Planting for the Bees’ Needs. Kimberly A. Stoner (203) 974-8480 Kimberly.Stoner@ct.gov
Bees are critically important for pollination of our crops and our native plants. We get many of our ideas about bees from what we know of honey bees, but honey bees are only one of the 349 species we have in Connecticut. In this talk, Dr. Kimberly Stoner describes the diversity of bees and their life cycles, and how we can create habitat for them to survive and thrive. She also discusses the routes by which bees are exposed to pesticides and the controversies over restricting or banning certain pesticides because of their effects on bees.

Bees and Pesticides:  Challenges in Measurement and Toxicology. Brian D. Eitzer (203) 974-8453  Brian.Eitzer@ct.gov  
This talk would encompass background information about bees and pesticides.   This would include the difficulties associated with field toxicology;  how to determine the field relevant dose including the analytical challenges in measurement;  synergism due to the exposure to multiple pesticides at the same time;  and the issues with neonicotinoids.

A Natural History of Target Canker of Birch. Robert E. Marra (203) 974-8508 Robert.Marra@ct.gov  
Neonectria ditissima, the causal agent of Target Canker (also known as Neonectria Canker), is an ascomycete fungus that has been described as “the most widespread and damaging species” of northeastern forests.  While the fungus produces perennial cankers on a wide range of broad-leaved trees in temperate eastern forests, it is notably associated with beech bark disease, and causes particularly disfiguring cankers on black birch (Betula lenta), a native of northeastern forests.   Neonectria Canker is also an important disease of fruit trees, particularly apple and pear.  This talk will cover the biology and natural history of the disease, and discuss methods being used to study how changes in forest composition over the past 100 years have altered the dynamics of this disease.

Ramorum Blight:  Is Phytophthora ramorum a Threat to Connecticut’s Forests and Landscapes? Robert E. Marra (203) 974-8508 Robert.Marra@ct.gov
P. ramorum  has been devastating the coastal oak forests of California and Oregon for at least ten years. The pathogen has a wide host range that includes species native to the Northeast (for example, oak, rhododendron, and mountain laurel), as well as numerous species important to the nursery industries of both the West Coast and Connecticut.  Because of the high volume of plant material shipped from the West Coast to Connecticut, surveys of Connecticut nurseries are conducted annually to monitor for presence of the pathogen.  This talk will include an overview of the biology and history of this important disease, a discussion of the threat the pathogen could pose to our forests and landscapes, and the diagnostic strategies used in monitoring and detection.

Managing our Forests – Tree-by-Tree. Jeffrey S. Ward (203) 974-8495  Jeffrey.Ward@ct.gov

Landowners and concerned citizens should be committed to sound forest management based on the best science available. Proactive management is an essential component of responsible forest stewardship.

A Short History of the Connecticut Forest. Jeffrey S. Ward (203) 974-8495  Jeffrey.Ward@ct.gov

Viewed across the landscape, the forests covering our hillsides and valleys seem as though they have always been there. However, the resilient Connecticut forest has undergone dramatic changes over the past 400 years and earlier. This talk will cover the changes in our forests since the ice age, and what the future forest may look like.

A Natural History of Target Canker of Birch. Robert E. Marra (203) 974-8508 Robert.Marra@ct.gov  
Neonectria ditissima, the causal agent of Target Canker (also known as Neonectria Canker), is an ascomycete fungus that has been described as “the most widespread and damaging species” of northeastern forests.  While the fungus produces perennial cankers on a wide range of broad-leaved trees in temperate eastern forests, it is notably associated with beech bark disease, and causes particularly disfiguring cankers on black birch (Betula lenta), a native of northeastern forests.   Neonectria Canker is also an important disease of fruit trees, particularly apple and pear.  This talk will cover the biology and natural history of the disease, and discuss methods being used to study how changes in forest composition over the past 100 years have altered the dynamics of this disease.

Fungi in Forests and Landscapes:  Friends or Foes? Robert E. Marra (203) 974-8508 Robert.Marra@ct.gov
Most people can recognize a mushroom when they see one, but have you ever wondered how that mushroom got there?  And what it’s doing there, anyway?  Ever wondered about that yellow blob that seems to appear spontaneously in your mulch or on your lawn?  Did you know that many plants, including the trees in our forests, could not survive without the important associations their roots establish with fungi?  This talk will introduce the audience to the fascinating world of that poorly understood Kingdom Fungi. 

