environmental education | Adventures in the Finger Lakes

Archive | environmental education RSS feed for this section

Monarch Eggs Have Arrived!

Monarch eggs arrive in the mail!

Monarch eggs arrived last week! A six gallon fish tank with a screen lid is an enormous habitat for the speck sized ovo from Rose Franklin of Butterfly Bushes in Pennsylvania.

I’ve been studying Monarch migration patterns and feeding needs for months, so I’ve been developing a deep appreciation for milkweed. Milkweed serves as a food source and habitat for Monarchs. There are many kinds of milkweed, some being more appealing to Monarchs than others. (This area needs further investigation.)

Observing milkweed stances has become a bit of a hobby this summer. Wether unwinding morning glory vines from milkweed plants or searching for Monarch eggs and caterpillars, I’m curious what I will find next.

Monarch caterpillar crawls around milkweed plant.

Monarch caterpillar crawls upon milkweed in a hay field.

Learning about the multi generational migration of Monarchs makes me wonder where these ovo will fit into that cycle. Their metamorphosis is estimated to be completed in 28-32 days. Six days into their cycle they now look like super tiny black worms.

Monarchs are being released through various programs around the state. Some of these programs are well established. Read about the butterfly breeder who recently released nearly 150 Monarch butterflies !

Cornell’s Dyson School has an annual Monarch release that includes tagging the winged creatures! Professor Jack Little directed students in the proper technique of tagging, while many observed the butterflies release. Follow this link to view pictures of the event.

Our Monarch eggs have changed into tiny worms and now small caterpillars!! New pictures soon!

Editor’s Note: Due to the severity of Harvey, publishing this post was delayed with respect for those affected by the disaster. Grateful for pleasant weather in New York, we continue our work with concern and awareness for our shared existence.

Tags: Adventures in the Finger Lakes, Monarch butterflies, Monarch caterpillars

Comments Leave a Comment
Categories environmental education, Environmental Research, Finger Lakes, Health, Invasives, Uncategorized

Finger Lakes Culture Bubbles Like A Spring (or Sparkling Wine!)

14 Aug

Grassroots creates a showcase of talents throughout handmade arts to music, dance and more. The festival experience is rich, extensive and often exhaustive. An experience not to miss.

Juggling many responsibilities, I was only able to catch a few performances. I’m thrilled Danielle Ponder and The Tomorrow People was one of these bands! Their performance enlivened and uplifted the afternoon’s crowd, dancing in mud near the stage. I’ve been playing their videos and talking about this band since Grassroots. Luckily, I found out about a soft/grand opening for F.L.X. Live in Geneva with Danielle Ponder and The Tomorrow People headlining! A hot ticket with limited availability, I scooped mine up quickly at Area Records in Geneva.

Two tickets for Danielle Ponder and The Tomorrow People for the soft/grand opening of F.L.X.Live!

The band’s performance in the brand new, intimate venue was epic. Danielle Ponder’s powerful performance and her tight, happy band bring dazzling energy and stir the willing into a dancing frenzy! This impromptu visit to Geneva was excellent. Dinner at The Red Dove Tavern was impressive and casual. Beginning our evening with Rose Cava and Champagne set the tone for a fabulous time. Professional, friendly service welcomed us to the noisy tavern, while our food mesmerized our attention and tastebuds. Cavatelli in a lemon artichoke broth with shrimp pleased me while my friend had flank steak sandwich and fries. Peach cobbler and great coffee made the pleasant surprise complete.

A yoga eco hike along Lake Ontario’s shore at Sterling Nature Center worked any muscles I missed dancing the previous night! Leading this hike with Karen Haas of Bayview Wellness Center is incredible fun. Poses throughout our hike lent themselves to each place we visited August 6 at 9am. Our group was diverse, with participants in their early teens and the span of adulthood. Men and women came from Baldwinsville, Fulton, Oswego, North Rose, Fair Haven and more to gather together for this yoga walk. From the smiling faces, pictures and sincere thanks, I think people enjoyed themselves. Practicing group yoga on a pebble beach in synchronicity with our breath and crashing waves was awesome.

A downed tree provided a challenge for each of us, that many conquered with group support. Walking up a steep trail to a large meadow looking off MacIntrye Bluffs over Lake Ontario warmed us before a series of poses a safe distance from the edge. These poses were challenging, my legs often wobbling and my hip muscles screaming! For some reason, the pain was comical to me. Karen humored me, instructing the group to place their arms upon each other’s shoulders and move into a warrior pose where it was as if we were an eagle about to soar to Canada. Brilliant!

Before long, I was setting up at Aurora Ale and Lager Co. on the east side of Cayuga Lake. An old farm is the perfect setting to enjoy the beers of this nano-brewery. Their Mango Infused Goseface Killah Gose recently won Bronze at the New York Craft Beer Competition and Governor’s Excelsior Cup.