The OSU Wooster Campus, Fisher Auditorium
1680 Madison Ave.

10AM to 2:30PM

$25, payable at the door

Join fellow bee and pollinator enthusiasts for this daylong training focusing on pollination, bee biology, native bee identification, and habitat enhancement — with a focus on bumble bees. Participants will learn to identify common bees using pinned samples and microscopes, and will leave with practical ideas to increase pollinator habitat. Program sponsored by The Ohio State University Bee Lab. Ohio Pollinator Advocates are trained volunteers who help to spread the word about the importance of pollinators. Session taught by Denise Ellsworth, OSU Entomology/Extension. Contact Denise (ellsworth.2@osu.edu) with any questions.

Handouts, lunch, coffee and light refreshments provided.

Register here.

Denise Ellsworth will be holding a training for the Ohio Pollinator Advocate program at Secrest Arboretum’s Miller Pavilion on August 7th from 10AM to 3PM, and you’re invited! The day will feature classroom learning in the morning and outdoor exploration in the afternoon as we collect and identify bees.

Ohio Pollinator Advocates are certified, trained volunteers who spread the word about the importance of pollinators. Advocates complete training in pollination biology, Ohio bee identification, bee biology and habitat enhancement. Once certified, advocates agree to teach or assist with two programs to adult and youth audiences to help spread the word about why pollinators matter and how to take action to conserve these important animals. Advocates have access to outreach resources and materials, including PowerPoint programs and identification guides. Master Gardeners, OCVN’ers and other pollinator fans are invited to attend.

Fee for the session: $10, payable at the door. Please dress comfortably and for the weather, and bring your lunch and water.

Learn more here, and register to attend here.

Questions? Please e-mail Denise Ellsworth.

The OSU Bee Lab is having a planting and native perennial distribution work day next Thursday 6/28 from 9:30AM to 2PM. We’ll meet in the parking lot between Thorne Hall and the Stinner Pollinator Garden on the OARDC campus in Wooster (between #8 and #9 on the map). Come when you can and stay as long as you can. Helpers will go home with native perennials as a thank you for your help! We’ll be helping OSU staff load perennials for state pollinator gardens, and planting native plugs in the 40×40 native demonstration plot.

Bring water and lunch, and dress for the weather.

Let Denise know if you can join us so we can plan accordingly. Thanks!

Join Denise Ellsworth from the OSU Bee Lab along with fellow bee enthusiasts at one of these Bee Blitz events across Ohio during National Pollinator Week, June 16 – 24. We’ll use nets and vials to catch (and then release) bees in the field and identify common Ohio species. Shorter events are free; longer events require registration and small fee (see below).

Nets, bee ID guides and vials provided to use in the field. Bring water, a snack or lunch in a day pack, and dress for the weather and ticks. If the weather looks threatening, call Denise to check for cancellations: (234) 249-4346. Questions? Contact Denise at ellsworth.2@osu.edu

• Saturday, June 16th: 11:00 – 1PM (no fee)

Bissell Nature Center,  3973 Callender Road, Rock Creek, OH 44084

• Monday, June 18th: 1PM – 3PM (no fee)

Smuckers Store, Orville. Meet in parking lot: pollinator plot is south of the lot.

• Tuesday, June 19, 10AM – 3PM ($10, registration required)

Secrest Arboretum, Wooster (Miller Pavilion, #5 on the map)

Ohio Pollinator Advocate Training and PM Bee Blitz

Indoor training in the morning, field time in the afternoon

Bring your lunch

• Wednesday, June 20: 1PM – 3PM (no fee)

Rittman Orchard, Doylestown. Meet at the orchard store entrance.

• Thursday, June 21: 1PM – 3PM (free for members, $10 fee for non-members to enter Holden)

Holden Arboretum, Kirtland. Meet at the visitor center.

• Friday, June 22: 10AM – 3PM ($10 fee, registration required)

OSU’s Waterman Farm, Columbus

Ohio Pollinator Advocate Training and PM Bee Blitz

Indoor training in the morning in the farm classroom, field time in the afternoon

Bring your lunch

• Saturday, June 23: Anytime between 10AM – 5PM

Pollinator Palooza at Franklin Park Conservatory

Come to the pollinator garden throughout this free pollinator festival!

