Podcasts about Vaccinium

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/627  Presented by: Skwala, Guide Book, Yellowstone Teton Territory, Waters West Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors   Hank Shaw, author of the book "Hunt, Gather, Cook" and a James Beard Award-winning chef, will guide us through his acclaimed books like "Buck, Buck, Moose" and "Hook, Line, and Supper," revealing secrets to achieving the perfect high-heat cooking techniques and ensuring your fish never sticks to the pan again. From identifying wild berries to mastering the art of cooking over an open fire, Hank's expertise will elevate your outdoor cooking game. Plus, we'll get a glimpse into his fascinating journey from political journalism to becoming a full-time hunter, fisherman, and gatherer. Get ready for an insightful and delicious adventure with Hank Shaw! Episode Chapters with Hank Shaw on Hunt Gather Cook 2:40 - Hank talks about his lifelong connection to fishing, stemming from his family background in Gloucester, Massachusetts. He recalls childhood memories of fishing and eating seafood. 5:54 - We delve into Hank's journey to becoming a notable figure in the cooking world. Hank recounts his early career as a restaurant cook while attending college and graduate school. He later transitioned to journalism, covering politics extensively, including two presidential campaigns. Since 2010, Hank has pursued food writing full-time, authoring five cookbooks with a sixth in progress. His blog and publications have allowed him to sustain a successful career in the culinary arts for over 14 years. 8:42 - Hank's first book, "Hunt, Gather, Cook" was based on his blog and published in 2011. He then authored  "Duck, Duck, Goose" in 2013, followed by "Buck, Buck, Moose" in 2016, the first book he fully owned. Subsequent titles include "Pheasant, Quail, Cottontail" in 2018 and "Hook, Line, and Supper" in 2021. 12:08 - Hank gives valuable tips on frying fish. He emphasizes that certain types of fish, specifically fatty and soft varieties like trout and salmon, are not ideal for frying. Instead, he recommends whitefish, which are leaner and firmer, for better frying results. One critical advice he offers is to use high heat when frying, as insufficiently hot oil leads to greasy food. Properly heated oil sets the batter and cooks the fish from the inside out, preventing oil from seeping in and making the fish soggy. 15:11 - For cooking trout, Hank suggests using smoke and fire because trout, particularly wild trout, are fatty and soft. He mentions methods such as smoking, smoke roasting, and grilling. He highlights the importance of using a clean, hot, and oiled grate to prevent the fish from sticking, which is a common issue when grilling fish. Hank advises against fiddling with the fish on the grill, noting that once the fish can be moved easily, it's ready to be flipped, and typically, he only flips the fish once. 21:22 - He discusses the nuances of cooking wild game, particularly focusing on venison. He touches upon common mistakes made by novice cooks, such as overcooking tender cuts and undercooking tougher parts. Hank emphasizes that proper cooking techniques are crucial, providing tips like letting the meat rest and using pan sauces to finish undercooked cuts. 25:17 - Hank ranks different types of fuel for grilling. He advocates for wood as the best option due to its flavor and smoke, followed by lump charcoal, briquettes, and propane. He also underscores that wood provides the best results, but requires more effort and skill. 27:51 - He talks about how he cuts wild game. In cutting deer, he would take the backstrap off, clean it up, and cut it into lengths. 29:47 - He explains the step-by-step process of doing the finger test for doneness for cooking meat. 31:40 - We talk about the safety concerns associated with eating raw fish, particularly focusing on sushi. Hank emphasizes that the primary vector for tapeworms in the US is trout sushi and strongly advises against eating raw trout unless it has been properly frozen. He also touches on the risks associated with eating freshwater salmon, which can carry tapeworms once in rivers. Hank recommends freezing the fish for about a week to ensure its safety for raw consumption. He also notes that other species of fish may not require such precautions. 33:54 - Hank explains the difference between pelagic and benthic fish. Pelagic fish, such as tuna, mackerel, and bluefish, live in the middle or top layers of the water, whereas benthic fish, like flounder, live on or near the bottom. 37:18 - Hank discusses his book "Hunt, Gather, Cook," describing it as a primer on various wild activities like fishing, foraging, and hunting. The book aims to inspire and provide foundational knowledge for those looking to delve into these fields, whether they are experienced in one area or new to another. 38:51 - For those in the Midwest or the East, Hank recommends the books by Samuel Thayer which he says are some of the best foraging books. 40:48 - Hank mentions that he has a course on venison through an online course called Outdoor Class. In addition, he hints at an upcoming fishing course that has already been filmed and is expected to be released soon. 42:33 - To help you identify plants on your hike or outdoor trip, Hank suggests a few books, including one by H.D. Harrington called "Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains". He also highlights "Botany in a Day" as a valuable resource for learning basic plant knowledge. 44:30 - Hank emphasizes the importance of clinical identification in mushroom hunting, using a method called "keying out," where you follow a series of if-then statements to accurately identify a species. This precise approach helps prevent mistakes that could arise from over-relying on instinctual pattern recognition. He also recommends books by Paul Stamets, a renowned expert on mushrooms, and mentions that Michael Pollan has also written a book involving mushrooms. 46:35 - Hank offers useful advice on identifying edible berries. He explains that any berry that looks like a blackberry or raspberry, with its compound fruit structure, is generally safe to eat. He also mentions that berries with a star-shaped mark on the bottom, like blueberries, are part of the Vaccinium clan and are all edible. This star mark is a reliable indicator of whether a berry is safe to consume. 51:01 - We talk about cooking methods for surf perch, a type of fish that can be challenging due to its mushy meat. Hank suggests deep frying the fish after scaling, slashing, and dusting it with cornstarch, which produces a good result. He also recommends making fish cakes from skinless fillets for a different preparation method. 53:49  - Hank clarifies that buying wild game has been illegal in the US for over a century, but farmed game is available. When buying fish, he suggests visiting good fish markets, particularly in areas like the Pacific Northwest and the Twin Cities, where places like Brookies offer excellent quality fish. Hank also recommends Asian markets for high-quality fish, though cautioning that one must be able to identify fresh fish. 55:06 - He explains how to determine the freshness of a fish, emphasizing that the fish should look as if it just came out of the water. Key indicators include bright eyes that are not sunken or clouded and gills that are a pleasing pink or red color. For fish fillet, Hank mentions the press test: fresh fish meat will bounce back when pressed, although most fish markets may not allow this test. 55:55 - Hank mentions that the most common problem in cooking fish is fish sticking to the pan or grill. To prevent this, he advises that the pan and oil must be very hot, and the fish must be extremely dry. Hank emphasizes the importance of using high smoke point oils like canola, rice bran, or avocado oil. He also shares a crucial tip: when placing the fish in the pan, immediately jiggle the pan to ensure the fish doesn't stick. This motion helps the fish slide, preventing it from sticking to the pan and potentially overcooking. 57:16 - Hank's favorite ingredient to add when cooking fish is wild fennel, but also highlights mushrooms as a versatile option. He explains that mushrooms like morels pair wonderfully with trout, and button mushrooms complement white fish. Hanks likens the combination to music, where fish represents higher, lighter notes, and mushrooms provide a grounding base note, creating a harmonious and complete dish 58:31 - We discuss various aspects of commercial fishing, particularly in Alaska. Hank shares his experience, noting that while he hasn't fished for Atlantic salmon, he has been involved in commercial fishing since his late teens. Recently, Hank has been gillnetting salmon around the Juno area, which he finds rewarding. 1:02:39 - Hank reminisces about the earlier days of his career in journalism, highlighting how politics used to be centered around compromise and debate. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/627  

