by Chris Earley

All of these Arboretum inhabitants have the word "blue" in their names. Can you figure them all out? A printable version is available by clicking here. The answers are at the bottom of the newsletter.

Winter at The Arboretum brings about time to do more projects that have an indoor component to them in preparation for the warmer growing months that are coming. Staff are busy working on projects such as interpretive signage and plant labels. There are still outdoor tasks to look after such as pruning and depending on what weather brings our way our grounds staff have snow to clear. This past weekend certainly brought snow which kept them busy outside on Monday morning. The snow also turned the grounds into a gorgeous winter wonderland with the white blanket over everything. This week is a great opportunity visit The Arboretum - you can cross-country ski, snowshoe, practice your animal tracking, take some photographs, do some birdwatching or just go for a leisurely hike.

Winter is a great time for staff to prepare for upcoming workshops. Polly will be preparing for the Pruning Workshop that she is teaching here on March 15. There is still some space available if you are interested in attending.  https://www.uoguelph.ca/arboretum/educationandevents/workshops

If you enjoy photography but would like to learn more, please join us for our Introduction to D-SLR Photography Workshop on February 24 and March 3. This is a two day (half days) workshop so you will have the opportunity to go home and practice what you learn the first week and come back for a second week of learning in which you can ask any questions that might come up. Register by February 16 to receive the early bird price. https://www.uoguelph.ca/arboretum/educationandevents/register

Our Interpretive Biologist, Chris Earley was the invited speaker for Nature Guelph last week. There was a great turnout for it here at The Arboretum Centre. His talk was entitled "Weird Naturalist: Encounters with the World's Wildlife."

Family Day is this coming weekend. The grounds will be open all weekend. We hope you get the opportunity to come out and enjoy them with your family!

by Shelley Hunt

This time of year, with a thick blanket of snow on the ground, all seems silent and still in the woods. Of course there are signs of life – chickadee calls and squirrel tracks are proof of the toughness and adaptability of the wildlife that sticks around, surviving and thriving in the cold. But without leaves on the trees and flowers in bloom it can seem that nature is on a bit of a break. This can be a good time to turn our attention to a more subtle, even invisible part of the ecosystem – where we find a living community of creatures so abundant and diverse that it rivals or exceeds what we see aboveground. We walk all over this secret world every day with barely a thought – it’s the soil, teeming with microbes and tiny invertebrates.

While the soil ‘fauna’ (springtails, nematodes, mites, and lots of others) play a role here, it is the microbes – the bacteria and fungi – that are the heavy lifters when it comes to tasks like breaking down plant litter (dead leaves, branches, etc.) and recycling nutrients. Think about it – without them, fallen autumn leaves would build up over the years until we were buried, locking up nutrients in the process and depriving plants of the nitrogen that can be so hard to come by in many ecosystems on land. And there’s more to this world than just decomposition. Wonder where all of that vital nitrogen comes from? Yes, the atmosphere is full of it (the air we breathe is 78% nitrogen gas), but not in a form that plants can use…in nature, only microbes (and the occasional lighting strike) can ‘fix’ this nitrogen into plant-friendly form. We might be familiar with ‘nitrogen-fixing plants’ like peas and beans, but this is not giving due credit to the bacterial tenants of the roots of these plants – it is the little guy doing all the work (in exchange for yummy carbohydrates from the plant). And, many nitrogen-fixing bacteria are not mixed up with plant roots, but instead are free-living, innocuously inhabiting the forest floor or a rotting log, yet acting as linchpins in the nitrogen cycle that makes plant growth possible.

These superstars don’t even take a break in winter – we know that at least some soil microbes are active even when temperatures dip below freezing, working away while the trees sleep. And just like the fast and furious new discoveries that researchers are making about the communities of microbes in our own bodies, we are learning more and more about the amazing soil ecosystem. We have long known, for example, that most plants rely on special fungi that bond with roots to create a symbiotic relationship called a mycorrhiza. These fungi help plants access more water and nutrients than they would otherwise be able to, and also help protect against disease and drought. In return, plants lavish the fungi with energy-rich carbohydrates (no Atkins diet here!). But as we delve deeper into the role that the mycorrhizas play, we find that they are a little bit like the wizard behind the curtain – pulling the strings to control what we see aboveground. A recent study by U of Guelph researcher Hafiz Maherali and his colleagues found that mycorrhizal fungi are key drivers of the diversity and arrangement of trees in North American forests. Some types of mycorrhiza make it easier for seedlings to sprout and grow near their parents, while other types make this difficult, leading to more mixing of tree species in a given area. Similar discoveries have been made in tropical forests, where patches of tree monocultures in the otherwise astoundingly diverse forest have puzzled scientists for years – it turns out that mycorrhizas are causing this pattern, and by doing so are helping to structure the forest for all of the other living things that live there.

