Backyard Orchard News
KARE works with 300 Tulare County Fourth Graders at 2017 AgVentures Day!
KARE outreach and education leader, Laura Van Der Staay, along with UCD Cooperative Extension Cropping Systems Specialist, Jeff Mitchell, had their hands full with over 300 enthusiastic Tulare County 4th graders as part of the 2017 half-day AgVentures extravaganza that was held at the International Ag Center on May 12. This is the third time the two of them have taken part in this activity that is always a big hit with the kids, teachers and parents. Students learned about soil science and research that is underway at the KARE Center related to soil function and management and also had a chance to see up close and personal how soils can change if they are managed using conservation agriculture practices. While the day is always grueling, both Van Der Staay and Mitchell departed after a hearty hamburger lunch that was provided by the event organizers with the satisfaction of having hopefully expanded horizons and inspired a new generation of science-loving students.
A Honey of a Festival, and an Inaugural Festival at That!
It was indeed a honey of a festival. When the inaugural California Honey Festival buzzed into...
Apis Inlusio, a sculpture art car designed to look like a bee, drew thousands of onlookers. Part of the 2013 Burning Man Festival, it is based in San Francisco.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The honey flavor wheel proved to be a honey of an exhibit. That's Amina Harris (in red), coordinator of the California Honey Festival and director of the UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Owners of Z Specialty Food, Woodland, were as busy as well...bees. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Some 20,000 attended the inaugural California Honey Festival. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
To bee or not to bee! That was the question. Here's the answer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The California Honey Festival even had a bee truck, with hives loaned by area beekeeper John Foster. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
California Honey Festival coordinator Amina Harris, director of the UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center, stands by a display of bee photos by Kathy Keatley Garvey of UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.
This honey bee buzzed the California Honey Festival. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Like a Ballerina on the Dance Floor of Life
Like a ballerina on the dance floor of life, a newly eclosed Western tiger swallowtail, Papilio...
A Western tiger swallowtail, Papilio rutulus,warms its flight muscles on a crape myrtle tree. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The Western tiger swallowtail folds its wings. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
An insect, probably a bee, flies near the Western tiger swallowtail. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Kate Frey: Gardening for Bees, Beauty and Diversity
Many mothers will receive a stunning bouquet of flowers on Sunday, Mother's Day. Others will learn...
The Frey Gardens at the home of Ben and Kate Frey in Hopland, are inviting.
Kate Frey designed the gardens at the Lynmar Estate Winery, located in Sonoma County's Russian River Valley. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Citrus Tristeza Virus testing complete at Lindcove REC
Annual testing of more than 11,000 citrus trees for citrus tristeza virus (CTV) was completed last...
California State University plant pathology students enjoy hands-on learning of disease detection technology for Citrus Tristeza Virus at the Bakersfield campus. Photo by Isolde Francis.