DECEMBER SALE: 20% off every course & program we offer, all month long! Use code KINDNESS at checkout!As we draw near the end of our tour of the home apothecary herbs, today we come to nettle and bilberry.Urtica dioica, nettle, is an herb who can help with a really vast array of health issues. Sometimes we half-jokingly refer to “nettle deficiency syndrome”: a constellation of imbalances due to poor mineral nutrition, fluid stagnation, systemic inflammation, and associated symptoms. In truth, many green nutritive herbs and food plants help resolve this – but nettle is a particular standout, and is often a great choice for a month or two of work to establish a new baseline. Do compensate for its drying qualities in people of dry constitution, though! This can be done by formulating with marshmallow or other demulcent herbs, or by cooking the nettle into a soup or other food.Vaccinium myrtillus, bilberry – also known as European blueberry, whortleberry, huckleberry, and a variety of other common names – is indeed closely related to blueberry and also cranberry. All these edible berries – and others besides – share a lot of attributes as remedies. Their sour flavor and blue-purple-red colorations indicate capacity to drain excess fluid, protect blood vessels, and improve blood sugar regulation. The leaves of these plants exert these actions, too! So whichever edible berries grow where you live, making them a part of your life as much as you can is a pleasant way to protect yourself.Everything's on sale in December!All our offerings, are self-paced online video courses. They all come with free twice-weekly live Q&A sessions, lifetime access to current & future course material, open discussion threads integrated in each lesson, an active student community, study guides, quizzes & capstone assignments, and more!Use code KINDNESS at checkout to get 20% off!If you enjoyed the episode, it helps us a lot if you subscribe, rate, & review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!

While searching through our archive of episodes we discovered something: There are a few specific plants we just can't stop talking about. As the years have progressed here at Let's Argue About Plants, we find ourselves experimenting with more and more varieties, so we have something new to report back to you on. But frankly, there are a core of plants that we could talk about every episode because they are just that good. We try to mix it up, but these stars have made it into more than a couple recordings—and rightly so. With that, we decided not to fight nature and give these stars their spotlight. In today's compilation episode you'll hear about Carol and Danielle's top four plants...again...but for good reason. They are selections that no garden should be without, in our humble opinions.   Danielle's Plants Perry's Gold' Norway spruce (Picea abies 'Perry's Gold', Zones 3–9) ‘Crested Surf' painted fern (Athyrium niponicum 'Crested Surf', Zones 3-8) ‘Snow Fairy' blue mist shrub (Caryopteris divaricata 'Snow Fairy', Zones 6-9) Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia, Zones 4-9)   Carol's Plants Maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum, Zones 3-8) New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus, Zones 4–8) Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa, Zones 3-9) Pink Icing® blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum ‘ZF06-079', Zones 5–10)

It's time to grab that sweatshirt and dig out those heavier socks—fall has arrived! Although it's sad to see summer go, we're getting super excited for the new season around here. The native plants in New England (where our podcast is based) are starting to look especially lovely so we've dedicated this show to them. We've got an array of native woodies that bloom or color up in autumn (Danielle) and a few perennials that save their best for September (Carol). Don't worry—we're not just featuring plants native to the eastern seaboard either, we've got some Midwest wonders and even some Southern charmers in the mix as well. Looking for some native plants that please the local ecology and look beautiful doing it? We've got you covered on this latest episode.    Expert guest: Brent Horvath is the owner of and head plant breeder/developer at Intrinsic Perennial Gardens, a wholesale nursery in Hebron, Illinois.   Danielle's Plants Northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin, Zones 4-9) Lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium, Zones 2-8) Sassafras (Sassafras albidum, Zones 4-9) Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia, Zones 3-9)   Carol's Plants Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum, Zones 4-9) Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea, Zones 3-8) Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia, Zones 5-9) ‘Iron Butterfly' ironweed (Vernonia lettermannii 'Iron Butterfly', Zones 4-9)   Expert's Plants  Eastern bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana  and cvs., Zones 3-9) Threadleaf bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii and cvs., Zones 5-8) Ozark bluestar (Amsonia illustris and cvs., Zones 5-9) Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium and cvs., Zones 3-10)

Sarah Klionsky, studying at the University of Connecticut, with thoughts and reflections on Vaccinium macrocarpon or cranberry.

Today's Native Plant is...     Vaccinium macrocarpon (Large Cranberry) Produced by Kristianne Goodenough

Raise your hand if seasonal affective disorder has set in for you. Yep, us too. Because the skies are grey and the landscape is mostly brown in many areas of the country, we decided that today's episode would be geared towards offering a glimmer of hope. We're talking about plants that put on a show in the last gasps of winter and first few weeks of spring. Just when you think that the garden is never going to look good again, these unsung heroes show up to give us all a little cheer. We have trees, spring ephemerals and even a few lesser-known North American natives that not only make us happy, but help support the earliest pollinators. Those living in more Southern locales will delight in our expert chiming in from Texas to talk about what gardeners in warmer climes have to look forward to in just a few short days. Expert guest: Jared Barnes, Ph.D., is an associate professor of horticulture at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.   Danielle's Plants Red trillium (Trillium erectum, Zones 4-7)  Wood anemone (Anemone quinquefolia, 3-8)   Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum, Zones 5-8) Pink flowering dogwood (Cornus florida f. rubra, Zones 5-9)   Carol's Plants ‘Berry Swirl' hellebore (Helleborus x hybridus ‘Berry Swirl', Zones 4–8) Trout lily (Erythronium americanum, Zones 3–8) False spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia, Zones 2–8) Shadblow serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis, Zones 4–8)   Expert's Plants Yellow wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox ‘Luteus', Zones 7-9) Paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha, Zones 7-10) Virginia springbeauty (Claytonia virginica, Zones 3-8) ‘Bonita' Japanese apricot ( Prunus mume ‘Bonita', Zones 6-9) ‘Tojibai' Japanese apricot (Prunus mume ‘Tojibai', Zones 6-9)

Los arándanos azules son frutas comestibles de la planta Vaccinium angustifolium. El arándano azul es un alimento común y, a veces, también se usa como medicina.