Introduction to Mycology: The Study of Fungi. Robert E. Marra (203) 974-8508 Robert.Marra@ct.gov

This presentation introduces the Kingdom Fungi, through an introduction to what defines a fungus, and an overview of the breadth and diversity of this fascinating and important group of organisms, taking you well beyond the realm of visible mushrooms and into the less easily viewed world of fungi that live underground, and those that cause plant and animal diseases.

• INSECTS

Exotic Insects in Connecticut Orchards and Forests. Chris T. Maier (203) 974-8476  Chris.Maier@ct.gov  Introduced insects have had a major upon agriculture and forestry in North America. Recently, four new exotic insects have been detected in or near Connecticut. This talk focuses on the distribution, biology, and potential impact of these new invaders.

Periodical Cicadas. Chris T. Maier (203) 974-8476  Chris.Maier@po.staet.ct.us
In Connecticut, adults of these remarkable insects emerge by the millions once every 17 years. Most of the 17-year life cycle is spend under the ground where nymphs feed by sucking fluids from tree roots. This talk is about their unusual behavior and ecology.

Introduction to Insects and Their Biology. Charles R. Vossbrinck (203) 974-8522  Charles.Vossbrinck@ct.gov
For grammar school children about insects, including a demonstration.

General Entomology. Gale E. Ridge (203) 974-8478 Gale.Ridge@ct.gov
The anatomy, physiology and development of insects; the behavior and ecology of insects; the introduction of the orders and the collection and preservation of arthropods in general.

Insects:  The Good, the Bad, the Beautiful and the Just Plain Ugly. Rose Hiskes*, (860) 683-4977, Rose.Hiskes@ct.gov

Through slide and specimens this course enters the world of insects showing the beautiful, the beneficial, the bad and the just plain ugly.  This course will concentrate on the pests of plants.  Morphology, life cycles, behaviors, and who eats what will be discusse

• INVASIVE SPECIES 

The Biodiversity Crisis. Jeffrey S. Ward (203) 974-8495  Jeffrey.Ward@ct.gov
This talk will examine the negative effects of high deer densities and invasive plant infestations on wildflowers and forest regeneration and the link between invasives and increased risk of exposure to Lyme disease.. The management implications of a range of options to control invasives and browse damage will be presented along with development of local action plans.

Identification and Management of Running Bamboo. Jeffrey S. Ward (203) 974-8495  Jeffrey.Ward@ct.gov
Running bamboo (Phyllostachys spp.) is a non-native species can cause major disputes between neighbors if it crosses property lines. This talk will focus on identifying running bamboo, discuss its growth habits, and examine different methods of control.

• LANDSCAPE

Diseases of Landscape Plants. Victoria L. Smith (203) 974-8474  Victoria.Smith@ct.gov
Dr. Smith has extensively studied the biology and epidemiology of dogwood anthracnose. She also has documented the spread of crown rot of hemlock through a commercial plantation. She has documented the occurrence in Connecticut of a previously-unknown Christmas tree disease and a canker disease of Japanese maple. Working with professional nurserymen, she is improving the production of container-grown azaleas and rhododendrons.

• MOSQUITOES AND BITING FLIES

Epidemiology of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Connecticut. Theodore G. Andreadis (203) 974-8440  Theodore.Andreadis@ct.gov
Reviews history of outbreaks and current information on vector mosquitoes, bird reservoirs and transmission cycles.

Microsporidian Parasites of Mosquitoes. Theodore G. Andreadis (203) 974-8440  Theodore.Andreadis@ct.gov
Review of life cycles, ultrastructure, pathology and natural epizootiology.

Biology of Mosquitoes. Theodore G. Andreadis (203) 974-8440  Theodore.Andreadis@ct.gov
Review of life histories and biology of common species in Connecticut.

• MULCHES AND COMPOST

Mulches for the Home Garden. Abigail A. Maynard (203) 974-8516 Abigail.Maynard@ct.govProper selection of mulches to warm the soil (plastic) or cool the soil (hay, grass, leaves) will improve yields of heat tolerant vegetables or heat intolerant vegetables.

How to Compost. Abigail A. Maynard (203) 974-8516  Abigail.Maynard@ct.gov
General guidelines and helpful hints for both the backyard and the large scale composter.

