By Margaret Bayne, OSU Extension Service Staff-retired, OSU Master Gardener

New publication: Enhancing Urban Suburban Landscapes to protect Pollinators. “The way we garden and manage the landscapes of the Northwest can promote the health of bees, butterflies, and other insects.  Homeowners, gardeners, landscape professionals and volunteer groups all can work to attract a wide range of pollinators to their properties.  This guide offers detailed plant lists, garden designs and advice on creating pollinator habitat.  Once plants are in the ground, learn to keep them healthy without exposing pollinating insects to pesticides that are toxic to them.” (Andony Melathopoulos, et all, OSU- EM 9289) https://bit.ly/30J8Tou

Nonnative, noninvasive woody species can enhance urban landscape biodiversity. (Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott, WSU via International Society of Arboriculture) https://bit.ly/3dYwkhE

New research illuminates nocturnal pollen transport network. “Moths may even help counterbalance pollination gaps left in the wake of other insect declines.” (Cara Giaimo, anthropocenemagazine.org) https://bit.ly/2XY5PmR

VIDEO:  The botanist stuck in the kitchen with peas- a short botany lesson. (Katherine A. Preston, via youtube.com) https://bit.ly/3cZr5wN

How the Pea Aphid decides to make wings or not. “Wing development in females is environmentally controlled, but in males, an insertion on the sex chromosome appears to dictate whether the insects grow wings, according to a study.” (Vivian Callier, the-scientist.com) https://bit.ly/2UCiNET

WEBINAR: High magnification, low cost: macro garden photography on a budget. (Danae Wolfe, Ohio State U; via youtube.com) https://bit.ly/37pN66C

Squirrels debarking trees.  Recently a MG showed me some photos of a problem on a fruit tree. The damage looked awfully familiar to me since I have this same problem on my maple trees every spring.  (Joe Boggs, Ohio State U) https://bit.ly/2MSm0M3

Here’s how plants became meat eaters. “Carnivorous plants are the ‘most skillful green hunters on the planet.” (Diane Lincoln – Live Science.com) https://bit.ly/2XUlHH2

Pollen-deprived bumblebees may speed up plant blooming by biting leaves. “In a pollen shortage, bees can make tomatoes bloom early by nipping foliage.” (Susan Milius, sciencenews.org) https://bit.ly/3fvJPG3

Genetic analysis reveals the fascinating evolutionary origins of Catmint, AKA Catnip. (Max Planck Institute, scitechdaily.com) https://bit.ly/30DPfKW

The weed apocalypse. (Jim Downer, gardenprofessors.com) https://bit.ly/37x6kHO

Bumblebees bite plants to make them flower early, surprising scientists. “How it actually works remains a mystery, but if replicated by humans, it could be a boon for agriculture.” (Virginia Morell, nationalgeographic.com) https://on.natgeo.com/2XYZCHs

Big, beautiful, and confusing: Deciphering the true hornets-including the “Murder Hornet.” (Leslie Mertz, Ph.D., entomologytoday.org) https://bit.ly/3hnHIWj

Flowers respond to pollinator sound within minutes by increasing nectar sugar concentration. (Marine Veits , onlinelibrary.wiley.com) https://bit.ly/37rAnkc

Earthy funk lures tiny creatures to eat and spread bacterial spores. “Master chemist soil bacteria can waft a scent appetizing to springtails.”(Susan Milius, sciencenews.org) https://bit.ly/2XY4QCY

UPDATE INFO- 2020 PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook: “Well, a virus may have slowed us down but the 2020 version of the PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook is now fully online. Most of it has been there for many weeks now. A total of 28 new sections, another 98 sections that were rewritten and 20 new fungicides were added (and 7 removed) where needed throughout the book. A new section on “Fasciation” was added…” (PNW Disease Management, Facebook) Fasciation:  https://bit.ly/2UA6k4o

The Strange, Twisted Story Behind Seattle’s Blackberries. (Ann Dornfeld, NPR.org) https://n.pr/2Awucir