Joscha Bach joins Lexman to discuss the secularisation of chieftaincy and the Touraine doctrine. They also talk about the Montbretia blight and the vaccinium plant.

Video: Scientist Carl Sagan testifying to the U.S. Senate in 1985 on the greenhouse effect: (2:00) WEF: The Most Evil Business in the World – Samuel Leeds (10:49) Israel caught hiding BOMBSHELL Pfizer   Frequent nut consumption associated with less inflammation Brigham and Women's Hospital, September 1, 2022 In a study of more than 5,000 people, investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital have found that greater intake of nuts was associated with lower levels of biomarkers of inflammation, a finding that may help explain the healthbenefits of nuts. The results of the study appear in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. “Population studies have consistently supported a protective role of nuts against cardiometabolic disorders such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and we know that inflammation is a key process in the development of these diseases,” said corresponding author Ying Bao, MD, ScD, an epidemiologist in BWH's Channing Division of Network Medicine. “Our new work suggests that nuts may exert their beneficial effects in part by reducing systemic inflammation.” Previously Bao and her colleagues observed an association between increased nut consumption and reduced risk of major chronic diseases and even death, but few prospective cohort studies had examined the link between nut intake and inflammation. In the current study, the research team performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Nurses' Health Study, which includes more than 120,000 female registered nurses, and from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, which includes more than 50,000 male health professionals. The team assessed diet using questionnaires and looked at the levels of certain telltale proteins known as biomarkers in blood samples collected from the study participants. They measured three well-established biomarkers of inflammation: C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL6) and tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2). After adjusting for age, medical history, lifestyle and other variables, they found that participants who had consumed five or more servings of nuts per week had lower levels of CRP and IL6 than those who never or almost never ate nuts. In addition, people who substituted three servings per week of nuts in place of red meat, processed meat, eggs or refined grains had significantly lower levels of CRP and IL6. Peanuts and tree nuts contain a number of healthful components including magnesium, fiber, L-arginine, antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids such as α-linolenic acid. Researchers have not yet determined which of these components, or if the combination of all of them, may offer protection against inflammation, but Bao and her colleagues are interested in exploring this further through clinical trials that would regulate and monitor diet. “Much remains unknown about how our diet influences inflammation and, in turn, our risk of disease,” said Bao. “But our study supports an overall healthful role for nuts in the diet and suggests reducing inflammation as a potential mechanism that may help explain the benefits of nuts on cardiometabolic diseases.” Blueberry extract could help fight gum disease and reduce antibiotic use Laval University (Quebec), September 2, 2022 Gum disease is a common condition among adults that occurs when bacteria form biofilms or plaques on teeth, and consequently the gums become inflamed. Some severe cases, called periodontitis, call for antibiotics. But now scientists have discovered that wild blueberry extract could help prevent dental plaque formation. Their report in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry could lead to a new therapy for periodontitis and a reduced need for antibiotics. Many people have had some degree of gum inflammation, or gingivitis, caused by dental plaque. The gums get red and swollen, and they bleed easily. If left unchecked, the condition can progress to periodontitis. The plaque hardens into tartar, and the infection can spread below the gum line and destroy the tissue supporting the teeth. To treat this condition, dentists scrape off the tartar and sometimes have to resort to conventional antibiotics. But recently, researchers have started looking at natural antibacterial compounds to treat gum disease. Daniel Grenier and colleagues wanted to see if blueberry polyphenols, which work against foodborne pathogens, could also help fight Fusobacterium nucleatum, one of the main species of bacteria associated with periodontitis. In the lab, the researchers tested extracts from the wild lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium Ait., against F. nucleatum. The polyphenol-rich extracts successfully inhibited the growth of F. nucleatum, as well as its ability to form biofilms. It also blocked a molecular pathway involved in inflammation, a key part of gum disease. The researchers say they're developing an oral device that could slowly release the extract after deep cleaning to help treat periodontitis. Meat consumption contributing to global obesity University of Adelaide, August 11, 2022 Should we be warning consumers about over-consumption of meat as well as sugar? That's the question being raised by a team of researchers from the University of Adelaide, who say meat in the modern diet offers surplus energy, and is contributing to the prevalence of global obesity. “Our findings are likely to be controversial because they suggest that meat contributes to obesity prevalence worldwide at the same extent as sugar,” says Professor Maciej Henneberg. “In the analysis of obesity prevalence across 170 countries, we have found that sugar availability in a nation explains 50% of obesity variation while meat availability another 50%. After correcting for differences in nations' wealth (Gross Domestic Product), calorie consumption, levels of urbanization and of physical inactivity, which are all major contributors to obesity, sugar availability remained an important factor, contributing independently 13%, while meat contributed another 13% to obesity. “While we believe it's important that the public should be alert to the over-consumption of sugar and some fats in their diets, based on our findings we believe meat protein in the human diet is also making a significant contribution to obesity,” Professor Henneberg says. “There is a dogma that fats and carbohydrates, especially fats, are the major factors contributing to obesity,” Mr You says. “Whether we like it or not, fats and carbohydrates in modern diets are supplying enough energy to meet our daily needs. Because meat protein is digested later than fats and carbohydrates, this makes the energy we receive from protein a surplus, which is then converted and stored as fat in the human body.” “Nevertheless, it is important that we show the contribution meat protein is making to obesity so that we can better understand what is happening. In the modern world in which we live, in order to curb obesity it may make sense for dietary guidelines to advise eating less meat, as well as eating less sugar,” he says. Study suggests possible link between artificial sweeteners and heart disease French National Institute for Health and Medical Research, September 7, 2022 A large study of French adults published by The BMJ today suggests a potential direct association between higher artificial sweetener consumption and increased cardiovascular disease risk, including heart attack and stroke. The findings indicate that these food additives, consumed daily by millions of people and present in thousands of foods and drinks, should not be considered a healthy and safe alternative to sugar, in line with the current position of several health agencies. Artificial sweeteners are widely used as no- or low-calorie alternatives to sugar. They represent a $7.2 billion (£5900m; €7000m) global market and are found in thousands of products worldwide, particularly ultra-processed foods such as artificially sweetened drinks, some snacks, and low calorie ready meals. Several studies have linked consumption of artificial sweeteners or artificially sweetened beverages (ASB) to weight gain, high blood pressure, and inflammation. To investigate this further, a team of researchers at the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research (Inserm) and colleagues drew on data for 103,388 participants (average age 42 years; 80% female) of the web-based NutriNet-Santé study, launched in France in 2009 to investigate relations between nutrition and health. Dietary intakes and consumption of artificial sweeteners were assessed by repeated 24-hour dietary records and a range of potentially influential health, lifestyle, and sociodemographic factors were taken into account. A total of 37% of participants consumed artificial sweeteners, with an average intake of 42.46 mg/day, which corresponds to approximately one individual packet of table top sweetener or 100 mL of diet soda. The researchers found that total artificial sweetener intake was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (absolute rate 346 per 100,000 person years in higher consumers and 314 per 100,000 person years in non-consumers). Artificial sweeteners were more particularly associated with cerebrovascular disease risk (absolute rates 195 and 150 per 100,000 person-years in higher and non-consumers, respectively). Aspartame intake was associated with increased risk of cerebrovascular events (186 and 151 per 100,000 person-years in higher and non-consumers, respectively), while acesulfame potassium and sucralose were associated with increased coronary heart disease risk (acesulfame potassium: 167 and 164 per 100,000 person-years; sucralose: 271 and 161 per 100,000 person-years in higher and non-consumers, respectively). Your soap and toothpaste could be messing with your microbiome University of Chicago, September 2, 2022 Antimicrobial chemicals found in common household products could be wreaking havoc with people's guts, according to a research paper out this week in the journal Science. Triclosan is an antibacterial compound used in soaps, detergent and toothpaste, as well as toys and plastics. It was originally only used in hospitals, but it found its way into homes as Americans became more germ-phobic. (However, recent studies have found it no more effective at killing bacteria than plain soap. ) Now, there are growing concerns about the possible negative effects of the chemical on human health and the environment. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), animal studies have shown that the chemical can act as a hormone disruptor. A 2008 study found traces of triclosan in the urine of 75% of the participants – some as young as six. The chemical has also been found in more than half of freshwater streams in the US. Disturbing the human microbiome has been “linked to a wide array of diseases and metabolic disorders, including obesity, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and behavioral and metabolic disorders,” wrote the paper's authors, Alyson L Yee and Jack A Gilbert. Yee and Gilbert also suggested that exposure to triclosan could be even more detrimental to the health of developing fetuses and newborns than to adults. A 2014 New York University study found that gut disruptions in early infancy could have lasting negative effects on immune and brain development. Triclosan could also be contributing to antibiotic resistance, which scientists believe is caused by the overuse of antimicrobials in humans and animals. There are partial bans of the chemical in the European Union and in Minnesota, and the FDA says it will continue reviewing the chemical for its safety. Exposure to phthalates could be linked to pregnancy loss Peking University, September 2, 2022 A new study of more than 300 women suggests that exposure to certain phthalates — substances commonly used in food packaging, personal-care and other everyday products — could be associated with miscarriage, mostly between 5 and 13 weeks of pregnancy. The research, appearing in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology, is the first epidemiological study on non-work-related exposure to phthalates to provide evidence for the possible link among a general population. Out of concern over the potential health effects of phthalates, the U.S. has banned six of these substances from use in certain products made for young children. But many are still included as ingredients in paints, medical tubes, vinyl flooring, soaps, shampoos and other items. Research on phthalates has shown that long-term exposure to low levels of some of these compounds harms lab animals' health and can increase their risk for pregnancy loss. Additionally, at least one study found that female factory workers exposed to high levels of phthalates through their work were at a higher risk for miscarriage. But there is little epidemiological evidence of phthalates' effects on pregnancy among women with non-occupational exposure. Jianying Hu, Huan Shen and colleagues wanted to find out if there might be a link. The researchers tested urine samples from 132 women who had miscarriages and 172 healthy pregnant women in China. They found pregnancy loss was associated with higher levels of urinary phthalate metabolites from diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP). Although this doesn't prove that phthalates cause pregnancy loss, the study suggests an association exists that the researchers say should be studied further.

