Manny the Monarch Heads South

Daniel Trudeau is a Wave Hill Environmental Educator.

Each fall, millions of Monarch butterflies—the entire North American population—migrate from the United States and Canada south to wintering grounds in central Mexico. This year, a Wave Hill resident is taking part in the journey. For several weeks this fall, the education staff raised Monarch pupae in cages in an attempt to raise a successful contingent of adult butterflies to send southward.

Manny in all his glory!

The pupae—voracious striped caterpillars—arrived from a scientific research company in mid-September. For several weeks, we fed them milkweed from the Wave Hill grounds and watched them grow large on the feast. Unfortunately, one by one these 18 caterpillars died off, with one notable exception. In early October, our last remaining pupa climbed to the top of his cage, curled his body into the “J” shape synonymous with butterfly metamorphosis and began to create a gorgeous green and gold chrysalis. The pupa remained in this elegant structure for about two weeks before emerging as a full-fledged Monarch. Before we released our lone survivor, we tagged him with a tracking number— MMZ 126 (aka Manny)—and sent the information to be logged online so researchers who encounter the butterfly on his journey can chart his movements.

The annual Monarch migration is a highly celebrated event, but there’s still a great deal we don’t know about the mechanics of the great journey. Monarchs live for a relatively short time: Four generations are born each summer, three of which die before ever beginning the journey south. As a result, the butterflies that have passed through Wave Hill’s gardens in the last month on their way south are the great-great-grandchildren of the Monarchs that left Mexico last spring.

So how do the insects that emerge from the chrysalis in the fall find their way to a place they’ve never seen? And how do Monarchs from all over the continent end up spending the winter in one relatively small area in central Mexico? Even though we don’t completely understand it, it’s exciting to know that our solitary sojourner is taking part in this beautiful, mysterious journey.

SOURCES: Journey North (http://www.learner.org/jnorth/); Monarch Watch (http://www.MonarchWatch.org)

Awash in Warblers!

Daniel Trudeau is a Wave Hill Environmental Educator.

We’re awash in warblers here at Wave Hill. Numerous sightings of Yellow-Rumped Warblers have been among the highlights of our recent bird-watching walks with elementary school students.

These frantic little guys have been going crazy over the plentiful seeds and berries here at Wave Hill for the past week. They typically pass through New York State in huge numbers on their annual migration.

We first noticed the brown and yellow birds thrashing noisily in the bayberry shrubs outside Wave Hill House, and we’ve been seeing them all around the grounds ever since.

The Yellow-Rumped Warbler’s telltale field marking is – not surprisingly – a yellow splash of color on the tail that seems to flash at you as the bird flies away, earning them the nickname, “butter-butt.” Yellow markings on the chest near the wing and on top of the head are also key identifying features.

This fine images comes courtesy of Alan D. Wilson at www.naturepicsonline.com.

When these warblers pass through again next spring, they’ll be sporting different plumage – a classier gray, black and white outfit. But like many migratory species, they don’t stay in one place for long at this time of year. Come out and see them before it’s too late!

Tree Beauties Await Adoption!

Laurel Rimmer is Wave Hill’s Assistant Director of Public Programs. 

Wave Hill is pleased to cosponsor a fall Tree Give-away with MillionTreesNYC Friday and Saturday next week – October 16 and 17 – coming on the heels of our tremendously successful spring 2009 give-away: All 100 trees left Wave Hill for new homes in less than 2 hours! This year, we will distribute 75 trees on Friday and 75 trees on Saturday, so everyone should have a chance to adopt a tree and take it home.

The trees arrived today on a large tractor trailer from Willoway Nurseries in Avon, Ohio.  And what beauties! Our staff pitched in to unload the trees and stage them in our Visitor Parking Lot. Working with the Forestry Manager from the New York Restoration Project, we accepted six different species of various sizes and cultural requirements, and we’ll be on hand to assist visitors in selecting the appropriate tree for their particular conditions. The trees we have are:

Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak) – a large, slow-growing oak, it may eventually reach 80 feet tall and wide. This wide-spreading tree should be planted where it has room to grow. The twigs have interesting, corky ridges and the acorns sit in a feathery cap, reminiscent of a little bird’s nest. The leaves have rounded lobes. Plant this exceptional tree for future generations!  

Tilia cordata (littleleaf linden) – This large shade tree grows over 80 feet tall. It typically has a conical shape when young, and then develops an oval outline as it ages.  It is very tolerant of urban conditions. See gorgeous mature trees in front of Wave Hill House.

Maakia amurense (Amur maackia) –  Seldom seen in the landscape (and rarely available in nurseries) Amur maackia is a medium-sized tree with handsome, compound leaves. White flowers in upright clusters appear in June and July. The bark exfoliates in curls, adding to the year-round interest. Maackia has a slow rate of growth and is tolerant of difficult sites once it is established.  

