variety of species. Healthy soil supports water, land and air environments and ecosystems through natural processes including the fertilization of plants.

Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, located in Tarrytown (Westchester County), NY is a nonprofit farm, education and research center with a mission to catalyze an ecological food culture in the Northeast. Since 2004, they have been working to innovate ecological farming practices and mindful food choices that benefit human health, strengthen communities, and protect the environment. Their Hudson Valley campus, shared with restaurant partner Blue Hill at Stone Barns, is a living laboratory for interdisciplinary research experiments where farmers, chefs, diners, educators, and artisans come together to push the boundaries of sustainable farming and eating.

Laura Perkins is horticulturalist at Stone Barns Center where she tends the formal gardens and develops and maintains the surrounding landscape while supplying Blue Hill with foraged edible foods, giving visitors opportunities for sensory immersion in the landscape, and enhancing wildlife habitat and the ecological resilience of the land. She joins the podcast, Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, with fascinating insights into the work performed at the Stone Barns Center and how it is helping farmers and residents better understand successful ways to regenerate soils and farming practices.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Laura Perkins

Photo by:

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibienski

Tomatoes seem to be the favorite crop for home gardeners to grow. Get some useful tips from Teresa Golden (The Veggie Patch) on how to start them from seed, what to look for when buying plants for transplanting, when to plant, and tips to manage the various pests and diseases that may attack one of our favorite summer fruits.

Then hear from Linda Aydlett on Hum of the Hive. This episode, Linda talks about how honey bees cope when their food sources (typically nectar producing flowers) dry up. They have a systematic way to ensure the survival of the colony. This is a wonderful glimpse into the fascinating lives of honey bees.

Finally, join Heidi Bock on another wonderful hike up to High Falls Conservation Area on Trekking the Trails. Located in Philmont, NY, High Falls offers one mile of trails that wind through hemlock ravines, alongside the Agawamuck Creek to an overlook of Columbia County’s highest waterfall.

There’s something here for all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts. Listen in!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Teresa Golden, Linda Aydlett and Heidi Bock

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Resources

This episode is filled with all types of flowering plants including annuals (marigolds, zinnias and cosmos), Perennials (cranesbill geranium, wisteria, milkweed) and Invasives (multiflora rose).There is something of interest for all types of gardeners and gardens. Listen and learn!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Resources and Transcript

Have you wondered about the state of agriculture in the Hudson Valley? Or what New York farmers are focused on now? Or how they manage for regenerative and/or climate smart farming? If so, we have a great episode for you!

Join Christian Malsatski, CCE Agricultural Program Leader for Columbia, Greene and Ulster Counties on a wide-ranging discussion on Farming Trends in the Hudson Valley. Christian has over 15 years of experience in agricultural research and education roles in Texas, Florida and Wisconsin with a focus on field crops, soil science, beef cattle/livestock and urban agriculture. He designs, organizes and delivers programs serving agricultural producers/practioners and State/County officials and workers in many facets or agricultural endeavors.

Christian talks about the growing interest in agri-tourism and the diversification of many farm operations to include both crops and livestock. He explores the local grain economy as a community of farmers, millers & processors, distributors, bakers, maltsters, chefs, livestock owners, and others who eat and use grains. They communicate and interact together to provide and consume local grains, facilitating each other’s success and good health. This includes relationship of many farmers to New York craft breweries.

Farmers today face ongoing threats from deer damage as well as from invasive pests like the spotted lantern fly. Learn why soil health is so important to the future of productive farms and how rotational schedules help.

This episode provides insight into the challenges faced by today’s farmers and how they are adapting to thrive in today’s economy.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Christian Malsatski

Photo By: Jean Thomas

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, and Annie Scibienski

Resources

Oaks (trees or shrubs in the genus Quercus of the beech family Fagaceae) are a favorite tree in New York. The mighty oak has earned this reputation due to its towering size, its historical, timber and ecological value, as well as its role in American (and human) culture. A symbol of strength and endurance, the oak is a key hardwood forest tree that can live for several hundred years. It is also a critical host tree for many types of pollinators. Its acorns and leaves contain tannic acid which helps to guard against fungi and insects. But did you know that it can take up to 17 years before an oak tree bears its first crop of acorns?

While the Quercus family is native to the Northern Hemisphere, there are about 500 existing species of oaks but only 16 are native to New York State. Locally, they can be typically categorized into white oaks (quercus alba), whose acorns form in a single season, and black oaks (which include red oaks), which take two seasons to form their acorns. Other parts of the country and the world host other varieties including the evergreen live oak which can be found in the southern United States.

