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Project Updates for collection: Monarch Butterfly projects
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- Associated Project(s):Attached Files:
Update on LAR East Gardens
Associated Project(s):“Chuck: You mentioned recently the patio had some weeds that needed to be cleaned up. I took these photos today. The areas in the photo are student garden areas. I did see someone in one of the garden areas southeast of LAR last week. I am not clear if she was there to work in the garden or perhaps for other research work.
John: Would you be able to assist (organize some student help perhaps) with weeding in the patio gardens? Could you also include the student garden plantings at the main east entry to the building as well as the smaller gardens each side of the drive at Lincoln Ave.? These are the first areas people will encounter at move in.”
-Wayne Bugaj (07/27/2021)
“Hello All,
Yesterday I did some cleanup along with Sara Mason, a former LAR LLC member who graduated last year. We pulled weeds by the small beds near the wheelchair ramp and did some trimming in the front beds including the one near Lincoln Ave. Two other former LLC students from 2016 and 17 helped a couple times this summer with some very basic weeding. The people who started this maintain an interest, but most have let town. The virus and “student priorities” have kept the regular LLC students from doing anything in the plantings for about 2 seasons. Hopefully that will change this year. Basically the plantings are mostly doing well. They need some weeding and thinning. A couple spots on the S side of the front steps and SW side of the building have areas where one or two species have taken over. Some replanting would probably be good there, but is not critical.
The main goal of providing pollinator resources is definitely being met.
Chris Murphy told me in the spring that he hoped to get a faculty member to oversee a few students who could get credit for maintaining the plantings.
Anyway things look better now. We took out 2.5 35 gallon cans of weeds.
I hope this helps”
-John Marlin (07/29/2021)
Entomology Courses Review
Associated Project(s):Morgan White reviewed the following Entomology courses with Professors May Berenbaum and Adam Dolezal:
- IB 105: Environmental Biology
- IB 335: Systematics of Plants
- IB 329: Animal Behavior
- IB 444: Insect ecology
- IB 451: Conservation Biology
- IB 468*: Insect Classification and Evolution – being held this fall
- IB 526: Seminar in Entomology
*During the review, Professor Berenbaum and Professor Dolezal added IB 468 to the pre-existing list of the other courses.
Meeting Minutes from Pollinator Call (07-12-2021)
Associated Project(s):On July 12, 2021, Adam Dolezal, May Berenbaum, Layne Knoche, Eliana Brown, Morgan White, and Avery Maloto met over Zoom to discuss pollinator efforts on campus. The conversation included topics such as: Bloom Calendar, Red Oak Rain Garden, Dorner Drive Retention Pond, Setting up a BioBlitz, and more.
See the attached file to view the minute notes.
Attached Files:The compost tumbler is back!
Associated Project(s):The compost tumbler is once again available for drop-off at the National Soybean Research Center! A few reminders:
- Drop off organic material only, including food scraps (remove stickers!), coffee grounds, paper towels/napkins, and tea bags.
- Compostable ware (cutlery, cups, etc.) cannot go in the tumbler.
- Please refrain from putting in extremely dense or packed material. We'd prefer not to have excessively dense or heavy materials.
To prevent bad odors and flies, please also put in "brown" material, including leaves or paper towels, and give the tumbler a turn. If you encounter any issues, please contact Meredith Moore at mkm0078@illinois.edu. Thank you!!
Article: Can Solar Farms Help Save Bees?
Associated Project(s):Discover Magazine released an article highlighting the biodiversity benefits that can stem from pairing solar farms with pollinator-friendly plants. Supporting its claims with initiatives from universities across the country, the article recognizes the University of Illinois' pollinator habitat at Solar Farm 2.0.
Read the article on Discover Magazine. Or, refer to the PDF of the article in the attached files.
Attached Files:Solar Farm 2.0 pollinator supportive plantings were planted
Associated Project(s):The site was seeded on 6/4/2021.
Seventh Annual BeeBlitz
Associated Project(s):Calling all citizen-scientists! The Seventh Annual BeeBlitz will be on Saturday, June 26th, 2021 from 9-11 AM CDT!
To attend, meet at the Pollinatarium or go bee spotting in a forest, prairie, or backyard near you! Bring your camera or smartphone and be ready to snap photos of honey & bumblebees, then upload them to BeeSpotter to contribute to its database of Midwestern bee spottings.
Archived Info - Previous Project Background
Associated Project(s):Interest in this project began in October 2017, at the AASHE Student Summit. Several residents of the Sustainability Living-Learning Community attended a workshop at this summit about the Bee Campus USA movement. These students were inspired by the progress of other universities and decided to start this project on our own campus. From that point on, the Sustainability LLC, Facilities & Services, Red Bison Ecological Restoration (RSO), and the Pollinatarium have collaborated to ensure the success of this project. The application process in this project must be done annually to maintain the Bee Campus USA certification.