Utilization of Compost in the Garden. Abigail A. Maynard (203) 974-8516  Abigail.Maynard@ct.gov
Different uses for compost in the garden, how compost affects the soil and the surrounding environment, how different vegetables respond to compost applications, what are the best combinations of fertilizer and compost to obtain optimum yields.

Seventy Years of Research on Waste Composting and Utilization at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Abigail A. Maynard (203) 974-8516  Abigail.Maynard@ct.gov
How projects at an agricultural experiment station have uncovered practical methods for composters and users of compost, what the key areas are today.

Composting. Gregory J. Bugbee (203) 974-8512  Gregory.Bugbee@ct.gov
Much of our organic waste stream can be composted and recycled as a soil amendment. Proper composting will create a better compost in a shorter period of time. Composting techniques and uses for the compost are discussed.

Compost for Nursery Crops. Gregory J. Bugbee (203) 974-8512  Gregory.Bugbee@ct.gov
Compost can reduce production costs by replacing potting media amendments such as peat and bark. Large quantities of leaf and biosolids compost are currently available. This talk reviews station research on compost utilization by nurseries.

Backyard Composting. Yonghao Li (203) 974-8565 Yonghao.Li@ct.gov
Adding compost to gardens each planting season can protect soil structure, feed the soil with nutrients, and promote soil microbes. This talk will discuss how to make compost with kitchen wastes, fallen leaves, and lawn clippings in backyards.

• PLANTS

Plant Parts and Their Diseases.  Wade H. Elmer (203) 974-8503  Wade.Elmer@ct.gov
An exercise designed for K to 3 children to teach different parts of a plant, basic functions of each part, and to show than tiny “germs” can cause plant diseases.  The exercise concludes with a lab where the children eat the plant parts with ranch dressing.

• PLANT DISEASES

Asparagus Culture and Diseases. Wade H. Elmer (203) 974-8503  Wade.Elmer@ct.gov
Dr. Elmer will address the cultural conditions required to grow asparagus in Connecticut. Asparagus is vulnerable to a destructive disease called Fusarium crown and root rot. Dr. Elmer will talk about the recent strategies designed to suppress this disease.

Sudden Vegetation Dieback. Wade H. Elmer (203) 974-8503  Wade.Elmer@ct.gov
Sudden Vegetation Dieback (SVD) started to appear along Connecticut’s Long Island Sound in 1999, but was not fully recognized until 2002.  Although the causes are unknown, stress and plant pathogens have been implicated as factors that may contribute to SVD.  In this presentation, Dr. Elmer will address the different pathogens found in Connecticut’s salt marshes and will discuss their relative importance to SVD.  

Airborne Spread of Plant Diseases. Donald E. Aylor (203) 974-8528  Donald.Aylor@ct.govThe biophysics of aerial dispersal of plant pathogenic fungus spores will be discussed. Application of principles will be illustrated with examples including the dispersal of the downy mildew fungus which causes blue mold on tobacco and the fungus which causes apple scab.

Minimizing the Effect of Plant Disease on Yield of Tomatoes. Francis J. Ferrandino (203) 974-8504  Francis.Ferrandino@ct.govThe use of resistant cultivars is very important in reducing the risk of yield-loss due to most soil-borne pathogens. Proper sanitation, crop rotation and cultural practices reduce the risk of plant damage due to foliar pathogens. Emphasis is placed on proper pruning and plant spacing to maintain good air drainage and watering from below to minimize leaf wetness.

Verticillium Wilt on Eggplant. Francis J. Ferrandino (203) 974-8504 Francis.Ferrandino@ct.govAlthough no cultivars of eggplant are truly resistant to this disease, yield trials conducted in Connecticut over the past 10 years indicate that a number of cultivars maintain satisfactory yields even when affected by this wilt disease. The use of black plastic as a mulch and proper fertilization can also be beneficial in reducing the effects of this disease.

Biology and Ecology of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes. James A. LaMondia* (860) 683-4982  James.LaMondia@ct.gov
Nematodes are microscopic worms which can cause plant disease in roots and shoots of important plants.

Pathogens Which Cause Plant Disease. James A. LaMondia* (860) 683-4982  James.LaMondia@ct.gov
Fungi, nematodes, bacteria and viruses can all cause disease in plants. Examples of these diseases and the biology of the pathogens is discussed.

