LCF Information

 

Fireweed (Need to reshoot)
Erechtites hieracifolia

Fireweed is an herbaceous plant, as well as a member of the daisy family, that can grow to 8 feet high, but often matures before reaching such a height. The leaves alternate, and can be as wide as three inches, with spiny teeth, and a slightly hairy and grooved stem. The plant produces yellow-whitish flowers that bloom in the fall, with no petals and flower parts that are invisible to the naked eye. Fireweed can be found around the world due to human activity, but is native to the Americas, and can often be found in burned or disturbed sites. 

 Unidentified (Need to reshoot)

 

Spotted Spurge (Need to reshoot)

Euphorbia maculata 

Spotted Spurge is the most common type of Spurge, and is a warm-season annual weed. This spurge has small ad  oblong, light green leaves, with a bit of red or purple at the center. Milky sap comes from the stems, which are a reddish color. This plant grows prostrate, with roots going up to 45 cm underground, but the plant only appears up to 30 cm above the ground. Spotted Spurge is native to North America, and commonly found as a weed. 

 

Japanese Beetle

Popillia japonica

Only 15 mm long and 10 wide, the Japanese Beetle presents a threat to American crops. In it's native land of Japan, climate and predators help to manage the species. However, in America, this beetle is considered a pest to over 200 plants. This species was introduced to the United States through shipments of bulbs, as well as in traveler's cars. The Japanese Beetle is a reckless flyer, often bumping into walls. It can be identified by it's copper Elytra, and green thorax.

 

Odorous House Ant 

Tapinoma sessile

The Odorous House Ant is a species of ant that can be brown or black, and anywhere from 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch in length, with antennae that have twelve segments. This type of any is commonly found indoors, especially after rain, but tends to colonize outdoors under rocks and in exposed soil, and can survive in a large variety of environments. Colonies can be up to 100,000 strong, with non-aggressive ants that can live several months, with a queen that can live up to eight months and lay 20-30 eggs in a single day. 

 

Africanized Honey Bee

A. m. scutellata x A. m. ligustica/ A. m. iberiensis

The Africanized Honey Bee is probably the most common insect in the garden. It is a hybridized species of the African Bee and various European species. Much more aggressive than it's European counterpart, the Africanized species is known to take over hives of less aggressive species, kill the queen bee, and reestablish the hive with their own queen.

 

Carpenter Bee

Xylocopa micans

Carpenter bees, discovered by French entomologist Pierre André Latreille in 1802,  are large and hairy bees, with 500 species that can be found around the world. These bees got their name due to the fact that most of the 500 species construct their nests in burrows within dead wood, bamboo, or timber. Carpenter bees are usually solitary creatures, but can sometimes be found in female social groups, where the females live alongside daughters and sisters. 

 

Marine Blue

 Leptotes marina

This butterfly is a member of the Lycaenidae family, has a wingspan of 22–29 mm, and is found from South America up to the South West United States. 

 

Fiery Skipper 

Hylephila phyleus

The Fiery Skipper is an approximately one inch long butterfly that is native to North America. Males are yellow or orange with black spots, while females are brown with yellow or orange spots. The caterpillar stage of this insect are green-pink with a black head, and are considered pests due to their feeding habits on various grasses. 

Ladybird Beetle

Coccinella septempunctata

Ladybird Beetles (also known as Ladybugs in North America, even though they are not true bugs) are insects measuring 1 - 10 mm, and are commonly red with black spots on their wing covers. The larger genus, Coccinella, are found worldwide and contains over 5,000 species, with around 450 of them being in North America. These insects are sometimes considered pests, but are usually seen as helpful, and, as such, were introduced to North America from Asia in 1916 to help control aphids. Recently, in 2004, Ladybugs reached as far as the UK. 