Because of their longevity (outliving humans), oaks are known as witness trees. Learn from the Nature Calls: Conversations of the Hudson Valley podcast team as they share stories about oak trees and provide examples of what some of these trees have witnessed throughout history. 

But then, there’s more. Melons are the topic of discussion on the Patch to Plate segment with Annie Scibienski. This category includes watermelons, honeydews, and cantaloupes. A great resource, Vegetable Varieties of New York State, published by Cornell University, provides a list of vegetables and fruits (including melons) that are rated highly to grow well in New York State. Get your taste buds watering with descriptions of recipes for watermelon salad, watermelon pickles, and grilled cantaloupe.

There’s a lot to take in on this episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley. Enjoy!

Hosts:Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Annie Scibienski, and Jean Thomas

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibienski

Have you ever given serious consideration of the limited value of traditional suburban lawns? Sure, they add a certain beauty to the landscape, but is there a better way to incorporate more native plantings to our lawns? Are their native lawns that could become alternatives to the typical field of turf grass that creates a monoculture that is not supporting of pollinators?

Todd Bittner, Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, joins the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley podcast to share his perspective on more environmentally sustainable Native Lawns.

As the Director of Natural Areas for the Cornell Botanic Gardens and a Lecturer in the Department of Horticulture at Cornell University as well as today’s guest, Todd Bittner furthers our understanding of natural systems, environmental sustainability, and natural resource conservation, management, and use. The Cornell Botanic Garden’s natural areas program is responsible for the protection and management of a system of preserves spanning nearly 3,600 acres across 40 natural areas. As part of Cornell’s educational mission, the natural areas include examples of the natural community plants and the rarest plant habitats in the New York’s central Finger Lakes Region. The holdings include one-third of Cornell’s iconic campus landscape, including two massive gorges, scenic Beebe Lake, and a renowned wildflower garden. Todd leads the organization’s native biodiversity conservation efforts, while facilitating compatible educational, research, and recreational uses across these outdoor classrooms. 

Native Lawns, or lawn alternatives, are a designed plant community that, when compared to traditional turf grass lawns, require minimal mowing and watering, no pesticides and fertilizers, yet more biodiversity to support pollinators and other invertebrates. In the research being conducted by Todd Bittner, the goal of the native lawn was to be aesthetic, able to handle a moderate amount of trampling, and require minimal hand weeding as well as to address the environmental objectives (minimal watering, mowing, chemical supplements, etc.). There was also a desire for native plants to comprise at least 85 percent of the land area. Plant species were selected that are suitable for both full sun and shady as well as wet and dry conditions Danthonia spicata and Danthonia compressa (poverty oat grass) are dominant in the planting. Penstemon hirsutus is also widely planted. Twenty nine native species have established spontaneously from the adjoining natural area or seedbank, including a number of violet species, several woodland asters including calico, heart-leaved, and frost asters, and Lobelia siphilitica, or great blue lobelia, which is a very attractive valuable pollinator species. Tune into this episode to hear what has been learned over the last 15 years in moving towards a more environmentally sustainable native lawn. 

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas 

Guest: Todd Bittner 

Photo by: Cornell University CALS 

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

Join the podcast co-founders with a lively discussion about the dreaded poison ivy. Learn how to identify it, control it, and treat your symptoms should you be allergic to its oils. Then the focus of Good Plant/Bad Plant with Tim Kennelty is Serviceberry and Invasive Bittersweet. Are your plants looking for a friend?  Deven Russ (Hits and Myths) discusses the realities of companion planting. 

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support from:  Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden, Dorian Hyland, Mary Ann Iaccino, Deven Connely, and Sandra Linnell

Transcript and Resources

Health challenges, unfortunately, tend to come with age. Gardening is a popular retirement hobby but may require a new approach as we age. Adaptive Gardening means making small changes to accommodate a gardener's physical needs. This approach may help us continue to enjoy this hobby. However, realistically, adaptive gardening applies to gardeners at any age. Think about gardening smarter, not harder.

Examples of some adaptations might include gardening in raised beds, containers, or soft-sided bags. Different gardening tools might also help in the care of plants and even reduce the chance of injury. For example, a balanced watering jug with a wide handle might lessen the tightness of the grip needed to carry it. Once you understand some adaptive considerations, you can get creative implementing gardening techniques.

Three areas typically require some form of adaptation:

• Muscles and Joints,
• Cardiovascular and Cardiopulmonary issues,,
• Visual and Memory problems.

Special tools can make a big difference to help with some of these issues. But the selection of plants can also help. For example, woody plants are easier to care for and don't require the same amount of work as annuals and perennials. Air Plants are a great option indoors.

