Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley

Episode 39: Salamanders, Earthworms and More

Dr. Rebecca Pinder, a science professor at Columbia-Greene Community College, joins the podcast, Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley in an informative discussion about salamanders, earth worms and other creatures that can be found in the soil.

There are nineteen species of salamanders found in New York State. Did you know that salamanders rarely have more than four toes on their front legs and five on their rear legs? They are typically found in habitats in or near water or other cool, damp places. Some species are fully aquatic while others are entirely terrestrial as adults.

New York is also home to 30 different species of earthworms, although only five are native to North America. The invasion of jumping worms from Asia has increasingly become an environmental and conservation issue in forest ecosystems as well as urban-suburban landscapes.

Listen to Dr. Pinder discuss these fascinating creatures as well as the research being done to better understand them.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Dr. Rebecca Pinder

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Episode 38: Phlox, Siegel-Kline Kill and Root Crops

This episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley covers a lot o territory.  It starts with Jean Thomas, Master Gardener Volunteer, discussing two popular perennials, phlox and rudbeckia.  The phlox name is derived from the Greek word meaning ‘flame’.  The genus includes 67 species including phlox paniculata, subulata, and divaricate. Rudbeckia, more commonly known as black-eyed-susans, are native plants known for their bright yellow flowers.  Jean provides more detail on both perennial types.

 

Then Heidi Bock from the Columbia Land Conservancy is back taking us on a virtual tour of Siegel Kline Kill .  This 55 acre parcel, with about 1 mile of trails, is located in Ghent, New York and features a native plant restoration project and a floodplain forest.

 

Finally, Teresa Golden (The Veggie Patch) talks about root crops which include a wide range of vegetables that grow beneath the soil.  The many options are relatively easy to grow and offer many tasty treats throughout the gardening season.

 

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Jean Thomas, Heidi Bock, and Teresa Golden

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Episode 37: Mountaintop Arboretum

Join Marc Wolf, Executive Director, from the Mountaintop Arboretum as he describes this uniquely beautiful and memorable place. Featuring trees, trails, rocks, meadows and marshes, it exemplifies the diverse beauty of New York’s Hudson Valley. The Arboretum encompasses 178 acres of forest and meadow at an elevation of nearly 2,400 feet with temperatures that drop as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit. As the only public garden/arboretum in the Catskill Park, it strives to inform visitors about the landscape they visit. Listen to Marc describe the relationship between theater and the arboretum and describes the many joys that await a visitor to this wonderful site.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Marc Wolf

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Website

Episode 36: Ragwort, Hydrangea, Cucurbits and Ticks

What do ragwort, climbing hydrangea, cucurbits and myths about ticks have in common? Another episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, of course!

On this week's podcast episode, Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas have another segment about groundcovers and vines (The Cover Up) with Tim talking about ragwort, a native groundcover, and Jean describing a beautiful vine, climbing hydrangea. Then listen to Teresa Golden (The Veggie Patch) describes how to grow cucurbits, a broad family of vegetables that are very popular on dinner tables across the Hudson Valley and the world. Finally, Devon Russ (Hits and Myths) updates us on ticks, including their relationships with guinea hens and opossums, and clarifying some myths along the way.

So this diverse episode has a little bit of everything. We hope you learn something new while you listen in!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Tim Kennelty, Jean Thomas, Teresa Golden, Devon Russ

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Resources

Episode 35: Native Trees and Shrubs

Tim Kennelty, a Master Gardener, Master Forester and Master Naturalist Volunteer, shares his passion for native trees and shrubs on this episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley. He covers a wide range of topics regarding native trees and shrubs in the New York landscape including a definition, their role in supporting birds and pollinators, considerations when selecting a native tree for your yard, and many of his favorite native trees including oaks, birches, cherries, dogwoods, spice bushes, button bushes, and more. Tim also talks about the best places to see native plants as well as where to find them to purchase. If you're interested in bringing your yard back to its ‘native’ environment, listen in!

