As a graduate student at the University of Georgia many years ago I took a course in research methods. One of the discussions that stuck in my mind all these years centered on the word ‘Serendipity’. The classic definition of the word is “the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.” As scientists we rely heavily on the scientific method as a systematic method of inquiry to make new discoveries. But we also need to need to keep our eyes and minds open to serendipitous discoveries along the way as well. … Continue reading this article “Finding agreeable things not sought for”
Month: November 2012
A different kind of storm chaser
As an Extensional Specialist working on urban and community forestry issues, I am frequently asked to respond to questions about tree damage after storms. One standard bit of advice I give is to be wary of ‘door knockers’ or ‘storm chasers’; individuals that descend like locusts upon storm-ravaged areas with pick-up trucks and chainsaws offering to clean up storm damage. Sometimes these are just honest folks trying make a buck but there are also less scrupulous folks in the mix that are clearly exploiting the misfortune of others. … Continue reading this article “A different kind of storm chaser”
Archived webinar available
We had a decent turnout on the webinar yesterday – saw a few names from our blog readers there. I hope everyone was able to see and hear the presentation and didn’t have any technical difficulties? If you did, please let me know so we can fix them for next time. For those of you who weren’t able to attend, it’s been archived for viewing at your leisure.
I used suggestions that readers suggested on the blog to demonstrate how to search academic databases for science-based information on products and practices related to gardening. … Continue reading this article “Archived webinar available”
Possum 1, Garden Professor 0
It was a dark and stormy Wednesday night.
Joel opened the porch door and whispered “you’ve got to come see this.” He’d taken the dogs out for their 9:00 p.m. constitutional, and there was apparently some excitement under the old apple tree.
“There’s a possum, and I think she’s playing dead.”
I grabbed the flashlight and hustled out. Got around the corner to the tree, and sure enough, there was a rather large blob of silver and white mammal.… Continue reading this article “Possum 1, Garden Professor 0”
Vacation in Colorado and Washington
Wow, election week. Maybe your candidate(s) won, maybe not. To be perfectly honest I’m not really sure that we know whether we’ve won or not until they actually take office and start doing things. Along with the candidates, you probably also had the opportunity to vote for other things, like whether your state constitution should include an amendment saying that a marriage should be between a man and a woman or whether IDs should be required for voters to vote (those were the two on the Minnesota ballots).… Continue reading this article “Vacation in Colorado and Washington”
Up in smoke
If you read my postings the last few weeks, you know that I’m doing a webinar on Wednesday on searching academic databases for information of interest and use to gardeners. While researching one of the suggested topics (should we mow leaves into the lawn or bag and dump them?) I found a 2012 article* entitled “Biomass yield from an urban landscape” in the journal Biomass and Bioenergy. My blood ran cold when I read this part of the abstract:
“It was estimated that the City of Woodward could generate about 3750 Mg of biomass dry matter in a normal rainfall year and about 6100 Mg in a high rainfall year if every homeowner collected their lawn thatch and clippings, and tree leaves, twigs, and limbs for bioenergy production.”… Continue reading this article “Up in smoke”
Superstorm Sandy aftermath: A modest proposal
Initial estimates from insurers indicate that Superstorm Sandy may be the second costliest storm in US history. A large portion of the damage attributable to Sandy and several of the deaths associated with the storm were due to falling trees. In many cases the winds were severe enough to topple healthy trees, but I’m sure many GP blog readers share my frustration in looking at storm-related tree damage photos and seeing obvious defects that a professional arborist would have readily spotted.… Continue reading this article “Superstorm Sandy aftermath: A modest proposal”
Webinar update – yes, YOU can attend!
A few days ago I posted about a webinar I’m doing on using academic databases for gardening myth-busting. At the time I wasn’t sure what the rules were for viewing the webinar, but happily I’ve found out we can have outside viewers! So here’s the information about when and how to log on to Adobe Connect (keep in mind this is Pacific Standard Time here).
Speaker: Linda Chalker-Scott
Date: Wednesday, November 7
Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Address: http://breeze.wsu.edu/ext_skills/… Continue reading this article “Webinar update – yes, YOU can attend!”
Aphids Marching
Was out enjoying the last of the SW Virginia fall color from our deck, the day before we got our dose of Sandy…the wind was picking up and the barometer and temperature were dropping
Twenty-four hours later, we had an inch of snow and 40 mph winds. No more fall color.
Looked down at the railing and the ENTIRE length of it – 45′ – had aphids streaming back and forth. … Continue reading this article “Aphids Marching”