This 390-year-old bonsai tree survived an atomic bomb, and no one knew until 2001
Moses Weisberg was walking his bicycle through the National Arboretum in Northeast Washington when he stopped at a mushroom-shaped tree. The first thing he noticed was the thickness of the trunk, estimated at almost a foot and a half in diameter. And then there was the abundance of spindly leaves, a healthy head of hair for a botanical relic 390 years old. But it was only when he learned the full history of the tree, a Japanese white pine donated in 1976, that he was truly stunned. “For one, it’s amazing to think that something could have survived an atomic blast,” said Weisberg, a 26-year-old student at the Georgetown University Law Center. The bonsai tree’s history is being honored this week, as Thursday marks the 70th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. The tree, donated by a bonsai master named Masaru Yamaki, was part of a 53-specimen gift to the United States for its 1976 bicentennial. Ensuring the continued survival of such an important piece of the collection is no easy task.
Tree Disease identification, symptoms, treatment options for tree diseases
There are many different diseases that affect landscape trees and shrubs. Control of tree and shrub diseases cannot be properly accomplished until the disease pest is identified. Identification of tree and shrub diseases is crucial because, although most diseases can be controlled, there are some diseases that cannot be controlled. Disease control on landscape trees and shrubs can sometimes be accomplished by more than one method, depending on the particular disease that if infecting your landscape plants. Fungicides are often used to control diseases on landscape trees and shrubs and fungicides may be sprayed, injected into the tree trunk, or even injected into the soil surrounding the roots of the tree or shrub. Even if you are going to attempt to control a disease that is infecting your landscape trees or shrubs you should consider consulting a local arborist.
Dendrology at Virginia Tech
Gymnosperm families go to Angiosperm Families Araucariaceae Cupressaceae Cupressaceae (Taxodiaceae) Cupressaceae (inc. Ephedraceae Ginkgoaceae Pinaceae Podocarpaceae Sciadopityaceae Taxaceae
Nudibranchs - The Flamboyant Sea Slug
nicoboxethai/CC BY 2.0 Nudibranch, or what we usually call sea slugs, blow my mind. Ever since spotting one for myself during a tide pool trip about a year ago, I've been fascinated with these creatures. I think of them as the drag queens of the sea: flashy stand-outs that are always dressed to the nines. The one I found is a Hermissenda crassicornis -- the flashy little thing pictured below with bright pinkish-orange cerata waving like a feather boa and neon blue outlines around its tentacles. © Jaymi Heimbuch But this is not exactly an example of what all nudibranch look like. prilfish/CC BY 2.0 prilfish/CC BY 2.0 Elias Levy/CC BY 2.0 Bill Bouton/CC BY-SA 2.0 Derek Keats/CC BY-SA 2.0 See what I mean? From Wikipedia:"A nudibranch /ˈnjuːdɨbræŋk/ is a member of what is now a taxonomic clade, and what was previously a suborder, of soft-bodied, marine gastropod mollusks which shed their shell after their larval stage. You read that right -- over 3,000 species and more are discovered all the time.
Biochar
Biochar created through the pyrolysis process. History[edit] Left - a nutrient-poor oxisol; right - an oxisol transformed into fertile terra preta using biochar Pre-Columbian Amazonians are believed to have used biochar to enhance soil productivity. They produced it by smoldering agricultural waste (i.e., covering burning biomass with soil)[5] in pits or trenches.[6] European settlers called it terra preta de Indio.[7] Following observations and experiments, a research team working in French Guiana hypothesized that the Amazonian earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus was the main agent of fine powdering and incorporation of charcoal debris to the mineral soil.[8] The term “biochar” was coined by Peter Read to describe charcoal used as a soil improvement.[9] Production[edit] Pyrolysis produces biochar, liquids, and gases from biomass by heating the biomass in a low/no oxygen environment. Centralized, decentralized, and mobile systems[edit] Thermo-catalytic depolymerization[edit] Uses[edit]
CSC Virtual Herbarium
Here is where you can find pictures and descriptions of the flora that grows around the New London, N.H., area. In order to make it easy to find what you are looking for, the flora has been divided into categories as follows: Angiosperms These are leafy trees and shrubs. Gymnosperms These are trees and shrubs with needles or scales rather than leaves. Spring Wildflowers These are flowers found in the wild (although some may have escaped from cultivation at some point). Summer Wildflowers These are flowers found in the wild (again, some may have escaped from cultivation at some point). Fall Wildflowers These are wildflowers that are in bloom during the fall season. Ferns - These are a few of the ferns growing in the New London Area. Grasses - These are a few of the grasses, mostly of the wetland variety, that can be found here. New London Invasive Species - Learn more about how to identify and control invasive species. Sources Magee, Dennis W. and H.E.
The adorable “sea bunny” - a nudibranch
It’s round, and fluffy and has wiggly little ears! Sort of. These little sea creatures, affectionately dubbed “sea bunnies” have recently become social media celebrities. They’re actually sea slugs, and belong to the wild group of mollusks called nudibranchs. ダイブストアエグザイル/Video screen capture As for the “ears”—over on Deep Sea News, Dr. Crawl Ray/CC BY 2.0 All nudibranchs are hermaphrodites, which means they produce both sperm and eggs but cannot fertilize themselves. Jorunna parva have a number of different colorings, and are often yellow with black specks and rhinophores. If there wasn’t enough reason to “aawwww” over sea bunnies, the fact that these creatures are incredibly tiny adds extra points to their adorableness score. And in case your day hasn't had enough bunny cuteness from Japan, check out this island full of (land) rabbits.
International Biochar Initiative | International Biochar Initiative
10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Fireflies
Taking a walk after dark in the Catskill mountains of New York state last fall, I was fascinated by the number of bright blinking lights flashing all around me. I grew up in England, and now live in California, and had never witnessed such a magical display of fireflies. Here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about these fascinating creatures. 1. 2. 3. 4. Photo Credit: thinkstock 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. You can find out even more about fireflies by watching this video:
Symphony of the Soil
How a Musician Unraveled the Secrets of Whale Song
Whale songs are some of the most hauntingly beautiful and bizarre noises in the world. But if it hadn’t been for acoustic biologist Katy Payne, we’d probably still be dismissing them as mere sounds — like the noises our own cats and dogs make when they’re hungry, frightened, interested, or affectionate. Payne, however, realized that whales are actually composing songs, not just making noise under the sea, and moreover, she found that over time, whales change their tune. Payne’s discoveries, and ongoing research into the subject, reveal the value of cross-disciplinary collaborations. Her research helped to improve our understanding of whales and the way they interact with each other. Payne’s sharp ear for music didn’t stop with whales. Sometimes, a degree in one subject leads you in an unexpected direction.