 Pill Bug

Armadillidium vulgare

Commonly known as wood lice, pill bugs, unlike other members of the woodlouse family, can roll into balls, similarly to pill millipedes - this process is known as conglobation. These insects are up to 18 mm, and are native to Europe, although it has been introduced to Noth America, where it can reach population densities of up to 10,000 individuals per square meter. It is now the most common species of invertebrate California grassland habitats. Because of their unusual yet gentle appearance, this insect can be found as a pet, typically of children, in the U.S. Pill bugs can live up to three years, and require moist soil with lots of decaying plant matter. 

 

Garden Snail 

Helix aspersa

The common garden snail is a terrestrial mollusc. Originating in the Mediterranean, this species is widely regarded as a pest, despite it's edibility. Their shells are typical brown, chestnut and yellow, 25- 40 mm high and 25-30 mm wide. These molluscs can survive in temperatures as low as -5 C.

Black Widow

Latrodectus hesperus

Black widows are the most common spiders in the Latrodectus genus of spider, and can be found on all continents except for Antarctica. The female's bite is dangerous to humans, due to large venom glands, but, with medical treatment, their bites are rarely fatal to humans. While the red hourglass on the underside of the abdomen is a well-known marking of the black widow, some females only have red spots, or no markings at all. The female's body is 14-16 mm in length, while the male is about half this length, with a tan body in comparison to the female's black.  

Unidentified

 

LCF Edited Images

Agriculture Questions

1. What are the difficulties/disadvantages of traditional farming?
2. In agriculture, is there a lot of GM foods being grown nowadays?
3. What are the benefits of organic farming? Is it worth it?
4. How much money each year is put into/gained through agriculture?
5. What pesticides are used widely in today's farming?

Photosynthesis Review

1) After Thanksgiving break you return to the HTHMA garden to find that your crops have not been watered in over two weeks. Most of your plants are dead and those that are alive are barely hanging on.  In relation to the process of photosynthesis, describe what has happened to your plants.

 

 In photosynthesis, CO2, H2O, and sunlight come together to create O2 and sugars. If any of the main reactants were limited or nonexistent, the process of photosynthesis would either stop entirely or be greatly impaired. Therefore, if water supply of our crops were to be cut off for two weeks, photosynthesis would eventually come to a halt during that time. The light dependent reactions would be those most affected because they use H2O and light to produce O2, but, without one working, the Calvin Cycle would not work either. Because plants are autotrophs, and rely on photosynthesis to make their own food, without water they have no photosynthesis, and without photosynthesis they basically have no food or nutrients. So, during your two week hiatus, your plants would pretty much starve and wither away.

2) Upon microscopic inspection of the underside of your plant’s leaves, you notice that in an attempt to conserve water the stomata (aka stomates) are closed. Explain in detail how this impacts the light independent reactions of photosynthesis.

The stomata are the openings on the underside of the leaf through which CO2, O2, and H2O can pass through, so when the stomata are closed, none of the above can move in or out of the plant.  Because CO2 is used in the light independent reactions during photosynthesis to produce sugars, if the stomata were closed and CO2 was unable to move around, the photosynthesis (or at least the Calvin Cycle) would be impaired or altogether halted.

Seed Bank Response

I'd never even known about seed banks until reading this article - it almost seems like paranoia, the lengths that are being gone to to preserve seeds. When, where, how, and to what extent these seeds are being stored is insane - and yet it doesn't even begin to cover it. The Millennium Seed Bank in Norway is enormous and already contains tons of seeds, and yet it was predicted to have only collected about 10% of the seeds they intend to have at the end, which I found interesting at what a slow process it is. And while this may seem like a lot of work for nothing, to me it appears necessary. What would we do in the future if, by human error or natural disaster, we were to lose what few plants we still have today? According to this Ted Talk on the subject, there were 7,100 different named apple varieties in the 1800's, and, by now, 6,800 of those varieties have gone extinct and are forever lost. This is what we want to - need to - prevent in the future. Unfortunately, while "the Millennium Seed Bank Project aims to house all the 300,000 different plant species known to exist to ensure future biodiversity and protect a vital source of food and medicines", this may not be possible due the poor current state of the economy, which seems like it could truly be disastrous. Each seed costs about 2,000 pounds to store, and nearly 10,000,000 pounds are needed annually to run the place, but that seems like a small price to pay in order to guarentee a future with the same variety of plants that we have today. We need to continue on filling Seed Banks such as the Millennium Seed Bank to preserve and maintain the diversity that we're used to. As Cary Fowler mentions in his Ted Talk, by saving these seeds, we may just save ourselves. 