CLICK HERE to listen to episode audio (4:49).Sections below are the following: Transcript of Audio Audio Notes and Acknowledgments ImagesExtra Information Sources Related Water Radio Episodes For Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.). Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 6-16-22.

How cranberries could improve memory and ward off dementia Researchers have found that eating cranberries could improve memory, ward off dementia, and reduce 'bad' cholesterol. The research team studied the benefits of consuming the equivalent of a cup of cranberries a day among 50 to 80-year-olds. They hope that their findings could have implications for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia. #cranberries #memory #dementia Emma Flanagan, Donnie Cameron, Rashed Sobhan, Chloe Wong, Matthew G. Pontifex, Nicole Tosi, Pedro Mena, Daniele Del Rio, Saber Sami, Arjan Narbad, Michael Müller, Michael Hornberger, David Vauzour. Chronic Consumption of Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) for 12 Weeks Improves Episodic Memory and Regional Brain Perfusion in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomised, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Groups Feasibility Study. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2022; 9 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.849902 Cranberry, cranberries, polyphenols, memory, recall, dementia, ldl, nucleus accumbens, medial temporal, prefrontal, episodic memory, visual episodic memory, ), neural functioning, brain perfusion, oxygen, glucose, brain energy, Vaccinium macrocarpon #cranberries #memory #dementia #recall #polyphenol #perfusion #accumbens #episodic #temporal #Vacciniummacrocarpon #ldl --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/ralph-turchiano/support

Il existe environ 150 espèces de myrtilles ! Ce matin on va parler de la Vaccinium myrtillus (à ne pas confondre avec ce que les Canadiens appellent "le bleuet", Vaccinum corymbosum). Notre petite myrtille est connue depuis la nuit des temps, mais ce nʹest que Dioscoride, au 1er siècle de notre ère, qui a découvert la forte activité antidiarrhéique de ce fruit sec. La myrtille fraîche est plutôt laxative. Ce fruit favorise la vision nocturne ; la myrtille stimule la mémoire et la concentration grâce à sa grande quantité dʹanthocyane. Comment la choisir ? Fraiche, plutôt petite, en saison, 200 grammes par jour pendant 2 semaines. Ce fruit se conserve au congélateur sans perdre ses qualités.