Life long marketer and gardener, Duane Pancoast, has helped tree, landscape, and lawn care businesses market their services. His passion for gardening started when he studied Landscape Architecture at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, As mobility restrictions began taking their toll on his own gardening abilities, he decided to share his experience with other senior gardeners, including how he 'adapted'. His blog and book "The Geriatric Gardener 2.0" provide a wealth of information that might be helpful to you too. He joins the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley podcast team to share his insights.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Duane Pancoast

Photo by: Duane Pancoast

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Part 2 of the Hits and Myths Retrospective focuses on some additional popular nature and gardening myths. In this episode, listen to three short segments of previously aired information on Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, that have been collated together for easier listening. Devon Russ, Master Gardener Volunteer, provides insight into the science behind some common myths that have been handed down through the generations.

Do scarecrows work? Will a scarecrow help keep destructive birds away from your crops? The answer is yes, but not for long. So this is a myth that is partially true. Learn how to get the most value from a scarecrow by listening to this first segment.

In the second one, get answers to questions like: “Why should I mulch my garden?” “What kind of mulch should I use?” and “How deep should the mulch be spread?” Devon Russ is back separating the facts from fiction in a segment about mulch.

Have you heard that guinea hens and opossums eat ticks? In the third segment, Devon provides an update on ticks, including their relationships with guinea hens and opossums, and clarifying some myths along the way.

This diverse episode provides lots of interesting and useful information to help clarify the facts associated with commonly understood approaches.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guest: Devon Russ

Photo by:

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim, Kennelty, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

Resources

This episode is a mosaic of multiple gardening topics.

It starts Tim Kennelty (The Cover Up) discussing the merits of the family of sedge plants as a great pollinator-friendly ground cover, which can also be used as a living green mulch or a ‘lawn’ substitute. Jean Thomas then espouses the wonders of hops. This aromatic and robust vine can grow to 15-20 feet tall and has white cone-like flowers. Its hexagonal stem, which grows clockwise is a distinguishing feature.

Jackie Hayden and Dede Terns-Thorpe return with another segment of Pests and Pathogens. Do you know how to tell if the insects flying around your house are fruit flies or fungus gnats? While they are distant cousins, they are actually very different. Learn how to tell them apart, and how to manage them if you spot them visiting your houseplants this time of year.

Finally, we have a new recurring segment called Made in the Shade. Master Gardener Barbara Bravo joins us from Ulster County to talk about shade gardening. This first one starts by helping us understand some of the rewards of shade gardening as well as how light, partial and deep shade is defined to help you with the selection of appropriate plants for your garden.

Listen and enjoy the imagery that will come to mind with this episode.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Dede Terns-Thorpe and Jackie Hayden, Barbara Bravo

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibienski

Resources

Phenology is the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life. Join Heidi Bock from the Columbia Land Conservancy in a delightful discussion of the Phenology Trail at Borden’s Pond. Then learn all about Anthracnose from Dede Terns-Thorpe and Jackie Hayden (Pests and Pathogens) which affects gardens and trees. This episode concludes with a discussion of Merlin (Tools of the Trade with Joan Satterlee), a bird identification app developed by Cornell University. This episode has something for everyone. Listen in!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Heidi Bock, Columbia Land Conservancy

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support from: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden

Transcript and Resources

Do you consider yourself a bird watcher? Or are you actually a birder? If you want to know the difference, listen to Author and Master Gardener Volunteer Kathryn Schneider on Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley. This episode is all about birds. She provides an overview on essential tools for anyone interested in learning more about our feathered friends that you can find throughout New York State.

Binoculars are extremely helpful in bird identification. However, many people don’t know what they should look for in a pair of binoculars that are best suited for bird watching. Kathryn provides some tips, including where to get the best prices for a pair of binoculars. She also provides clues to help with bird identification including their size, shape, location and even their feet!

Are there advantages of a field guide versus a phone app? As is typical, it all depends on where you are and what you want to discover. Kathryn recommends an app that was developed by Cornell University, and helps to identify birds by their color, shape and even their songs. This one is popular with many Master Gardeners.

She closes out this discussion talking about the critical importance of food for birds’ survival and how you can help. Expand your bird watching horizons with this latest podcast episode.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Kathryn Schneider

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden, Annie Scibienski

Recording:

Resources: Cornell: All About Birds (Cornell); Merlin Bird ID App

On this week's podcast episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, learn from Rochelle Ashley from Story’s Nursery in Freehold, NY … a gardener’s destination. She discusses some favorite houseplants including suggestions about how to grow them. She focuses on plants that are relatively easy to grow as well as some that are quite dramatic or a bit fussier to handle. Whether it be “Lucky Bamboo”, Air Plants, Pathos, Ferns, Rubber plants, snake plants, spider plants, cactus, jade plants, peace lilies, or African violets, there is a houseplant for you.