At The Arboretum, U of Guelph students and faculty have been studying mycorrhizas for more than 20 years in an area of the Nature Reserve designated as a Long-Term Mycorrhizal Research Site. Who knows what we will discover next about the amazing lives of soil microbes – think about this as you walk, snowshoe or ski through The Arboretum this winter…under that blanket of fluffy white stuff is an active living world that has yet to yield all of its secrets.

A printable version of this article is available at: http://www.uoguelph.ca/arboretum/Listservnewsletter/February%202017/Shelley_Soil_Ecosystem_Feb_2017.pdf

by Jason Chan, Interpretive Naturalist Intern

Just last winter, my 21 year old self was conversing with a friend and somehow we got to talking about winter. “I love how it doesn’t rain in the winter” I said, “I much prefer snow over rain”. I paused, much longer than I should have, as the dots connected in my head and I realized that snow is rain in the wintertime! How I was able to not recognize that over twenty-one years of life? I’ll never know.

For some of us, we shudder at the sight of snow on the ground once we get over the original awe and beauty of the first snowfall, for it means shoveling, frozen car doors and cold fingers. For others, snow brings delight as it means tobogganing, busting out the skis and snowboards or animal tracking. But for one particular individual, snow captured his heart. The heart belonged to Wilson Bentley, born on February 7th, 1865 in Jericho, Vermont. Whilst other kids were making snowmen or having snowball fights, Bentley eagerly sought to quench his curiosity about the white fluff that fell from the sky. Such curiosity led him to become the first to ever capture photographs of snowflakes. Each snowstorm had him outside catching snowflakes and developing the perfect photography techniques. He was keen to capture the perfect picture of these ever unique, but ever temporary “tiny miracles of beauty”, as he would call them. He found success in it and released ‘Snow Crystals’, a publication documenting over 2000 of his photographs in 1931. Shortly after, he was found to have pneumonia after walking home in a blizzard and unfortunately passed away at the end of that same year.


Wilson Bentley, the first to capture snowflakes on film.
Source: wikimedia commons

Bentley argued that each snow crystal was unique, that no one snowflake was exactly identical to another. But how does that happen? How did the snowflakes we caught with our tongues as children, or even as adults, begin? It starts with tiny particles of salt, dust, or pollen in the sky that get iced over. As water molecules surround and bond to the iced particle, a snowflake begins to form. The six-sided snowflake shape we all know and recognize is a result of the chemistry of how the oxygen and hydrogen atoms in water bond together. If you would like to learn more about that go to the following website: http://www.doublexscience.org/why-are-snowflakes-always-six-sided/ Although all snowflakes can be categorized into a few main types, each snowflake that falls will vary in shape, size and detail based on the random atmospheric conditions it falls through as they make their way to the tips of our tongues.

Photographs of snowflakes by Wilson Bentley, circa 1902.
Source: google images

But snow isn’t the only thing falling during these chilly months. We’ve all experienced the sleet that slicks the roads and the hail stones that have pelted our face or have been found to shatter the windshields of cars. Did you know that sleet is a result of large water droplets that travel through cold air and freezes on its way down to earth? Additionally, hail is sleet that the wind cycles through the atmosphere over and over again. Each time the pieces of sleet are blown back up into the atmosphere, an additional coat of water freezes over until it becomes too heavy and falls.

As a result, we find ourselves salting our walkways, putting on our winter tires and brushing snow off our cars - which can make winter quite a hassle. But at the same time, the life around us, the animals and the plants, are also affected. The snow that comes every winter has a massive impact on the surrounding environment. It’s costly for some; for example, more energy is required to get around if animals are knee-deep in snow, food sources become limited, and keeping warm can be hard in such brisk and harsh conditions. That is why I always find myself marveling at the little chickadees and juncos that are so well adapted to such harsh weather and climate conditions.

On the other hand, this blanket of white can be advantageous for others. Shrews, voles, insects and dormant plants benefit as they are insulated by the snow. Deer and rabbits find themselves a bit taller from standing on a few inches or feet of snow, which gives them access to twigs and buds they may not have been able to reach during the summertime. All this occurs because of the tiny crystallized water molecules that flutter down from the skies. It’s amazing to think of the tremendous amount of force and effect that snow has on us and the environment.

And so, before we begin to imagine hearing the songs of spring migrants, take a moment to be in simple awe and wonder of the snow that lies before us. The power it yields, but also the beauty falling before you. If you have a magnifying glass or a hand lens, along with a black card or surface to catch snowflakes, you can go snow-watching! Gift yourself with an opportunity to get a good look at something incredibly transient and special, something only you will see.

“Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design; and no one design was ever repeated. When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind. I became possessed with a great desire to show people something of this wonderful loveliness, an ambition to become, in some measure, its preserver.” - Wilson Bentley

Watch a timelapse of a snowflake forming here - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2567685/Birth-SNOWFLAKE-Beautiful-video-reveals-formation-delicate-ice-crystal-microscope.html#v-3248942385001

References:
Stokes, Donald. (1976). Stokes Nature Guides: A Guide to Nature in Winter. Boston: Little, Brown.
Martin, Jacqueline Briggs. (1998). Snowflake Bentley. Boston: Houghton Mifflin

A printable version of this article is available at: http://www.uoguelph.ca/arboretum/Listservnewsletter/February%202017/Snow_By_Jason_Chan_Jan_2017.pdf

I hope everyone had a Happy Valentine's Day! If you or someone you know is lucky enough to have given or received that special ring and proposal and are beginning to plan for that exciting day please be sure to check The Arboretum out for the ceremony and reception. For further information please contact Dawn Ann Webster at 519-824-4120 ext. 54110 or [log in to unmask]. Further information on our unique reception facilities and outdoor ceremony sites can be found on our website.

The Arboretum’s grounds are the perfect setting for group tours. Our knowledgeable docents (trained volunteer guides) give pre-arranged 1 ½ hour tours of The Arboretum’s grounds, gardens, collections and other points of interest. The tours can be focused on the areas that are seasonally appropriate and / or that are of interest to you and your group. Tours should be booked a minimum of 2 weeks in advance. The cost is $5 per person, with a minimum charge of $60. Tours provide an excellent break for a meeting group. For further information on tours or to make a reservation please contact Dawn Ann Webster at [log in to unmask] or 519-824-4120 ext. 54110.

Nature is known to be unpredictable and unexpected, so what awaits us each Wednesday? Jason, the Naturalist Intern, will be leading free walks every Wednesday, through to the end of April. Walks will begin at The Arboretum Kiosk at 12:15 p.m. The kiosk is at the end of The Arboretum closest to campus just past Child Care Services, Alumni House and East Residence (when coming from campus). Please contact x53615 or [log in to unmask] for further information. Click here for a printable pdf of the flyer: http://www.uoguelph.ca/arboretum/Listservnewsletter/January%202017/Wednesday_Afternoon_Walk_Flyer.pdf

Many of you have probably seen our t-shirt that we started selling at the end of November. We now also have a hat available. The hats are made of a moisture wicking, UV protectant, active wear fabric with an elastic buckle and a hidden velcro adjustable size system. They are $28 including tax. The t-shirts are $33 including tax. You can purchase both of them at our offices in The Arboretum Centre during business hours. For further information please contact Barb Watson - Ash at [log in to unmask] or 519-824-4120 ext. 52358.

Introduction to D-SLR Photography and Pruning workshops are approaching. The dates and registration deadlines can be found in our Coming Events listing in the column on the left side of this newsletter. A detailed description of each course is available on our website. Help us promote our programs … please forward this e-mail on to your friends and colleagues who may be interested. The more participants we have, the more programs we can offer.

Registering early is important for us because we need lead time to decide if there are enough people registered to run the workshop or not. To encourage registering before the deadline, we now have an Early Bird Fee. You can still register after the deadline, but it will cost an extra $10, so why not register early?

Registration is available on-line, which allows you to register for our programs at anytime, not just during our regular business hours. A secure link is provided on our website for this easy registration process.

If you do not have internet access, registration can still be made by phone or in person at 519-824-4120 ext. 52358 as in the past. Please remember that a decision is made on the registration deadline as to whether the workshop will run or not, based on the minimum number of required registrants. You may still register after the deadline as long as the workshop is running and there is space.

During our tracking workshop lots of natural wonders were seen. Tamara, our instructor, pointed out 17 mammal species signs including many tracks, a fresh rabbit kill made by coyotes, and potential deer beds. Pileated Woodpecker poo (which had carpenter ant exoskeletons in it!) was also found. During our owl workshop we had an Eastern Screech-Owl calling repeatedly. Recently, we have also found some snow fleas, Wild Turkey tracks, a Ruffed Grouse, Orange Jelly or Witch's Butter fungus and displaying Hairy Woodpeckers. Come and get rid of your February blahs with some great wildlife sightings of your own!

                   
                    Orange Jelly or Witch's Butter Fungi

             
                   Pileated Woodpecker Poop with Carpenter Ant Exoskeleton

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Be a part of the BetterPlanet Project by donating on-line:

Your donation can be directed to The Arboretum online through the secure University of Guelph donation page: http://uofg.convio.net/arboretum

If you prefer not to make an online donation, there are several other ways to provide your financial support. You can choose to donate by telephone, mail, fax, or in person:

UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH Attention Alumni Affairs 50 Stone Road East Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1 Tel: 1-888-266-3108 ext. 56934 Tel: 519-824-4120 ext. 56934 Fax: 519-822-2670 Email: [log in to unmask]

If you would like information on bequests and planned giving to The Arboretum please contact:

Ross Butler
Director, Gift Planning
at (519) 824-4120 ext. 56196 or by e-mail at [log in to unmask]