Garden Plot

RENEE'S GARDEN CARROT TRICOLOR CIRCUS CIRCUS

Info: F1-Hybrid. A trio of cool carrot colors includes creamy white, bright orange and a deep, dark purple with orange centers. All 3 well bred Dutch varieties are sweet tasting, crisp and smooth. Equal parts of: Purple Rain F1, Mokum F1, and White Satin F1.

a. Vegetable - Root Crop.

b. July - August

c. 10-20 days to germinate.

d. ~70 days from seed to maturity. 

e. The seeds should be spaced 1/2" apart, in rows 8 inches apart.

f. This plant prefers well-worked soil with consistent moisture

     i. Prefers 6.0 - 6.8 pH level.

     ii. 1-2-2.

g. Should be given 1 inch of water every week. 

h. Companion plants include alliums (leeks, shallots, etc), rosemary, wormwood, sage, beans, flax. You should avoid planting dill, parsnips, and radishes near your carrots. 

i. Since seeds can be planted 1/2" apart, in rows 8 inches apart, 2 square feet might be a good area to plant the carrots in, because that would allow for three rows of 24 carrots.

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ALL BLUE ORGANIC POTATO

Info: With deep blue skin and flesh that almost appears purple, here is another potato to brighten your table and your favorite potato salad. A family favorite for making awesome French Fries or Oven Fries. Abundant yields of medium sized oblong tubers.

a. Vegetable - Root Crop.

b. July - August

c. ~7-14 days to germinate.

d. 80-100 days from seed to maturity. 

e. Plant rows approximately 8' long with seed pieces spaced at 8"-12" apart. 

f. This plant prefers doesn't like too rich of soil

     i. Prefers a normal pH level, ~7.

     ii. N/A.

g. Should be given at least 1 inch of water every week. 

h. Companion plants include horseradish. You should avoid planting carrots, cucumbers, raspberries, squash, and tomatoes near your potatoes. 

i. I am unsure of how much area would be required to produce a substantial amount of potatoes.

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ORANGE MINI CHINESE CABBAGE

Info: This pint-sized Chinese cabbage is packed with barrels of flavor. Compact plants are perfect for small spaces and are quick maturing. When the 4-5 inch heads are cut open, the dense, crispy, creamy orange heart shows its true color. The bright flavor of Orange Mini is delicious in soups, salads, and stir fries.

a. Vegetable.

b. Can be sown in the fall or spring

c. 5-17 days to germinate.

d. 50-125 days from seed to maturity. 

e. Sow 1 seed per inch, 1/4 inch deep, with rows 18-36 inches apart. Thin seedlings to 12-18 inches apart in the row.

f. This plant prefers soil with a lot of organic matter

     i. Prefers a pH of 6.5.

     ii. N/A.

g. Should be given at least 1 - 1.5 inches of water every week. 

h. Companion plants include geraniums, dill, and rosemary. You should avoid planting mustards, pole beans, peppers, tomatoes, or strawberries near your cabbages.

i. Due to the smaller size of the cabbage, maybe 3 square feet would be a large enough area?