Rochelle discusses the wide range of varieties that are available today, as well as how to identify, avoid or address any potential plant diseases. There are plenty of options for rooms with sunny windows as well as rooms that have more indirect sunlight. There are also plants to be careful with if you have pets in your home. She provides tips on the best way to size a pot for a plant and ways to successfully re-plant a houseplant that has outgrown its current home. Watering and fertilizing hints might help you gain a green thumb when dealing with houseplants.

Listen and learn how to successfully grow beautiful plants in your home year-round.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Rochelle Ashleigh

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

One more time, we’re providing a potpourri of interesting topics in an episode. If you're interested in cooking with fresh, locally sourced produce and are looking for creative ways to use winter vegetables, you'll love Patch to Plate, hosted by Annie Scibienski. In this episode, Annie shares an easy recipe for sweet potato and black bean salsa that can be used in everything from salads to pasta dishes.

And for those who want to expand their knowledge of gardening and botany, It's All Greek to Me is a must-listen. While plants are rooted in soil, their names are more often as not rooted in Latin. Host Jean Thomas takes a deep dive into the world of Latin plant names and the fascinating stories behind them. You'll learn how plants like the poinsettia and magnolia got their names and the individuals they were named after, including botanists and doctors.

Lastly, if you care about preserving the environment, don't miss Pests and Pathogens. Hosts Jackie Hayden and Dede Terns-Thorpe discuss the emerald ash borer, an invasive species that has caused significant damage to the ash tree population in North America. Jackie and Dede cover everything from the beetle's life cycle to the measures being taken to prevent further spread.

With topics ranging from creative recipes for winter vegetables to the fascinating stories behind plant names, and the impact of invasive species on our ecosystem, this episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley has something for everyone.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Annie Scibienski, Dede Terns-Thorpe, Jackie Hayden

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibienski

Learn about the rich history of New York’s Hudson Valley in a unique new way. Join Anna Plattner and Justin Wexler from Wild Hudson Valley, located in Cairo, NY. They own a 95-acre farm and sanctuary consisting of forest, meadow and wetlands. There they offer walks, workshops, forest farmed products and camping to help inspire others to become better stewards of our planet. Listen as Anna and Justin talk about their eco-camp which offers an immersive experience with furnished tents, engaging activities and nature trails enabling you to truly enjoy the natural beauty of the Catskill Mountains. Hey also offer monthly wild harvest boxes which consist of native foods such as veggies, nuts, berries, and mushrooms, that are wild-gathered, wild-stewarded, and grown on their farm.

Then Robin Stapley joins the podcast to talk about permaculture and winter sowing. Permaculture is all about applying a set of design principles to gardening taking into consideration the overall ecosystem of the site. Robin specifically talks about how she used permaculture to address some water issues on her property. She also then talks about the advantages of winter sowing to get a head start on seed starting.

Another episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley that has something for everyone!

Hosts: Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, and Jean Thomas

Guests: Anna Plattner and Justin Wexler

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibienski

Resources

A recent DEC study confirmed concerns about the health of some pollinator populations in New York State. The survey found that between 38 and 60 percent of the species studied are potentially imperiled or critically imperiled. Although the survey documented 16 bee and fly species for the first time in New York, recent sightings or records could not be confirmed for 79 pollinator species previously recorded in the state. The study found that more than one-third of the native pollinators surveyed are at risk of becoming extinct in New York. Pollinator populations can be helped by conserving habitat, controlling invasive plants, changing mowing regimes, converting lawns into meadows, paying attention to the siting and density of honey bee hives to reduce competition and spread of disease to native species, controlling deer browsing of the understory, retaining logs and snags in forests, and reducing unnecessary outdoor lights for nocturnal species.

To help address some of these issues, Pollinate Now! is focused on improving biodiversity and resilience through habitat restoration in support of at-risk pollinators. They are working to provide design toolkits to help landowners, landscape professionals and farmers implement restoration plantings across a diverse range of site types and scales. Starting with four unique designs for urban, riparian, working farms and old fields, they are striving to create a community of practice to improve biodiversity and resilience.