Nematode Diseases of Herbaceous Perennial Ornamentals. James A. LaMondia* (860) 683-4982  Jame.LaMondia@ct.gov
A large number of ornamental species are attacked by root-knot or foliar nematodes. The biology, identification, and control of these pathogens is important in nursery and landscape settings.

Fungicide Resistance and Plant Disease. James A. LaMondia* (860) 683-4982  James.LaMondia@ct.gov
The continued use of site-specific fungicides can select pathogenic fungi which are insensitive to these fungicides. Examples of fungicide resistance problems and ways to manage resistance are described.

Principles of Plant Disease Management. Yonghao Li (203) 974-8565 Yonghao.Li@ct.gov

This discussion will cover basic concepts of plant disease including causal agents, disease diagnostics, disease development, and integrated pest management that are important to manage plant disease problems in vegetable gardens, greenhouse production, and landscapes.

Common Diseases of Tomato and Pepper. Yonghao Li (203) 974-8565 Yonghao.Li@ct.gov

This talk will discuss common diseases of tomatoes and peppers including their causal agents, symptoms, diagnostic features, disease development, and environmentally-friendly control strategies.

Nine Important Plant Diseases of Eastern North America. Robert Marra (203) 974-8508 Robert.Marra@ct.gov
A 1-½ hour discussion of the history, diagnostics, and biology of each of the nine diseases that have been, continue to be, or may be of significance in our region: Beech Bark Disease, Ramorum Blight, Oak Wilt, Bacterial Leaf Scorch, Thousand Canker Disease, Chrysanthemum White Rust, Boxwood Plight, Plum Pox Virus, and Ash/Elm Yellows. This lecture should be suitable for First Detector Training programs.  [Note: This presentation can be scaled down to fit within a smaller time frame by discussing a subset of these diseases.]

Common Diseases of Perennials. Yonghao Li (203) 974-8565 Yonghao.Li@ct.gov

Diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, and phytoplasmas can be occasional problems in perennial gardens. This presentation will discuss common disease problems in perennials by emphasizing disease identification and strategies for disease prevention.

Managing Diseases of Tomatoes in Greenhouses and High Tunnels. Yonghao Li (203) 974-8565 Yonghao.Li@ct.gov
Producing tomatoes in greenhouses and high tunnels provides opportunities to extend and expand the markets over growing tomatoes in traditional, outdoor fields. The protected environment of greenhouse and high tunnel production pose unique challenges for disease prevention and management. This presentation will discuss how common diseases are affected by greenhouse and high tunnel environments and will review strategies for managing these problems.

Fire blight: how can I put out the fire when my apple trees look burned? Quan Zeng (203) 974-8613 Quan.Zeng@ct.gov 
Fire blight is one of the most devastating diseases of apples and pears. This presentation will cover the history of fire blight, symptoms and diagnostics, disease mechanisms, control strategies, and challenges in disease management.

Five common diseases of apple in New England. Quan Zeng (203) 974-8613 Quan.Zeng@ct.gov 
Apples are important specialty crops in New England.  This presentation will cover common diseases of apple in New England orchards and backyard gardens, from the aspects of disease symptoms, diagnostics, and management.

An emerging disease of golf courses: bacterial decline and etiolation. Quan Zeng (203) 974-8613 Quan.Zeng@ct.gov
Recently, a decline and etiolation disease caused by a bacterial pathogen Acidovorax avenae has been associated with severe damage of creeping bentgrass putting greens in the United States.  This presentation will cover the symptoms, diagnostics, mechanisms, and management of this disease.

Apple story (for K-6 children). Quan Zeng (203) 974-8613 Quan.Zeng@ct.gov
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. But how are apples produced? I will bring apple flowers, immature apple fruits, and regular apples and tell the kids a story about how an apple tree produces apples. Lots of questions and discussions during the session. Other activities also include coloring and tasting of 5 different apples at the end. Presentation only available in May and need appointment.

Common Diseases and Their Management in the Home Orchard. Yonghao Li (203) 974-8565 Yonghao.Li@ct.gov
An integrated pest management approach is important and necessary to manage plant diseases and ensure crop yield and quality. This talk will discuss symptoms, disease development and control measures including proper cultural practices, resistant varieties, sanitation, and fungicides in the home orchard.