Cercis canadensis (eastern  redbud) – The showy pink flowers of this small tree often cover the branches in early spring before the foliage appears. It adapts to full sun or light shade and grows fairly quickly.

Magnolia ‘Butterflies’ (yellow-flowering magnolia) – This choice small magnolia has beautiful, fragrant flowers that appear before the leaves in early to mid spring. ‘Butterflies’ has an upright form and grows to about 20 feet tall.

Malus ‘Prairifire’ (Crabapple cultivar) – A four-season wonder! This small tree features pinkish-red spring flowers; purple-red fruits mature in the fall and persist into the winter. The reddish-tinged leaves turn orangey in the fall. It is highly resistant to disease.

Youth Voices!

Director of Education & Public Program Courtney White provided this posting.

Today I leave for the national Youth Voices Conference 2009 in Minneapolis, MN.  It was most exciting to get a surprise invitation from the Conference organizers, an all-expense paid invitation to accompany two Wave Hill Forest Project Summer Collaborative interns to the event, which takes place this weekend.  Andrea Alfano and Yolanda Vega are both Forest Project alumni and are from Bronx high schools.  They will present information about Wave Hill’s Forest Project program and will share their personal experiences.  They will also learn about other youth development programs around the country that focus on the environment, and will provide feedback and recommendations. 

Other presenters include the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Minneapolis, MN; the Chicago Botanical Garden, Chicago, IL; and the Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland, OH.  The creative presentations by teams of young people like Andrea and Yolanda will be a highlight of the two-day event.  For more information about the conference, go to its website.

Anticipating A New Workshop Exhibition!

Leigh Ross, Assistant Curator at Wave Hill’s Glyndor Gallery, provided this posting.

Last winter, our Visual Arts and Education Departments collaborated to present Wave Hill’s first-ever public-program participants’ exhibition, Naturally Inspired. Displayed in Wave Hill House, it featured a truly exceptional selection of paintings, works on paper, photography and Family Art Project creations. I thought the show was a great success. I was fascinated to see the unique and intimate view of Wave Hill evident in each piece, and impressed to see how, cumulatively, they spoke to the richness of Wave Hill’s landscape and the variety of techniques taught in our workshops. Carol Mangis, one of the artist’s featured in Naturally Inspired, had this to say about her experience:  “The photography workshop I took two winters ago with Benjamin Swett was truly helpful to me, as an amateur shooter, and I was really happy with some of the photos that resulted. So when Wave Hill called for submissions for the workshop show last year, I was thrilled; even more so when they accepted one of my pictures for the show. Wave Hill means a lot to me. It was an honor to have my photo displayed at one of my favorite places in the world, and an inspiration to view the work of other participants. “

Carol Mangis' photograph from last year's exhibition. Submissions for this year's exhibition are due October 8.

This year we plan to reprise the public-program participants’ exhibition with Illuminating Nature, scheduled to be up November 27, 2009–February 28, 2010. Paula Morvay, Wave Hill’s Nature and Art Programs Manager, has set a deadline of Thursday, October 8, 2009, for the Call for Submissions. This is intended only for current and previous participants of Wave Hill art workshops and the Artists’ Circle Program and for artwork not previously exhibited at Wave Hill. For basic questions, please contact me, Leigh Ross, at 718.549.3200 x397, or leighr@wavehill.org.

Birds Sing in a Tiny Village Among the Evergreens

It’s never too late to share our connections with nature!  This posting from Courtney White, Director of Education & Public Programs, dates from late July.

Early Tuesday morning, I ran into Nancy Talley, a Wave Hill gardener who has done an amazing job on the Conifer Slope, near the Sally and Gilbert Kerlin Learning Center. With a big smile, she shared that she had just come from looking at the work in the woods done by the Family Art Project children at our weekend workshop, A Tiny Village Among Trees. I immediately knew that I needed to head that way before starting the day.

I turned the corner of Wave Hill House to find a Red Admiral butterfly’s beautiful colors standing out in the mist. It fluttered away into the woodland path, and I followed. Determined to find the tiny dwellings, I soon forgot about the butterfly and all of a sudden an American Robin began to call from above. It was not the typical “cheerup, cheerily, cheerily”; instead it was much more demanding, as if wanting all of my attention. I thought to myself that I must be near a nest and should move on to find the children’s work.

I moved, and the Robin moved. I moved again, and the Robin moved again. Finally, I stopped and gave my full attention to the sounds above me, “cheerup, cheerily, cheerily,” “feebee, feebee”, “what-cheer, what-cheer, what-cheer”, “tee-shaay.” Right above my head on the same tree branch, as content as could be, sat the American Robin, along with a Northern Cardinal, a Black-capped Chickadee and a Sparrow. I had never seen such a thing and watched with delight. In time, each flew away. Standing in awe, I looked back down to the ground, only to discover that I was standing among the children’s most amazing work—small twigs supporting a dried evergreen roof, a hammock perhaps for a newborn mouse, itsy ladders to the lowest branches, bitty beds for ants, centipedes or spiders, and so much more.