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PURPLE PEACOCK BROCCOLI

Info: We were spellbound by this flamboyant broccoli-kale cross. It has all the best qualities of both a kale and broccoli with the glamour and splendor of a peacock's display. Loose heads of purple florets are encircled by the deeply serrated, fuchsia veined leaves. The greens are extra tender when young, and sweet as the tastiest kale as they mature. An impressive production of side shoots provides a continuous harvest of delicious florets.

a. Vegetable.

b. Broccoli can be directly seeded from April through mid July.

c. ~8 days to germinate.

d. ~120 days from seed to maturity. 

e. Sow the seed 1/4 inch deep, 4-6 inches apart, in rows 18-36 inches apart.

f. This plant prefers loose soil and sifted compost

     i. Prefers a pH of 6 - 6.8.

     ii. N/A.

g. Should have moist, but not waterlogged soil.  

h. Companion plants include geraniums, dill, and rosemary. You should avoid planting mustards,  peppers, or tomatoes near your broccoli. 

i. It seems that, based on the size and shape of this plant, 2-3 square feet should be enough to grow a good amount of broccoli. 

Garden - Bug Images

Seed Research

NARDELLO SWEET PEPPER

Capsicum annuum

Interesting Fact: The Nardello Pepper is an heirloom sweet pepper named after Jimmy Nardello, the fourth of eleven kids in an Italian immigrant family, who inherited his mother's love of peppers. Before his death in 1983, Nardello donated his pepper seeds to Seed Savers Exchange, where the pepper has been preserved ever since.  

a. Vegetable.

b. To be sown indoors 7-9 weeks before transplanting, when soils have warmed and all danger of frost has passed. 

c. 8-14 days to germinate.

d. 65-75 days from seed to maturity. This is a potentially workable time frame, in terms of this class. The plant should be mature before exhibition.

e. The seeds should be spaced 18-24 inches apart from each other. Since each plant is 24-36", with 6-8" fruits, only one plant is plenty for a reasonable harvest, although two could probably be planted in the space.

f. This plant prefers fertile, well-drained soil, with ample calcium and phosphorous.

     i. Prefers acidic (5.6) to neutral (7.5) soil.

     ii. Unable to locate N-P-K ratio.

g. Should be watered moderately, but consistently , with mulch to conserve soil moisture and control weeds. Can be watered overhead.

h. Because pepper plants like high humidity, planting dense-leaf or ground-cover companion, like marjoram and basil, or other pepper plants, can help in their growth. You should avoid planting beans and kale near your pepper plants. 

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PURPLE QUEEN CLEOME

Cleome hasslerana

Interesting Fact: A drought-tolerant flower that doesn't require much water and should be planted in the full-sun, and that attracts bees and hummingbirds. Seems like a plant that would thrive in the garden and attract wildlife. 

a. Flower.

b. To be surface sown in flats 6-8 weeks before last spring frost. Transplant 2 weeks after last frost, or autumn in milder climates. 

c. 10-14 days to germinate.

d. 70-80 days from seed to maturity. This is a potentially workable time frame, in terms of this class. The plant should be mature before exhibition.

e. The seeds should be spaced 2 inches apart from each other. This means that a relatively large number of flowers can be planted in a small area. Since this is a flower and not a vegetable, there would not really be anything to harvest, but a plenty large area could be created. 

f. This plant prefers well-drained soil.

     i. Prefers slightly acidic to neutral pH.

     ii. Unable to locate N-P-K ratio.

g. Should be watered moderately, and be allowed to dry between waterings , with mulch to conserve soil moisture and control weeds. Can be watered overhead.

h. Unable to locate companion plants.

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SHENOT CROWN OF THORNS GOURDS

cucurbita pepo

Interesting Fact: Vining plant that produces horned fruit 4-5" in diameter. These gourds can be Yellow, orange, green, creamy white; with or without stripes, and are great for arts and crafts. 

a. Vegetable.

b. Should be planted outside about two weeks after the last frost. 

c. 10-15 days to germinate.

d. 100 days from seed to maturity. This would be too long to see the plant to fruition this semester, especially considering that you don't harvest the plant until late fall, which is about a year from now. However, this plant would still contribute to the garden as a whole.

e. The seeds should be spaced 4 inches apart from each other, and then thinned to 10 inches apart. Grows on long vines and produces five inch fruits, meaning that the plant would take up a somewhat large amount of space.

f. This plant prefers rich soil with compost for best growth.

     i. Prefers slightly acidic (6 - 6.5) pH.

     ii. Unable to locate N-P-K ratio.

g. Requires lots of water, especially early in the growing season.

h. Some companion plants to plant with gourds include radishes, catnip, broccoli, tansy, dill, and marigolds.

