science watch / saul scheinbach
Our Long, Lousy Relationship
“Lice are part of our lives and history” – M. Ascunce
Humans and lice go way back—even before we were human. Lice have been sucking primate blood for 25 million years and we are a veritable lice ecosystem with three kinds that exclusively call us home.Continued in ScienceWatch
Our Garden Grows
It’s been a big year in our Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden. After massive efforts to eradicate invasives, Garden Chairperson James Judy reports he and his volunteers are winning. It’s an on-going struggle, but they have the upper hand at last.
New entrance gate and pathway at the Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden, Lenoir Preserve
A part of the garden has been “solarized.” That is, clear plastic was put down over weeds; the sun blanched the ground, killing the plants underneath, making replacing them with pollinator friendly ones easier. There’s less shade and more sunny areas now. A dangerously leaning tree was removed; shrubs were pruned back. Sun loving plants thrived. The hummingbirds noticed – one day there were as many as four flitting from flower to flower.
Two new gates were installed. The north gate replaced one that was falling apart. The south gate is new; it’s a double gate and its pathway is level. There are several advantages. It will allow entrance for equipment, like a pickup truck. Our gardeners can push wheelbarrows in or out on level ground. Visitors with mobility issues will have easier access on level ground.
The sloping slate path to the north gate has been replaced by steps. The slates were uneven, the ground beneath badly eroded. It discouraged any but the sure-footed to enter. We intend to install a handrail by the steps. (Hint: your contribution to our Annual Appeal would help.)
Many new native plants have replaced the invasives. A short list of shrubs: witch hazel, serviceberry, gray dogwood. Of flowers: echinacea, coreopsis, salvia, cardinal flower.
We are grateful to all those who planted, weeded, pruned, mowed, watered, hauled bags of mulch and pots of new plants and shrubs. We are also grateful to nature for giving us a rainy September, sending our garden off into winter dormancy well hydrated. The garden should sleep well this winter.
About our head gardener
James Judy is the chairman of the Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden. Before moving to Yonkers, he lived in Brooklyn. He was an urban gardener, in an apartment with a fire escape full of potted plants and a bedroom window box with 2 bird feeders. Once in Yonkers, he volunteered for Untermeyer Gardens and then for us, in 2022. He has always been interested in gardening. He grew up in Washington State; from high school, he knew he would be an actor. For the past fifty years, he has had a successful career as a performing artist, both as a dramatic actor and as a musical theater performer.
Feeder watch
Last two weekends of Feeder Watch!
Saturday, April 6 from 10 AM to noon
Sunday, April 7 from 2 to 4 PM
Saturday, April 20 from 10 AM to noon
Sunday, April 21 from 2 to 4 PM
It’s great way to learn your backyard birds. Help us count birds from the indoor comfort of the Lenoir Nature Center. You needn’t register; just show up at the Lenoir Nature Center, 19 Dudley Ave, Yonkers, NY. Easy parking.