Important and Common Disease Problems in the Industry. Yonghao Li (203) 974-8565 Yonghao.Li@ct.gov
Many growers and professionals are trying to solve disease problems by spending a large amount of money in fungicide applications in nurseries and landscapes. This talk will update common diseases of woody and herbaceous ornamentals and discuss more effective, economic, and environmentally-friendly disease management strategies.

Microorganisms and Plants (for middle school students). Yonghao Li (203) 974-8565 Yonghao.Li@ct.gov
Microorganisms are living organisms that exist in soil, water and air, but they are often too small to be seen. Some microorganisms are beneficial, but some others are harmful. Plants can be attacked by harmful microorganism, which results in diseases. This lecture will give an introduction to plants, microorganisms, and their interactions across ecosystems.

• PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND GROWTH
  

Plant Genetic Resistance-An Important Piece of Integrated Pest Management Lindsay R. Triplett (203) 974-8611 Lindsay.Triplett@ct.gov
Plant genetic resistance is one of the most important tools we have in fighting disease and insects. What does it really mean for a plant variety to be “resistant” to a disease or insect? How are new resistant plants bred (or engineered) and brought to the field? Why do some types of resistance fail after a few years, and others last a long time? Finally, what management strategies could be employed to make resistance genes more durable and effective?

• TICKS

Lyme Disease and Tick Control. Kirby C. Stafford III (203) 974-8485  Kirby.Stafford@ct.govThis talk covers the epidemiology of Lyme disease, the biology of the tick vector, the basic symptoms of Lyme disease, and tick bite prevention and tick control. The content of each talk is customized to the audience and time available.

Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Associated Diseases. Kirby C. Stafford III (203) 974-8485 Kirby.Stafford@ct.gov
This talk covers the three disease agents that cause Lyme disease, human babesiosis, and human ehrlichiosis which are transmitted by the "deer" tick, Ixodes scapularis.

Ticks and Tick-Associated Diseases. Goudarz Molaei(203) 974-8487  Goudarz.Molaei@ct.gov
Review of tick life cycle; tick species; saptiotemporal dynamics of tick infection with disease agents (Lyme disease spirochete, Babesia parasite, Anaplasma bacterium and Powassan virus) in Connecticut; CAES Tick Testing Program

• TREES

Importance of Trees. Jeffrey S. Ward (203) 974-8495  Jeffrey.Ward@ct.gov
A general talk for school children about the importance of trees for clean air, water, wildlife, and as a renewable resource.

A History of Connecticut’s Forest. Jeffrey S. Ward (203) 974-8495  Jeffrey.Ward@ct.gov
Covers the four major epochs of Connecticut’s forest since the early 1600s.

Tree Care: A Homeowner’s Guide. Jeffrey S. Ward (203) 974-8495  Jeffrey.Ward@ct.gov
Guidelines of how to plant and maintain trees around homes.

Growing Chestnuts. Sandra L. Anagnostakis (203) 974-8498  Sandra.Anagnostakis@ct.gov
Chestnut trees can be easily grown in Connecticut, and the nuts collected and sold. This talk discusses which cultivars do best here, how to grow them, and the problems encountered by chestnut growers with pests and pathogens. Marketing strategies and suggestions for contacts with other growers are also given.

Chestnut Blight Disease in our Forests. Sandra L. Anagnostakis (203) 974-8498  Sandra.Anagnostakis@ct.gov
The chestnut blight fungus came into this country in the late 1800's on Japanese chestnuts, and reduced our native chestnuts to understory shrubs that sprout, become infected, die, and sprout again. I am working on a biological control for this disease, and breeding chestnuts for resistance.

Chestnuts in the 21st Century. Sandra L. Anagnostakis (203) 974-8498  Sandra.Anagnostakis@ct.gov
Chestnut breeding has been done at The Experiment Station since the 1930's, and the program is now focusing on producing timber and orchard trees with resistance to chestnut blight disease and chestnut gall wasp.

Tree Diseases and Their Management. Yonghao Li (203) 974-8565 Yonghao.Li@ct.gov  
A wide variety of diseases can damage trees and reduce their aesthetic and economic values. This talk discusses common tree diseases including their symptoms, pathogens, development, and management.

Tree Diseases You Should Know About. Robert Marra (203) 974-8508 Robert.Marra@ct.gov

This presentation will introduce the study and principles of plant pathology in the context of three historically important tree diseases: chestnut blight, beech bark disease, and Dutch elm disease. 