Sparkleberry is in bloom now. Vaccinium arboreum (sparkleberry or farkleberry) is a species of Vaccinium native to the southeastern and south-central United States, from southern Virginia west to southeastern Nebraska, south to Florida and eastern Texas, and north to Illinois.

Our second episode covers the cranberry, botanically known as Vaccinium macrocarpon 0:00 - Introduction 0:17 - A quick note on huckleberries 1:32 - Part 1: An introduction to the cranberry 8:00 - Part 2: The cranberry in popular culture 11:55 - Part 3: How to grow cranberries Show notes and more @ mypwcolorchoices.com

We’re recapping a guided trip, the continued madness of the BWCA this season as well as what an outfitter is expected to do when their canoes are abandoned in the wilderness. All that and more this week on Tumblehome! Show Notes: Project Success Subscribe: Patreon Spotify iTunes YouTube Stitcher Google Play Soundcloud Subreddit Contact: The Answering Machine: (218) 481-0649 Facebook tumblehomecast@gmail.com Music: Bombay Laughing Club: Blue Berry

There are so many places to begin; so many stories to choose from, and paths to take.Let us begin on an ordinary path of soil and stone, through an ordinary garden of bushes, up to the door of an ordinary house. Well, perfectly ordinary for where it is.In the garden, the sunlight glints on metal as the Mighty Teaspoon Hammer crashes down onto the Maplestump Mortar. A resounding CRACK rends the air. In a puff of pulverized dust, the last of the oats and beech nuts are vanquished, ground up fine.The wielder of the Mighty Teaspoon Hammer is a gnome of tea, named Tonic Cuppa.Tonic lives in a teapot house, with one cinnamon tree growing among the tea bushes out front, and a nicely tended tisane garden out back with pine, lemon, elder, sage, lavender, and many more good plants to steep.Tonic and the house both waft of all things tea; the fresh of mint and orange, the warmth of nutmeg and clove, the uplifting of jasmine and peach blossoms, all swirled together. Near the front walk is a sturdy Maplestump Mortar. It is upon this mortar that Tonic uses the Mighty Teaspoon Hammer as pestle to crush and powder nuts, bark, and other tough ingredients for tea. After being ground and mixed, the ingredients are stored in a variety of neatly-labeled tins until they are ready to sip.The ornate Passion Flower cauldron near the front door Tonic uses to brew delicate blends, and the sharp Chestnut Burr cauldron opposite it for tough, unruly blends. The blackberry by the cauldrons watches over the garden. Gnome and Bramble have been best friends since they were both new.Once the Maplestump Mortar is clean and ingredients stored away inside the house, Tonic sits on a brightly colored cushion, buffing out dents in the Mighty Teaspoon Hammer. Looking into a mug of finished tea, Tonic notices the leaf dregs and perks up just before the garden bell rings. With sunlight pouring in through the saucer-shaped windows, the gnome's house is steeped in light. Racing first to the ceramic kitchen, muttering, “Tea cups! Vaccinium tea cups,” and then walking carefully to the door, Tonic's brown hair puffs and leafy-green tips seem to glow in the sun, and dirt smudges and tea stains show through the sturdy brown and green outfit's brightly stitched leaf patterns.Tonic cheerfully declares “Greetings and Hospitality!” while opening the green walnut-hull door of the house and walking out to offer the waiting friends a “fresh cup of Rosehip-Violet-Mallow tea for you; I made this blend for Port Manteau, to help the sailors stay healthy and keep way scurvy. What do you think?!”A small pooka with spiky black hair buzzes up to Tonic first. Putting an acorn basket brimming with honey down on the garden table to sip the tea, Clover Miel dances with delight. “What a sweet concoction; I shall have to tell everyone back at the Bloomiery and Apis Distillery! I would like to trade some for our newest batch of honey.” Then Clover adds confidentially, “Today's honey is primarily from blueberry, apricot, and thyme.” The two friends agree to trade a tin of tea for an acorn of honey.The brownie sitting on the stone ties back long, quartzey hair and the playful garnet hues hidden in it, with willow reed and grape vine. Grey-green eyes brim with curiosity as Tonic passes over a cup of tea. Taking a big sip, Atcher Service makes a chirrup of delight, and humms so happily that some tea sloshes! With amethyst shirt and citrine socks now soaked, the brownie quickly pulls out an extra cloth from a pocket on the complex belt (which is full of tools for making jewelry, gadgets for fixing gears, and several Possibility Parts). While mopping up the spill, Atcher asks “What makes the blend so sparkly?”As the tea gnome replies, Atcher takes out a birchbark journal (brownies highly prize these birch bark journals, because they keep the ideas inside fresh) and writes down notes including the question “Camellia sinensis; what makes white, green, and black tea?” then discovers a Sudden Idea while sketching a new wire design. Brownies often keep Sudden Ideas as pets; some even transform into Useful Creations and do heaps of good in the world. Sudden Ideas must be fed with research, exercised with practice, and given lots of attention. These cute critters might look like just about anything, they tend to have a snail or nautilus shell, and are most easily seen and identified by brownies and other creators.  Tonic hands a cup of tea to the water sprite, who is happily splashing in the stream. Prism Cirrus swishes the delicate cup joyfully before gulping the tea down, while an ever-present breeze ruffles the sprite's short, wavy hair, making the ends foam and curl like ocean waves. Offering the last bit of tea in the cup to the whirling wind, Prism's smile shines. “A delicious blend, Tonic. Thank you!”  With a hiccupping buzz, Clover puts down an empty tea cup, and zooms away down the path. The pooka's rich voice echoes back “Sorry I cannot stay; I've got to fly back to the Bloomiery or the Marzipandas will be ravenous! Well met, and meet again!”The three remaining friends enjoy time in Tonic's garden sipping tea, tasting honey, and discussing their upcoming Craft Course Conclusions. They bask in the sunlight that idly frisks through the tea leaves, dappling the garden, and enjoying the cool breeze that always floats around Prism. While quietly relaxing, each friend considers the upcoming Conclusion Day.Tonic worries: Am I good enough? Strong enough? Can I brew and smash and blend the way they want? What if I have to grow a plant? That takes me ages… Will anyone like my tea?Prism frets, flipping frothing locks of seafoam away: Who will I be? Conclusions determine our work and our future. We chose our Craft Courses, and our future is firm. Will I wither without Weather? Can Tides truly turn a task terrible? Conclusions are the Culmination of our curricular career! Oh, I'm so scared I'm ailing with alliterations…Atcher sketches furiously, channeling nervousness into productivity: Am I inspiring enough? How many nibs will I break? Do I have the charisma to influence others? Does anyone really enjoy my art? What if my mechanics are all wrong? Will I trip and spill and break everything?After this thought-filled pause Prism pipes up, “Is it really, though? I mean… I was just thinking about our upcoming Conclusions. And, well, they always seem so important. I just wondered if they are, really? We get evaluated on our skill in the crafts we chose to take, that is true. But do the Conclusions actually determine who we are? Do they dictate what we do, or set our worth?”Atcher encourages the friends with a smile. “Conclusions are just one teacher's perception, on one day. As tests they seem so big and important, and very scary. But really, Prism is right. We will do our best, and no matter what our Conclusions turn out to be, we will still be exactly who we are.”Feeling better, Tonic adds “Did you know that Clover never took a Craft Course or Conclusion? Clover is great! And entirely self-taught. The honey from the Apis Distillery wouldn't be half as good if Clover weren't there. That pooka knows efficiency!”Dusting speckled, moss-bark hands together after washing up the dishes, Tonic asks “How would you like to help the world? What are your favorite skills? How far have you traveled? Do you ever wonder what other places are like? Do you think there could be different jobs and needs in other places?”Prism's answer is breezy, “The water is my passion. I would like to work with tide and current traffic and schedules. Or possibly have a tidalpool farm, where I could keep a fluffle of Wind Rabbits. It might be interesting to work with my cousin on Storm Runs too.”After some thought, Atcher answered with an avalanche of words, “I love working with metals and stones; it is so satisfying to find a fascinating stone, polish it, research it, learn about it, and combine it with a beautiful metal to create meaningful jewelry! Did you know I'm researching a Stratigraphy Skirt? Beauty and expression are so subjective and definitive of who we are; I want to keep creating things that help people express their emotions and their core. Of course, I enjoy inventing and tinkering with gears too. I wonder if I could make beautiful, wearable items with metal and stones and moving gears? Ohhh, what if...” and here Atcher's words tumble to a halt as the birchbark journal is brought out again. The brownie takes time to capture some questions and thoughts on paper, while Prism and Tonic explore the streambank.Then the three friends laugh and play and forget their worries for a bit; it was soothing to let out their fears, and comfort each other with kindness and silliness. The Conclusions still loom large, but their looming seems a little less ominous with the support of friends. Still, the trio will face their Conclusions one day, and sooner than they might want.