Host: Jean Thomas

Guest: Tim Kennelty

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Resources

Episode 34: Tomatoes, Beekeeping and Hiking

Tomatoes seem to be the favorite crop for home gardeners to grow. Get some useful tips from Teresa Golden (The Veggie Patch) on how to start them from seed, what to look for when buying plants for transplanting, when to plant, and tips to manage the various pests and diseases that may attack one of our favorite summer fruits.

Then hear from Linda Aydlett on Hum of the Hive. This episode, Linda talks about how honey bees cope when their food sources (typically nectar producing flowers) dry up. They have a systematic way to ensure the survival of the colony. This is a wonderful glimpse into the fascinating lives of honey bees.

Finally, join Heidi Bock on another wonderful hike up to High Falls Conservation Area on Trekking the Trails. Located in Philmont, NY, High Falls offers one mile of trails that wind through hemlock ravines, alongside the Agawamuck Creek to an overlook of Columbia County’s highest waterfall.

There’s something here for all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts. Listen in!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Teresa Golden, Linda Aydlett and Heidi Bock

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Resources

Episode 33: So You Bought a House

Are you a new homeowner in the Hudson Valley?  Do you have questions about where to start when making an existing garden your own?  This podcast episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley might just be a great place to start. Realtor and Master Gardener Volunteer Candidate, Eileen Goble, provides lots of good suggestions.

Assessing what is already planted, meeting your wildlife neighbors, watching how much sun or shade your property gets during different times of the year, testing your soil, determining how much effort you are willing to put into maintenance, and understanding what will grow in this New York climate, are all things to think about before you dig in and start planting. Whether you are thinking about annuals, perennials, shrubs or trees, making an investment in time to plan your new landscape will pay off in years to come.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Eileen Goble

Production Support:  Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Episode 32: Answers to Popular Gardening Questions

This weekly podcast episode for Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley answers some of the most frequently asked questions we, as Master Gardener Volunteers, receive from gardeners in New York State. 

“Why should I mulch my garden?” “What kind of mulch should I use?” and “How deep should the mulch be spread?” Devon Russ, Master Gardener Volunteer from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties, separates mulch facts from fiction in a segment about mulch on her segment, Hits and Myths.

Then hear from Dede Terns-Thorpe and Jackie Hayden, also Master Gardeners, talk about a common summer pathogen by answering questions such as “What is powdery mildew?” “How do I manage a powdery mildew infestation?” or “What are best practices to minimize the odds of a reoccurrence of powdery mildew?” Listen to the segment on Pests and Pathogens.

Finally, on Tools of the Trade, Master Gardener Joan Satterlee is back talking about the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder. It answers questions we often get like “What’s a good plant resource?” “How do I find plants that will work in my particular micro-climate?” and “What’s a native flowering plant that thrives in hardiness zones 4 to 6 that can tolerate coexisting with rabbits?”

Gardeners, new and experienced, will find something of interest in this episode. Enjoy!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Devon Russ, Dede Terns-Thorpe, Jackie Hayden, and Joan Satterlee

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Resources

Episode 31: Invasive Pests

Kristopher Williams from the Center for Invasive Species Management rejoins the podcast with an informative discussion of the many invasive pests that can be found in the Hudson Valley including the emerald ash borer, hemlock wooly adelgid, spongy moth, spotted lantern fly, feral pigs, as well as what individuals can do to minimize the spread of invasives.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Kristopher Williams 

Resources

Episode 30: Flowering Annuals, Perennials, and Invasive Multifora Rose

This episode is filled with all types of flowering plants including annuals (marigolds, zinnias and cosmos), Perennials (cranesbill geranium, wisteria, milkweed) and Invasives (multiflora rose).There is something of interest for all types of gardeners and gardens. Listen and learn!

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett and Teresa Golden

Resources and Transcript