Archive Info - Previous Project Description
Associated Project(s):Bee Campus USA is a nation-wide movement to support pollinators on university campuses. A university that is Bee Campus USA-certified proves that they are progressing in awareness, native plant landscapes, and safe pest management. The Bee Campus committee developed an official web page in spring 2018 and worked with Facilitites & Services to develop a University Habitat Plan. In addition, with funding from the SSC, we will be installing pollinator signage on campus in fall 2018.
Florida-Orchard Prairie Pollinator Signage
Associated Project(s):A 24" by 36" blank sign was installed at the corner of Florida Avenue and Orchard Street, by the Florida-Orchard prairie, near Orchard Downs and the Presidents’ House. The information planned to be featured in the sign will originate from the new Bee Campus brochure. This text will highlight the Bee Campus student organization, information about pollinators, as well as university and campus initiatives to be more pollinator-friendly. Thanks to funding by SSC, the signage will be ready for public display by the end of 2021!
See the attached files to view the installation of the blank sign!
Attached Files:SSC Semesterly Report June 2021: Meadow at Orchard Downs Low Mow Zone
Associated Project(s):As a part of the terms of the funding agreement for Meadow at Orchard Downs Low Mow Zones, the Student Sustainability Committee released a semesterly report with key information about the project on June 14, 2021. The report can be viewed below.
SSC Semesterly Report: Solar Farm 2.0
Associated Project(s):F&S submitted the Spring 2021 Semesterly Report to the SSC for the Solar Farm 2.0 Landscape Buffer project!
Read the report in the attached files below.
Pollinator Plant Plans Sent to Taylor University
Associated Project(s):F&S provided the attached files to Kerry Shanebrook, the Grounds Superintendent at Taylor University, in regards to pollinator plants under solar arrays.
Article: Pollinator Conservation on Solar Farms
Associated Project(s):Entomology Today released an article highlighting the strategy and benefits behind pairing solar energy with pollinator habitats. Supporting its claims with UIUC and Iowa State initiatives, the article discusses content such as the scorecard approach, efficiency of the positioning of planted vegetation, and restrictions from geographic locations.
Read the article on Entomology Today. Or, refer to the PDF of the article in the attached files.
Attached Files:Upcoming Event: Swallowtail Butterflies Webinar
Associated Project(s):Kelly Allsup, University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator, is hosting a Swallowtail Butterflies Webinar on June 14, 2021, from 12-1 pm.
During this presentation, Kelly will tell you what plants need to be put in your garden to help 6 species of swallowtail butterfly caterpillars! Make sure to tune in via Zoom to learn more.
iSEE Newsletter: Plantings Complete Solar Farm 2.0!
Associated Project(s):The final stage of the Solar Farm 2.0 project is wrapping up this month with the planting of a native pollinator habitat. The farm will serve as a major demonstration and research site for pollinator-friendly solar arrays, with more than 6.5 million flowering plants and native grasses around the 54 acres of panels creating a natural habitat for birds and beneficial insects. With this second solar farm, the campus has achieved clean energy goals outlined in the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) nearly four years ahead of schedule. Clean energy production will now support roughly 12 percent of annual campus electricity demand. Congratulations to Facilities & Services for all of the hard work on this important project; iSEE and its SWATeam members were proud to provide key support for Solar Farm 2.0 by pushing for an increased renewable portfolio in the iCAP. Students in iSEE's sustainability minor also helped assess the new array's carbon footprint!
NSRC Pollinator Garden Build
Associated Project(s):The 350 square-foot pollinator garden at the National Soybean Research Center is planted! The weather was beautiful and we had a fun time hearing plant stories and learning about our very own native species from Layne Knoche. Check out our Facebook post here.
Huge thank you to Layne Knoche, Eliana Brown, and the whole Red Oak Rain Garden team, Eric Green, Michael Dzianott and the Red Bison team, Joey Kreiling, Blake Cedergren, and the From the Ground Up team, and all friends who helped out with the planting.
Stay tuned for more fun!
Article: An Earth Month to Remember
Associated Project(s):The Spring 2021 iSEE Quarterly Update (iQ) highlighted a diverse array of campus initiatives that made this year's Earth Month one to remember. Ranging from hosted events to sustainable energy, the article discusses the launch of the "TED Talk: Eco Edition" series, Solar Farm 2.0, community trash pickup, and more!
Read the article in the attached files below.
Attached Files:Solar Farm 2.0 included in the Chancellor’s "Noteworthy at Illinois” Newsletter
Associated Project(s):Chancellor Jones highlighted the Solar Farm 2.0 "Noteworthy at Illinois" Newsletter. In its final stage, this project makes the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign the third-largest producer of onsite clean power among U.S. universities.