Ingesting the powder one can become faster at completing tasks. The drink form increases positivity but has little effect on negative mood.

Desde los escritos de Plinio y Virgilio se tiene constancia de la identificación del Blueberry como una planta codiciada por su fruto. Por supuesto en esa época no se la conocía como tal, sino con su nombre en Latín, el que ha mantenido hasta nuestros días como nombre científico, “Vaccinium”. En la 2ª Guerra Mundial, los soldados de aviación tomaban mermelada de arándanos para cuidar su vista. Es algo que descubrieron por casualidad los ingleses y notaron que su adaptación a cambios repentinos de luminosidad era más rápida. Más adelante, se realizaron varias investigaciones relacionadas y los resultados fueron satisfactorios, es decir, este fruto o baya contribuye a conservar la salud visual e incluso participa en la prevención de ciertas afecciones oculares. Antes de la llegada del hombre blanco a América, los Arándanos eran consumidos por los aborígenes, esto fue observado por dos exploradores norteamericanos, Lewis y Clark. Para el hombre europeo el Arándano no era familiar, es por esta razón que su consumo no fue sino hasta 1800, donde comenzaron a descubrirlo como fruta. Es muy habitual en los Países Escandinavos y también abundante en Escocia, Irlanda y Polonia.. Vislumbremos el relato…

