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Maggot Art Always Draws a Crowd at UC Davis Picnic Day
When the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology hosts its "bug activities" at Briggs Hall during the 110th annual UC Davis Picnic Day on...
Maggot art in the making at a UC Davis Picnic Day event at Briggs Hall. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Memories of Karen in My Garden
Karen Norton, my neighbor and friend, passed away peacefully at midnight after a brief illness. It seemed fitting to her master gardener friends that today is National Gardeners' Day. Karen was a very nice neighbor, veteran master gardener, and accomplished ceramist and art teacher. One of the things I will miss about her are the most enjoyable garden-themed ceramics classes she would hold in her garage studio twice a year.
When Karen put out an email re: a future class, if you were lucky enough to be on her mailing list, it was imperative to reply immediately. Her classes would fill within minutes. Even when I was late however, Karen always managed to fit me in. She even allowed me to invite my friends if she had space.
I really looked forward to her classes. They would always begin with a stroll around her gorgeous garden for inspiration. The first picture shows my leaf wreath, where I picked leaves in her garden that were then rolled onto the prepared clay, cut and affixed to the wreath form.
Karen's classes were so enjoyable partly because she greatly minimized the opportunities for mistakes by her students. Karen prepared and rolled out the clay herself beforehand, so we never had air bubbles in our clay (or resulting explosions in the kiln).
Drawing and painting seem to come naturally to me. But not so with ceramics. Karen was an unfailingly patient and helpful teacher, and never ever rolled her eyes at my many flubs. Thanks to her, every project of mine was a success and I love them all!
After the projects were glazed and fired, Karen would have an unveiling where we would "ooh" and "aah" over our beautiful work, followed by a potluck lunch in her lovely home.
RIP Karen. I will miss your friendship, and your ceramics classes. Have a wonderful time growing and tending your heavenly garden where everything blooms and nothing dies, until we meet again.
On the left, koi fish created by Karen that I purchased and gave my husband for Christmas. On the right, my scalloped pocket for succulents just planted today, to be hung on the fence.
Two flowers, the left made by Karen, and the right made by me.
The Good Luck at UC Davis Picnic Day
Remember when San Francisco 49'ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk credited his spectacular 51-yard catch in the 2024 NFC championship game with the...
A lady beetle, aka ladybug, devouring on aphid on the UC Davis campus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A cellar spider snares a lady beetle in a Vacaville pollinator garden. The red droplet is reflex bleeding, the beetle is emitting an alkaloid toxin to protect it from predators. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
What's a Picnic Without Bugs?
What's a picnic without bugs? Well, it wouldn't be a picnic at all! The UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology (ENT) is planning...
Stick insects, aka walking sticks, will be part of the Bohart Museum of Entomology's petting zoo in a pop-up tent at Briggs Hall during the UC Davis Picnic Day. The Bohart Museum headquarters in the Academic Surge Building will be closed on Picnic Day. The pop-up tent will showcase butterflies, bees and other specimens. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Forensic entomologist Robert "Bob" Kimsey will staff the "Dr. Death" booth in 122 Briggs Hall. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Maggot art is among the popular activities at Briggs Hall during the annual UC Davis Picnic Day. Artists dip maggots in water-based, non-toxic paint. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Run, roaches, run! Cockroach races are an integral part of the "bug" activities at Briggs Hall during the UC Davis Picnic Day. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
My “closed” Terrarium Adventure
A few months ago, I decided to try out an idea I've had for a while, creating a “closed” terrarium. I say closed with quotations because over the six weeks I've been working on it I've opened it it 4 or 5 times to add or take away items and finesse the correct amount of water needed to create the perfect balance. It has now been closed for a month and it is actively growing and thriving! Here are the steps I followed to create this fun little habitat.
1. I ordered a terrarium kitonline for my first try at this, (I know, I know) but from now on I'll buy each portion individually as it is less costly and allows for more personalization.
2. The lowest/first layer is horticultural charcoal. This helps prevent mold and mildew.
3. The next layer is a drainage layer of gravel.
4. The next layer is a layer of larger gravel. The different layers help facilitate the water cycle and add visual appeal to the terrarium.
5. Next, I layered moss for moisture retention.
6. The next layer is a mixture of potting soil and native soil from outside. The reason for adding the outside soil is I plan on adding isopods (roliepolies) to my finished terrarium and they rely on organic matter to survive until the natural plant cycles take over.
7. After I added all the ground layers a good wipe down inside the glass was needed to beautify and add visibility to the terrarium.
8. Time for plants! I ordered a terrarium kit online that came with plants, but the plants weren't labeled! Grrr! But any plant that thrives in a warm, moist environment should work. The fern in particular is thriving.
9. Some crystals, bark, stones, decorative moss or small statuary will add to the beauty of the build. Any slowly rotting sticks or wood will also help keep the isopods eating well.
10. Water….vitally important. Water should be added with a spray bottle to the soil and plants. A few tweaks might be necessary to keep the right balance, it seems like a “feel” thing so I have no guidance about how much to add, everything should moist but not sopping.
11. Now it's time for optional “pets” Theisopod market is thriving. I joined anisopodFacebook group and they advised me to pick up a few. I purchased 15 and most are still thriving in there after a month of being completely enclosed.
12. Lighting-Terrariums do require light. I bought a lamp with a timer to put my terrarium under, but any well lit window area should provide enough sunshine.
13. The top. When you're finished setting up all the parts and you're ready to display don't forget to securely close the top so as to not let the isopods escape or water dissipate.
I am so happy I went out on a limb and tried this! This was my first venture into closed terrariums, but I'm sure it won't be my last!
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