As I walked away, reflecting on the beauty of the children’s creativity and imagination, I thought how these birds must have enjoyed all the excitement, too. I was glad to see this special place with the birds. I walked back up the hill…and the Red Admiral returned to follow.

Safe Landing!

Anne Hunter,  Wave Hill’s Forest Project Manager, provided this post. The Forest Project Summer Collaborative is a paid ecological-restoration internship for teens.

This week, the fabulous arborists from Riverdale Tree Service who maintain our magnificent tree collection—Gerry and Sal—rescued five, two-month-old baby squirrels. The youngsters had been living in the spectacular, but hollow, Linden tree (Tilia americana) outside Wave Hill House. This stunning, approximately 110-year-old tree had become hazardous, and sadly had to be removed from the grounds. Gerry and Sal discovered the squirrels after the babies had taken a traumatizing ride to the ground when the main trunk was felled. With no mama in sight, they carefully placed the youngsters in a box lined with woodchips and leaves.

Wave Hill Education and Visitor Services staff jumped into action to care for the homeless young squirrels, sheltering them until a wildlife veterinarian could be contacted. By the end of the day, the squirrels were safely transported for care. They will be weaned, and then placed in an outdoor nest for a “soft release.”

Wave Hill School Programs Manager Armina Del Toro offers safe transit

Do not attempt to raise or keep wildlife. Seemingly abandoned young birds and mammals may be retrieved by parents—give them a chance to do so while keeping dogs and cats away. Wild animals should only be confined as long as they need assistance, and then properly released. If you do find an injured or orphaned animal, it is important to contact a legal wildlife specialist as soon as possible.

Seeing young squirrels up close was an amazing, unforgettable educational experience!

How about that Silver-spotted Skipper!

Courtney White is Director of Education & Public Programs at Wave Hill.

I was so happy to come across this blog by an enterprising 12-year-old from Bayside, Queens, who recently visited Wave Hill. Take a look at her posting about Wave Hill.  This message is for her:

Hey Allie,

I work at Wave Hill and am the Director of Education and Public Programs. What a COOL site – - yellow makes me happy. Your photography is excellent.

It looks like you caught a glimpse of a Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus in Latin). There is only one generation each year of these butterflies. They camouflage well because of their colors, so good for you for getting it in your shot.

Glad you found Wave Hill to be so beautiful! You might want to come to one of our birding programs. Come back soon!

Best to you,
Courtney White

Ponds and Plants

This post was authored by Wave Hill Gardener Harnek Singh. Harnek tends the Shade Border, Monocot and Aquatic Gardens.

The Aquatic Garden at Wave Hill, despite its slow start on account of cooler weather in early summer, could not be more spectacular than right now. In our pond the numerous cultivars of hardy and tropical water lilies are beautifully intermingled with bold leaf plants like taros or elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta), water lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) and red-stemmed arrowheads (Sagittaria species). Tall plants like papyrus, cattails and water canna take the beauty of our pond to the new heights.

While you are there don’t forget to look for the small, diamond-shaped red and green leaves of mosaic plant (Ludwigia sedioides), which grow in clusters and float on the water on the west side of the pond. And, of course, you have to say hi to our friends, big fish Finny and the frogs Hoppy and Hopper.

After a gentle walk around the pond, you might find a hidden bench under the surrounding shady pergolas to rest and dream your heart away!

Harnek's portrait of an elegant elephant ear in the Aquatic Garden

The water lotus, as captured recently by Harnek

On the Air with John Schaefer of WNYC’s Soundcheck

Andrew Appel is Wave Hill’s Performing Arts Programmer. He and pianist Vassily Primakov spoke with John Schaefer, host of WNYC program Soundcheck, about the Hudson River Historic Concerts series, part of Wave Hill’s celebration of the Hudson River Quadricentennial during the fall of 2009. The interview took place in WNYC’s studios at the beginning of September.

There is only one thing I love more than talking, to many people about things I adore, and that thing is listening to a marvel of a pianist play Chopin.  Our trip to the WNYC studios this afternoon was pure delight. 

John Schaefer and I were able to tell all of New York about the series of recitals beginning on Sunday, Sept 13, in Armor Hall – great historic recitals, performed originally by the giants of the early 20th century concert stage and recreated by fine artists of today.  And then Vassily Primakov made it all come to life with two, almost unbearably beautiful mazurkas of Chopin played with full poetry.  And to think that we can all soon spend a Sunday afternoon listening to Vassily play Chopin masterpieces looking over the Hudson and Wave Hill’s gardens!  I guess I love that the best. In the meantime, enjoy the podcast.

John Schaefer is front and center in this snapshot, Vassily at far right, myself far left.