Hello Listener! Thank you for listening.  If you would like to support the podcast, and keep the lights on, you can support us whenever you use Amazon through the link below: It will not cost you anything extra, and I can not see who purchased what. Or you can become a Fluffle Supporter by donating through Patreon.com at the link below: Patreon/Hare of the Rabbit What's this Patreon? Patreon is an established online platform that allows fans to provide regular financial support to creators. Patreon was created by a musician who needed a easy way for fans to support his band. What do you need? Please support Hare of the Rabbit Podcast financially by becoming a Patron. Patrons agree to a regular contribution, starting at $1 per episode. Patreon.com takes a token amount as a small processing fee, but most of your money will go directly towards supporting the Hare of the Rabbit Podcast. You can change or stop your payments at any time. You can also support by donating through PayPal.com at the link below: Hare of the Rabbit PayPal Thank you for your support, Jeff Hittinger. Snow Shoe Hare - Snoring and Nasal Obstruction in Rabbits - The Shot Hare - Perplexing Difference between Hares and Rabbits Hares and rabbits are related, but there are some key differences. Hares tend to be larger than rabbits and have longer legs and bigger ears. When threatened, rabbits typically freeze and rely on camouflage, as compared to hares, who use their big feet to flee at the first sign of danger. Rabbits are born blind and helpless, while hares are born fully furred and ready to run. About the Snowshoe Hare Snowshoe hares are forest-dwellers that prefer the thick cover of brushy undergrowth. The smallest species of the Lepus genus, the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) is a rabbit-sized mammal that is incredibly adapted to its seasonally variable environment. The snowshoe hare is named for its hind feet, which are adapted for traveling across snowy ground and are therefore noticeably large relative to the hare’s body mass. Population Range The snowshoe hare has the most extensive range of all New World hares and is found in many northern and western U.S. states, as well as in all provinces of Canada except Nunavut. They are primarily a northern species that inhabits boreal forests and can also range as far north as the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Along North American mountain ranges, where elevation simulates the environment of more northerly latitudes, they can be found as far south as Virginia (the Appalachians) and New Mexico (the Rockies). Snowshoe hares occur from Newfoundland to Alaska; south in the Sierra Nevada to central California; in the Rocky Mountains to southern Utah and northern New Mexico; and in the Appalachian Mountains to North Carolina and Tennessee. Snowshoe hares are primarily found in boreal forests and upper montane forests; within these forests, they favor habitats with a dense shrub layer. In the Pacific Northwest, snowshoe hares occupy diverse habitats, including mature conifers (mostly Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii] and variants), immature conifers, alder (Alnus spp.)/salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis), Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis)/salal (Gaultheria shallon), and cedar (Thuja spp.) swamps. In western Oregon, snowshoe hares were present in brush patches of vine maple (Acer circinatum), willows (Salix spp.), rhododendrons (Rhododendron spp.), and other shrubs. In Utah, snowshoe hares used Gambel oak (Quercus gambelli) in the northern portion of the Gambel oak range. In the Southwest, the southernmost populations of snowshoe hares occur in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, New Mexico, in subalpine scrub: narrow bands of shrubby and prostrate conifers at and just below timberline that are usually composed of Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii), bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata), limber pine (P. flexilis), and/or common juniper (Juniperus communis). In Minnesota, snowshoe hares use jack pine (P. banksiana) uplands, edges, tamarack (Larix laricina) bogs, black spruce (Picea mariana) bogs, and sedge (Carex spp.), alder, and scrub fens. In New England, snowshoe hares favor second-growth aspen (Populus spp.)-birch (Betula spp.) near conifers, but other forest types occupied by snowshoe hares include aspens, paper birch (B. papyrifera), northern hardwoods, red maple (A. rubrum), balsam fir (Abies balsamea), red spruce (Picea rubens)-balsam fir, eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), northern red oak (Quercus rubra), oak (Quercus spp.)-pine (Pinus spp.), eastern white pine (P. strobus)-northern red oak-red maple, and eastern white pine. Snowshoe hares also use shrub swamps dominated by buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), alders, and silky dogwood (Cornus ammomum). Locations of subspecies are as follows: Lepus americanus americanus (Erxleben) – Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Montana, and North Dakota L. a. cascadensis (Nelson) – British Columbia and Washington L. a. columbiensis (Rhoads) – British Columbia, Alberta, and Washington L. a. dalli (Merriam) – Mackenzie District, British Columbia, Alaska, Yukon L. a. klamathensis (Merriam) – Oregon and California L. a. oregonus (Orr) – Oregon L. a. pallidus (Cowan) – British Columbia L. a. phaeonotus (J. A. Allen) – Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota L. a. pineus (Dalquest) – British Columbia, Idaho, and Washington L. a. seclusus (Baker and Hankins) – Wyoming L. a. struthopus (Bangs) – Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Maine L. a. tahoensis (Orr) – California, western Nevada L. a. virginianus (Harlan) – Ontario, Quebec, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee L. a. washingtonii (Baird) – British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon Description Snowshoe hares have an interesting adaptation that helps protect them against predators. Depending on the season, their fur can be a different color. During the winter, snowshoe hares are white, which helps them blend in with the snow. When the seasons change to spring and summer, snowshoe hares turn a reddish-brown. This color helps them camouflage with dirt and rocks. Not every part of the snowshoe hare changes color throughout the year. An important identification trick is to look at a snowshoe hare's ears. The tips of the ears are always black no matter the season. The hind legs of a snowshoe hare are noticeably larger, and have more fur and larger toes than those of other rabbits or hares. These adaptations provide additional surface area and support for walking on snow. The hind legs are what give the hare its common name. The fur of the snowshoe hare is extremely thick and has one of the highest insulation values of all mammals. Another adaptation which ensures that the snowshoe hare can survive in an environment that drastically changes seasonally is that its fur changes color between summer and winter. In winter, almost all individuals undergo molting that transforms the hare’s brown summer coat into one that is pure white apart from the black-tipped ears and the feet, which remain grey. It is thought that this enables the snowshoe hare to become camouflaged, and has evolved to coincide with snow cover. The snowshoe hare’s relatively short ears are also an adaptation to reduce heat loss in the winter. The female of this species tends to weigh approximately 10 to 25 percent more than the male. Physical Description Snowshoe hares range in length from 413 to 518 mm, of which 39 to 52 mm are tail. The hind foot, long and broad, measures 117 to 147 mm in length. The ears are 62 to 70 mm from notch to tip. Snowshoe hares usually weigh between 1.43 and 1.55 kg. Males are slightly smaller than females, as is typical for leporids. In the summer, the coat is a grizzled rusty or grayish brown, with a blackish middorsal line, buff flanks and a white belly. The face and legs are cinnamon brown. The ears are brownish with black tips and white or creamy borders. During the winter, the fur is almost entirely white, except for black eyelids and the blackened tips on the ears. The soles of the feet are densely furred, with stiff hairs (forming the snowshoe) on the hind feet. Coloring Hares are a bit larger than rabbits, and they typically have taller hind legs and longer ears. Snowshoe hares have especially large, furry feet that help them to move atop snow in the winter. They also have a snow-white winter coat that turns brown when the snow melts each spring. It takes about ten weeks for the coat to completely change color. The snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), also called the varying hare, or snowshoe rabbit, is a species of hare found in North