In the first of a two part conversation, listen to Eli Arnow and Avalon Bunge talk about how they got started with Polinate Now! and their plans for the future.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Eli Arnow and Avalon Bunge

Photo by:Tim Kennelty

Production Support:Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibienski

It’s harvest time and also time for some more retrospective episodes. These are a series of previously aired short segments on a common subject that have been packaged together for easier listening. In this case, it’s all about Patch to Plate, which provides lots of ideas on how to prepare all the fresh produce from your garden and/or local farmer’s market and make delicious meals in your home kitchen. Annie Scibienski, discusses how to prepare multiple seasonal vegetables to awaken your taste buds.

The first segment features root vegetables such as radishes, beets, carrots, etc. Carrots love butter, sugar, lemon, maple sugar, etc. Maple- glazed carrots anyone? Similarly, have you ever heard of a hidden beet pound cake that uses pureed beets to add nutrition to a basic cake recipe? Annie provides lots of tips on how to do this and what to check for to ensure that the batter is just right.

The next segment focuses on winter squash (e.g. butternut, acorn, honeynut, etc.), and cabbage. These squashes are delicious served roasted, or in soups. Sage, onion, garlic, and salt, butter, nutmeg, lemon, lime, can complement and enhance the squash flavor. Cabbage wedges can be roasted.  There are easy ways to prepare cabbage which can then be served with walnuts and/or toasted seeds.

The third segment features winter vegetables like sweet potatoes, onions and dried beans. Annie describes a recipe that combines all three of these ingredients that goes great with pasta. Garlic, onion, chili peppers, and dairy (cheese, butter, etc.) complement these main ingredients. But they can also be used to create delicious scones. One of the keys to success is to ensure that each scone is of a consistent size so that they bake at the same rate.

The fourth segment in this episode focuses on potatoes. Annie talks about the nutritional benefits of potatoes, as well as the need to focus on serving size. There are lots of different types of potato, including starchy potatoes for baking, or others for general purpose uses. She provides lots of great tips on how to successfully bake potatoes so that they have a crispy skin and a nice, fluffy interior. Tips including not wrapping them in foil or microwaving them to avoid steaming them. Listen to her suggestions on ingredients to combine potatoes with and let your imagination savor the flavors.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guest: Annie Scibienski

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

Resources

Green burials, also referred to as natural burials, are structured to care for the dead with minimal impact to the environment.

In many ways, green burials are a return to the past with simple methods. We once disposed of our dead in earth-friendly, regenerative ways with no chemicals and biodegradable containers. Dust to dust. But over the last 150 years, death care has become toxic and polluting in the United States. Over the last two decades, however, green burials are increasingly considered a sustainable death care choice that contributes to a healthier and less wasteful planet.

In today’s world, most death rites are linked to a $15 billion market of goods and services including cultural traditions, use of chemical embalming, sealed hardwood and metal caskets, reinforced concrete vaults and liners, and restrictive cemetery rules. Rituals can vary widely along ethnic, geographical, and religious lines.

In contrast, natural burials help to curb unsustainable conventional care of a deceased body that pollute, dishonor natural decomposition processes, and provide grieving families to experiences of loss, through a connection to each other as well as the natural world.

Suzanne Kelly, an author, scholar, farmer, cemetery administrator, and resident of the Hudson Valley, explores the myths that drive many of our standard environmentally damaging burial practices. In her book, Greening Death – Reclaiming Burial Practices and Restoring Our Tie to the Earth, she explores the myths that drive many of our standard environmentally damaging burial practices and the movement to ‘green’ death while integrating death and life.

In this episode of Nature Calls; Conversations from the Hudson Valley, learn how people are reclaiming old practices of death care in new ways and thus changing the American way of death. Suzanne sheds light on the ways in which individuals can make a positive impact on the planet even in death. As the movement lays claim to greener, simpler, and more cost-efficient practices, it also offers tangible way of restoring our relationship to nature.

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden

Guest: Suzanne Kelly

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Flying Trillium Gardens and Preserve is located in the southern Catskill Mountains in Sullivan County, NY. The gardens are an ongoing work by author, teacher, and landscape designer, Carolyn Summers. In addition to managed gardens, large areas of the property are preserved to protect native flora in their natural habitats, along with the wildlife that depend on them.

The nature preserve is over 385 acres with natural hemlock forest, meadow and aquatic plant communities, including a rare kettle hole bog. Almost a third of the trees native to New York occur here naturally. The preserve showcases indigenous plants, including painted and red trilliums, in their native environment.

Listen to Carolyn Summers as she describes the path that sparked and nurtured her interest in native plants, resulting in this delightful preserve that is open to the public right here in the Hudson Valley.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Carolyn Summers

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden and Annie Scibienski