Tree Diseases New to New England (and worth knowing about). Robert Marra (203) 974-8508 Robert.Marra@ct.gov
This presentation will discuss tree diseases that have the potential to threaten New England forests, both urban and natural. These include Phytophthora ramorum, the fungus-like “Sudden Oak Death” pathogen that has been ravaging forests of the western United States for over 20 years; Bretziella (formerly Ceratocystis) fagacearum, the oak-wilt fungus that has caused widespread loss of oaks in Texas, the Midwest, and southeast, and which has recently turned up in New York state; and Xylella fastidiosa, the xylem-limited bacterium responsible for bacterial leaf scorch on a variety of deciduous hosts, particularly oaks, from Texas to New Jersey. In each case, we will discuss the symptoms, the means of dispersal and spread, and, if applicable, the prognosis for treatment. If time permits, I will also touch on diseases that may not be new to New England, but which are increasing in severity, such as Caliciopsis canker, and “white pine needle disease complex.”

Climate Change and Forest Health. Robert Marra (203) 974-8508 Robert.Marra@ct.gov

The impact of climate change on forest health has two principle components. First, changes in weather patterns, which include longer periods of drought punctuated by heavier rain events, put trees under greater stress, leaving them more susceptible to pests and disease. Second, warmer average temperatures will increase the likelihood of the establishment of new pests and pathogens to which our native flora are currently naïve.  The synergistic effects of these two factors poses a critical threat to our forests and landscapes.

Drought: Impact on Trees and Implications for Management. Robert Marra (203) 974-8508 Robert.Marra@ct.gov

This presentation will begin with a discussion of changes in our regional weather patterns that have increased the intensity and duration of periods of drought. We will then discuss how drought impacts trees in both the short-term and long-term, focusing on how a tree’s physiology responds to drought, and how drought can increase the likelihood and severity of disease. We’ll conclude with a discussion about how best management practices can mitigate the effects of drought.  

Tropical Storms, Hurricanes, and SuperStorms:  Impacts and Influences on Tree Diseases. Robert Marra (203) 974-8508 Robert.Marra@ct.gov

Using lessons learned from distant (1938) and more recent (Tropical Storm Irene and Hurricane Sandy) weather events, this presentation will introduce tropical storms and how we define them, as well as the proximal and distal effects of storms that pose the greatest risks to trees, and how these effects can facilitate and exacerbate tree diseases.

Bonsai Tree Disease Management. Yonghao Li (203) 974-8565 Yonghao.Li@ct.gov  
What’s wrong with my bonsai tree? How can I avoid this problem again in the future? Correct diagnosis is the first step to effective disease management. This presentation will discuss how to correctly diagnose bonsai tree diseases and develop effective strategies for their control.

Tree and Shrub Identification. Jeffrey S. Ward (203) 974-8495  Jeffrey.Ward@ct.gov

The talk will cover identification of common Connecticut trees and shrubs. Learn how to use leaves, buds, and bark to identify species.

Every Tree has its Place – or – Planting the Right Tree in the Right Place. Jeffrey S. Ward (203) 974-8495  Jeffrey.Ward@ct.gov

Trees provide the shade that cools our homes, a framework for our gardens, and the Connecticut sense of place. Learn how proper species selection can maximize the benefits and minimize the problems of street trees in our town forests and homes. The talk include tips for planting new trees and shrubs, general tree care, and how to spot potential problems on your property.

Roadside Forest Management – Tree-by-Tree. Jeffrey S. Ward (203) 974-8495  Jeffrey.Ward@ct.gov

Each year, severe weather results in extended power outages and billions of dollars in property, infrastructure, and interior forest damage. Developing healthy, storm resistant forests requires adaptive management that integrates silvicultural and arboricultural practices from the forest edge to the interior that preserves aesthetic appeal and biodiversity.

Identificación de Árboles y Arbustos. Jeffrey S. Ward (203) 974-8495  Jeffrey.Ward@ct.gov

La plática será una introducción a la identificación de árboles y arbustos que son comunes en Connecticut. Aprenderá como usar las hojas, yemas y la corteza para distinguir entre varias especies de plantas leñosas.

