Grant helps bumblebee study
By ROBERT KESSLER Penn State Cooperative Extension Franklin County office

COMING EVENTS

April 3, 10, 17 and 24 - Beginning Beekeeper's Shortcourse, Franklin County Cooperative Extension office, call (717) 263-9226.

April 5 - Gardening 101 - X-Rated Gardening by the Franklin County Master Gardeners, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Extension Office, pre-register by calling the Extension office at (717) 263-9226.

April 15 - Goat & Sheep Producer Meeting, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Franklin County Extension Office, Rm. 3, call (717) 263-9226.

April 21 - Franklin County Animal Response Meeting, 6:30 to 9 p.m., Franklin County Extension Basement meeting rooms.

May 3 - Container Gardening by the Franklin County Master Gardeners, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., pre-register by calling the Extension office at (717) 263-9226.

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BUMBLEBEE NEST BOX

TRIALS

Earlier this year you may have read an article in this column about work we are doing to study Bumblebees as an alternative pollinator to Honey bees. We are happy to tell you that researcher Alex Surcica and Steve Bogash in the Penn State Cooperative Extension office in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania have been awarded a $10,000 grant to do work on Bumblebees. This award came from a USDA affiliate, Northeast SARE as part of their partnership with farmers program. The funding will be used in a program that will encourage and monitor native bumblebee populations in the Chambersburg, Biglerville, Littlestown and Carlisle area. Over a hundred manmade bumblebee domiciles or housing units will be placed in various locations on three privately owned farms, as well as on the organic farms at Dickinson and Wilson Colleges.

The project seeks to address 2 important issues relating to one of our most important native pollinators; 1) Will Bumblebees reliably use manmade domiciles? and, 2) What specific bumblebees are in our area and using these domiciles? According to experts, there are six specific (species) of Bumblebees that are found in PA and several more just south of us in MD. If we know which bees we have, we should be able to adopt practices that will encourage their success.

Our goal is to make specific recommendations to farmers and gardeners that want to encourage native pollinators such as the Bumblebee. In addition to invaluable environmental benefits, native bee pollinators account for $3 billion in pollination services for almost 100 commercial crops. Bee-pollinated crops such as vegetables, fruit, and berries represent a third of the human diet and make the difference between eating for survival and eating for pleasure. Being the only social native bee, the bumblebee is a reliable pollinator alternative for the honeybee because:

- They are bigger and hairier, which enables better pollination.

- They work on cool overcast days, when honeybees remain in their hives.

- They grab the anthers of flowers and shake them (important action for freeing the pollen in some blossoms).

While the primary program will take place on farms, there is an opportunity for gardeners to participate in this research and set up a bumblebee domicile on their own property. For a modest fee, interested gardeners will be provided with a bumblebee domicile, installation suggestions and be added to the discussion list as the project moves forward, so we all become better stewards of this important resource.

Interested gardeners and those seeking more information are encouraged to contact Alex Surcica, Research Assistant at the PSU Franklin County Cooperative Extension office, 717- 263-9226.

CARE OF EASTER LILIES

One of the traditional signs of Easter is the Easter Lilies with their large white flowers and their sweet aroma that fills the room. If you have one or more lilies from Easter you can extend the joy of your plants with a little care.

Keep your plants away from drafts and heat sources. Keep them in bright light, but do not place them in direct sunlight. As the flowers open, remove the yellow structures (anthers) from the flower centers. This will help the flower last longer and keep the yellow pollen from discoloring the flowers or any other clothing or the tablecloth.

Lilies like to have it cool so keep it in a cooler room, especially at night. During the day, 60 - 65 degrees is warm enough. As flowers start to fade and turn brown, you should remove them from the plant.

Most lilies will come with some type of foil to decorate the pot. This should be removed or at least the bottom covering should be removed, so any excess water will drain from the pot. It is easy to over water the Easter lily. Water when the soil becomes dry to the touch, but don't over dry it.

If you want to plant your lilies outdoors you can and you may have good success getting them established. Care for your lilies inside until the weather has warmed and danger of frost has past.

Pick a sunny location and prepare the soil as you would for other types of bulbs. Dig the hole deep enough to plant the Easter lily the same depth it is in the pot. Add compost to the soil in the bottom of the hole and to the back fill soil. Remove your lily from the pot and place it in the hole. Be careful you don't disturb the roots. Once you plant it, add one to two inches of organic mulch.

The original plant will start to turn brown because it has completed its life cycle and has created a new bulb. When the foliage has yellowed and browned you can remove it but be sure you have the location of the lily marked as new foliage will start to grow. Fertilize the lily with bulb food and mix it lightly into the soil over the lily.

Let the lily grow for the season and in the fall add a few inches of mulch over the area for winter protection. This should be removed in the spring to help the plant warm up. Add fertilizer over the area.

Your lily may not bloom the first year, but it will gain strength and it will in future years, but don't expect your bloom until June and early July, which is the normal time for blooming.

WHAT'S THE FUTURE FOR PENNSYLVANIA'S

FORESTS?

On Thursday, April 10, at the Franklin County Human Services Building, Dr. James Finley, Penn State Professor of Forest Resources, will give a presentation on forest regeneration and reforestation in Pennsylvania. The meeting will start at 7 pm and is sponsored by the Cumberland Woodland Owners' Association. The event is open to the general public and there is no cost to attend. The Franklin County Human Services Building is located at 425 Franklin Farm Lane in Chambersburg.

In Pennsylvania, forest regeneration, or regrowth, requires sufficient numbers of desirable tree seedlings to be available to replace today's forest following harvest. Under many circumstances, regeneration is not easy. Competing plants, deer, and insufficient light on the forest floor can interfere with regeneration and, in the long run, may threaten forest sustainability. Recent U.S. Forest Service data from Pennsylvania's statewide forest inventory (2004) document regeneration problems. In forest stands where light conditions are adequate for regeneration development, less than 50 percent have adequate seedlings and saplings to regenerate the forest. This finding includes all tree species capable of growing into the forest canopy. When only commercially desirable species are considered, less than one-third of these forest stands have adequate regeneration to replace the existing forest. Sustainable forestry is defined as managing our forest resources to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The Cumberland Woodland Owners Association (CWOA) is an organization of forestland owners and others interested in forestry issues in south central Pennsylvania. The mission of the association is to provide information, education and an exchange of ideas to its members and others about the methods and benefits of proper forest management. For more information about the meeting or the Cumberland Woodland Owners Association, contact Fred Peabody at 717/776-3565 (email: fredp5@earthlink.net). For additional directions to the Franklin County Human Services Building located at 425 Franklin Farm Lane, contact the Penn State Cooperative Extension

Office at 717/263-9226.

Robert Kessler is an extension educator specilaizing in consumer horticulture and energy issues.