Photosynthesis Lab - Analysis

1. Why does the phenol red change color when we blow bubbles into the tube? Phenol red is an indicator in this experiment. What did it indicate?
   
   
   The phenol red changes color when you blow into it, because you are introducing carbon dioxide to the mix. Phenol red changes to yellow in a pH lower than 7, so the solution turning yellow is an indication of an acidic (lower than 7 pH) solution.
   
   
2. How long did it take to observe a color change in the phenol red? What does the color change indicate in terms of the Elodea plant?
   
   
   It took from 45 minutes to an hour for the phenol red to change from yellow back to a reddish color. This change in color indicates that the Elodea plant is performing photosynthesis, and is taking up the carbon dioxide from the phenol red solution.
   
   
3. If carbon fixation occurs during the light independent stage of photosynthesis, why did the procedure call for placement of the test tubes under the grow lights?
   
   
   While carbon fixation takes place during the second half of photosynthesis, which is called light independent, and doesn't directly involve light, it still requires the energy supplied by the light reactions. Because of this, despite being called light independent, carbon fixation usually only occurs during the daytime, and therefore the test tubes in this procedure needed to be placed under grow lights.
   
   
4. Did you see a change in color of the phenol red test tube with no elodea added? Why or why not?
   
   
   No, I did not see any change in the test tube with no elodea added, and did not expect to. This tube was only the control, used to compare the reactions within the other vials to.
   
   
5. Does carbon fixation occur in humans? Can you think of any other organisms that fix carbon?
   
   
   No, carbon fixation does not occur in humans. This process only takes place in Autotrophs, such as other plants, algae, and some bacteria, or organisms that make their own food.
   
   
6. How does a plant use carbon? What is meant by the term carbon fixation?
   
   
   A plant uses carbon, along with water and light, during photosynthesis, to create food for itself in the form of glucose. Carbon fixation means that carbon dioxide, in a gaseous form, is used as the input to output glucose, a solid compound and a biologically useful form of stored energy.
   
   
7. Identify and explain the control in this experiment. What is the purpose in having a control?
   
   
   The control in this experiment was the test tube containing the phenol red solution, but no elodea plant. This was the control, because there was no contaminant in the solution, and so if any color change occurred within the vial, it could be determined that it was not in relation to the elodea plant. However, since no such change did occur, it was used to compare and contrast the changes within the other two test tubes. The point of a control in any given experiment is to have a constant that you specifically know what will/ will not occur, so that you can compare any other changes to the one specific predictable one. 

Invasive Species - White Spotted Jellyfish

Scientifically known as Phyllorhiza punctata, the White Spotted Jellyfish is a species of Jellyfish that is native to the tropical western Pacific Ocean, and also has wide distribution throughout Australian coastal and lagoon waters, where it feeds mostly on plankton. This species of Jellyfish has been found off the coasts of Hawaii since 1945 - although the ecological impact that these non-native jellyfish have had on Hawaii has not been studied - and then spread to the Continental United States. The White Spotted Jellyfish was first discovered in California in 1981, but, since then, has experienced a population explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. It has been theorized that these non-native Jellyfish came to the United States by attaching themselves to the hulls of ships, or in their ballast tanks, and get carried through the Panama Canal and dumped into the Gulf of Mexico. Once in the Gulf of Mexico, these jellyfish can become unusually large in size - up to 60 cm across, in comparison to the average of 45-50 cm. As an invasive species, this Jellyfish preys on native species, such as shrimp, menhaden, anchovies, and crab. Additionally, the White Spotted Jellyfish has been known to negatively affect the shrimp industry by clogging up nets and damaging fishing equipment - there is evidence to suggest that this species of Jellyfish has reduced the white shrimp harvest in Mobile Bay, Alabama and Mississippi Sound by 26.7 %.