It is time to start thinking about what volunteer projects you would like to participate in this year! The College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) recently named three discovery themes (Ok, they were announced in 2016 but are just now impacting us) that are the focus on the college, and OSU Extension named six impact areas to match. Master Gardener Volunteers fall under CFAES as part of OSU Extension.

These impact areas can be helpful when deciding what projects to participate in and whether a project qualifies. When you log into VMS to track your hours you will notice that the project categories have changed to reflect this. All projects must fall into one of these six categories.

The six areas are:

Health and Wellness

Job Skills and Careers

Thriving Across the Life Span

Sustainable Food Systems

Engaged Ohioans, Vibrant Communities

Environmental Quality

To learn more about the OSU Extension impact areas follow this link.

A Bugs World
OARDC

A Bug’s World is the OSU Department of Entomology’s outreach event for 2nd and 3rd graders, taking place this year on March 6th and 7th at the Shisler Conference Center on the OARDC campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster.

We need volunteers on one or both days to help the event run smoothly. Volunteers will help greet children and students, assist with sessions, and help direct classes from session to session.

All sessions are led by Entomology students, faculty and staff, and include the Bug Zoo (an up-close experience), Café Insecta (a chance to munch on flavorful critters), and other insect-themed experiences to teach children about the wonders of insects.

Volunteers are needed from 9:00 to 1:30, one day or both days.

What you’ll get: a fun day helping kids learn about insects, lunch, an awesome t-shirt and Denise’s eternal gratitude!

Your responsibilities:

Show up on time if you commit to participating.

Have fun and patience with the students.

Offer feedback on how we can improve the experience at the end of this year’s event.

To participate:  please fill out this form.

Thanks so much — we truly couldn’t do it without our wonderful volunteers!

If you know of other OSU volunteers (Master Gardeners, OCVN’ers or 4-H volunteers) who might like to help, please forward this message to them, or contact me and I’ll follow up.

As always, let me know if you have questions or suggestions: ellsworth.2@osu.edu

Hope to see you in March! ~Denise

The deadline to recertify as a Master Gardener volunteer is here. If you went through training in 2017 you do not need to recertify. Please take 5 minutes to go through the recertification process if you desire to continue as a Secrest Master Gardener. If you do not recertify by January 25 you will be registered as inactive for 2018.

You will see a notification as soon as you log into VMS that will direct you to the recertification page. Simply paying the $20 dues does not recertifiy you. You must also complete the paperwork. This deadline is one that has been set by the state.

Please contact Paul with any questions regarding recertification.

On the last day of class I gave everyone a Roselle or Rosa de Jamiaca (Hibiscus sabdariffa) plant. By now the plants should have grown tall and be flowering. The question now is, what do I do with my plant?

Hibiscus sabdariffa has many different uses, including being used to make hibiscus tea. Below I outline how to harvest the ripe caylyces.

The flower of Hibiscus sabdariffa.

Once the flowers fade, a fruit begins to develop inside the scarlet calyx.

Devloping fruits.

Ripe fruit, approximately 10 days after flowering.

Once the fruits ripen, roughly 10 days after flowering, harvet the fruits by picking them from the plant.

Next, remove the caylx to reveal the green capsule inside.

Left to right: removed calyx. Capsule.

Once the calyx has been removed it should be washed. The calyx can be used fresh or dried for use later.

Freshly dried Hibiscus sabdariffa.

Volunteers are needed on Wednesday 9/13 in the Stinner Garden on the OARDC campus and on Thursday 9/14 at the Smuckers Store to help tend the pollinator gardens. Both sessions are from 10AM to Noon. You’re sure to learn a few new bees in the process! See prior posts for maps and addresses. Please call Denise if you have any questions: 330 495 1284. Hope to see you there!

We speak for the trees because someone has to. Speaking of trees, there are two workshops coming soon that are for anyone who loves trees.

September 25

Selecting Trees and Shrubs for Landscaping

This workshop will focus on making better woody plant selections for the long term. Including indoor and outdoor sessions. Perfect for landscapers, arborists and all plant lovers!

Registration Form

October 18

Why Trees Matter Forum

Come share with fellow tree people and co-horts. Why trees matter: aesthetically, economically, environmentally and socially. Trees – to your health!

Registration

“Parvis e glandibus quercus.”