Poda de árboles y arbustos. Jeffrey S. Ward (203) 974-8495  Jeffrey.Ward@ct.gov

La plática será una introducción de la ciencia y el arte de podar árboles y arbustos que son comunes en Connecticut. Aprenderá las razones para podar y las técnicas para logar sus objetivas.

Cómo sembrar árboles. Jeffrey S. Ward (203) 974-8495  Jeffrey.Ward@ct.gov

La plática será una introducción de la ciencia y el arte de podar árboles y arbustos que son comunes en Connecticut. Aprenderá las razones para podar y las técnicas para logar sus objetivos.

• TURF, LAWNS, AND GRASSES

Lawn Care. Gregory J. Bugbee (203) 974-8512  Gregory.Bugbee@ct.gov
Large acreage’s of Connecticut are devoted to lawns. Knowing the proper methods for caring for lawns results in better grass. In many instances use of fertilizers and pesticides can be reduced. Proper fertilizing, weed control, disease prevention, mowing, watering and seeding techniques are discussed.

Best Management Practice's for Your Healthy Lawn. Yonghao Li  (203) 974-8565 Yonghao.Li@ct.gov
To obtain optimum performance from your lawn, it is important to adopt the best management practices. Topics in this presentation include site preparation, seed mix selection, lawn establishment, mowing, fertilization, irrigation, and pest management.

• VEGETABLES

Unusual Garden Vegetables. Abigail A. Maynard (203) 974-8516 Abigail.Maynard@ct.gov
Growing globe artichokes, Belgian endive, radicchio, specialty melons, and Chinese vegetables.

Improve Crops Yields Through Cultivar Selection. Abigail A. Maynard (203) 974-8490 Abigail.Maynard@ct.gov
Yields of broccoli, cauliflower, onions, pumpkins, lettuce, and supersweet corn can be improved by proper cultivar selection and management techniques. 

Vegetable Diseases: Yonghao Li (203) 974-8565 Yonghao.Li@ct.gov This talk covers common disease problems of vegetables and their control for home gardening and commercial production.

• WEEDS

Weed Control in Lakes and Ponds. Gregory J. Bugbee (203) 974-8512  Gregory.Bugbee@ct.gov
Many ponds and lakes become unsightly and unusable because of buildups in weeds and algae. Alleviating these problems may involve reducing nutrients inputs, chemical ,or biological controls, harvesting, dredging, or other techniques.

• OTHER

Introduction to Rocks and Minerals. Charles R. Vossbrinck (203) 974-8522  Charles.Vossbrinck@ct.gov
A talk with examples about rocks and minerals for grammar school children.

Microsporidia, Their Phylogeny, and Those Which Opportunistically Infect AIDS Patients. Charles R. Vossbrinck (203) 974-8522  Charles.Vossbrinck@ct.gov
About the single celled protozoa called Microsporidia, their biology, phylogeny and those which infect immuno-compromized persons due to the AIDS epidemic.

Biological Illustration. Gale E. Ridge (203) 974-8478 Gale.Ridge@ct.gov
A history of biological illustration and a presentation of modern illustration techniques.

The Rice That Helped America Grow Lindsay R. Triplett (203) 974-8611 Lindsay.Triplett@ct.gov

A variety of rice named Carolina Gold was the first food product that America exported to Europe, and helped the coastal colonies achieve economic independence. Learn the legend of how this rice came to America, how West African ingenuity helped it thrive and become a local and international delicacy, and how it was almost lost forever before being revived by backyard enthusiasts in the past few years.

Careers in Agricultural Science- They’re Not Just for Farmers (can be aimed at Jr HS thru early college students) Lindsay R. Triplett  (203) 974-8611 Lindsay.Triplett@ct.gov

Do you have STEM students who don’t want to choose between “making a difference” and making enough to support a family?  USA Today named Agriculture and Natural Resources one of the top 5 highest-earning degrees of 2015. This talk will discuss the different career paths in the agricultural sciences, the most sought-after skills and majors, and online resources for learning more.

Nanoparticles and Their Potential in Agriculture.  Wade H. Elmer (203) 974-8503  Wade.Elmer@ct.gov

Any particle is smaller than 100 nm is defined as a nanoparticle (NP).  Dr. Elmer will discuss how NP of metallic oxides of Cu, Mn and Zn behave differently  from their bulked or salt equivalent  when sprayed onto plants.