America. It has the name "snowshoe" because of the large size of its hind feet. The animal's feet prevent it from sinking into the snow when it hops and walks. Its feet also have fur on the soles to protect it from freezing temperatures. For camouflage, its fur turns white during the winter and rusty brown during the summer. Its flanks are white year-round. The snowshoe hare is also distinguishable by the black tufts of fur on the edge of its ears. Its ears are shorter than those of most other hares. Preferred habitat Major variables in habitat quality include average visual obstruction and browse biomass. Snowshoe hares prefer young forests with abundant under-stories. The presence of cover is the primary determinant of habitat quality, and is more significant than food availability or species composition. Species composition does, however, influence population density; dense softwood under-stories support greater snowshoe hare density than hardwoods because of cover quality. In Maine, female snowshoe hares were observed to be more common on sites with less cover but more nutritious forage; males tended to be found on sites with heavier cover. Winter browse availability depends on height of understory brush and winter snow depth; 6-to-8-foot-tall (1.8 to 2.4 m) saplings with narrow stem diameters are required for winter browse in heavy snow. In northern regions, snowshoe hares occupy conifer and mixed forests in all stages of succession, but early successional forests foster peak abundance. Deciduous forests are usually occupied only in early stages of succession. In New England, snowshoe hares preferred second-growth deciduous, coniferous, and mixed woods with dense brushy under stories; they appear to prefer shrubby old-field areas, early- to mid-successional burns, shrub-swamps, bogs, and upper montane krumholz vegetation. In Maine, snowshoe hares were more active in clear-cut areas than in partially cut or uncut areas. Sapling densities were highest on 12- to 15-year-old plots; these plots were used more than younger stands. In northern Utah, they occupied all the later stages of succession on quaking aspen and spruce-fir, but were not observed in meadows. In Alberta, snowshoe hares use upland shrub-sapling stages of regenerating aspens (either postfire or postharvest). In British Columbia overstocked juvenile lodge-pole pine (Pinus contorta) stands formed optimal snowshoe hare habitat. In western Washington, most un-burned, burned, or scarified clear-cuts will normally be fully occupied by snowshoe hares within four to five years, as vegetation becomes dense. In older stands (more than 25 years), stem density begins to decline and cover for snowshoe hares decreases. However, in north-central Washington, they may not colonize clear-cuts until six or seven years, and it may take 20 to 25 years for their density to reach maximum. Winter snowshoe hare pellet counts were highest in 20-year-old lodge-pole pine stands, lower in older lodge-pole stands, and lowest in spruce-dominated stands. In western Oregon, snowshoe hares were abundant only in early successional stages, including stable brushfields. In west-central Oregon, an old-growth Douglas-fir forest was clear-cut and monitored through 10 years of succession. A few snowshoe hares were noted in adjacent virgin forest plots; they represented widely scattered, sparse populations. One snowshoe hare was observed on the disturbed plot 2.5 years after it had been clear-cut and burned; at this stage, ground cover was similar to that of the uncut forest. By 9 years after disturbance, snowshoe hare density had increased markedly. In western Washington, snowshoe hares routinely used steep slopes where cover was adequate; most studies, however, suggest they tend to prefer gentle slopes. Moonlight increases snowshoe hare vulnerability to predation, particularly in winter. They tend to avoid open areas during bright phases of the moon and during bright periods of a single night. Their activity usually shifts from coniferous under-stories in winter to hardwood under-stories in summer. Vegetative structure plays an important role in the size of snowshoe hare home ranges. Snowshoe hares wander up to 5 miles (8 km) when food is scarce. In Montana home ranges are smaller in brushy woods than in open woods. In Colorado and Utah, the average home range of both sexes was 20 acres (8.1 ha). On the Island of Montreal in Quebec, the average daily range for both sexes was 4 acres (1.6 ha) in old-field mixed woods. In Montana, the home range averaged 25 acres (10 ha) for males and 19 acres (7.6 ha) for females. In Oregon the average snowshoe hare home range was 14.6 acres (5.9 ha).[32] Home Range During its active period, a hare may cover up to 0.02 square kilometers of its 0.03 to 0.07 square kilometer home range. Cover requirements Snowshoe hares require dense, brushy, usually coniferous cover; thermal and escape cover are especially important for young hares. Low brush provides hiding, escape, and thermal cover. Heavy cover 10 feet (3 m) above ground provides protection from avian predators, and heavy cover 3.3 feet (1 m) tall provides cover from terrestrial predators. Overwinter survival increases with increased cover. A wide variety of habitat types are used if cover is available. Base visibility in good snowshoe hare habitat ranges from 2% at 16.5 feet (5 m) distance to 0% at 66 feet (20 m). Travel cover is slightly more open, ranging from 14.7% visibility at 16.5 feet (5 m) to 2.6% at 66 feet (20 m). Areas with horizontal vegetation density of 40 to 100% at 50 feet (15 m) are adequate snowshoe hare habitat in Utah. Food habits Snowshoe hares eat a variety of plant materials. Forage type varies with season. Succulent green vegetation is consumed when available from spring to fall; after the first frost, buds, twigs, evergreen needles, and bark form the bulk of snowshoe hare diets until spring greenup. Snowshoe hares typically feed at night and follow well-worn forest paths to feed on various plants and trees. Winter Snowshoe hares prefer branches, twigs, and small stems up to 0.25 inch (6.3 mm) diameter; larger stems are sometimes used in winter. In Yukon, they normally eat fast-growing birches and willows, and avoid spruce. At high densities, however, the apical shoots of small spruce are eaten. The snowshoe hare winter diet is dominated by bog birch (Betula glandulosa), which is preferred but not always available. Greyleaf willow (Salix glauca) is eaten most often when bog birch is not available. Buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis) is the fourth most common diet item. White spruce (Picea glauca) is eaten, but not preferred. In Alaska, spruce, willows, and alders comprise 75% of snowshoe hare diets; spruce needles make up nearly 40% of the diet. In northwestern Oregon, winter foods include needles and tender bark of Sitka spruce, Douglas-fir, and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla); leaves and green twigs of salal; buds, twigs, and bark of willows; and green herbs. In north-central Washington, willows and birches are not plentiful; snowshoe hares browse the tips of lodgepole pine seedlings. In Utah, winter foods include Douglas-fir, willows, snowberry (Symphoricarpos spp.), maples, and serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.). In Minnesota, aspens, willows, hazelnut (Corylus spp.), ferns (Pteridophyta spp.), birches, alders, sumacs (Rhus spp.), and strawberries (Fragaria spp.) are winter foods. Winter foods in New York include eastern white pine, red pine (Pinus resinosa), white spruce, paper birch, and aspens. In Ontario, sugar maple (Acer saccharum), striped maple (A. pensylvanicum), red maple, other deciduous species, northern white-cedar (T. occidentalis), balsam fir, beaked hazelnut (C. cornuta), and buffaloberry were heavily barked. In New Brunswick, snowshoe hares consumed northern white-cedar, spruces, American beech (Fagus grandifolia), balsam fir, mountain maple (A. spicatum), and many other species of browse. In Newfoundland, paper birch is preferred. Spring, summer and autumn In Alaska, snowshoe hares consume new leaves of blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), new shoots of field horsetails (Equisetum arvense), and fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) in spring. Grasses are not a major item due to low availability associated with sites that have adequate cover. In summer, leaves of willows, black spruce, birches, and bog Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum) are also consumed. Black spruce is the most heavily used and the most common species in the area. Pen trials suggest black spruce is not actually preferred. Roses (Rosa spp.) were preferred, but a minor dietary item, as they were not common in the study area. In northwest Oregon, summer foods include grasses, clovers (Trifolium spp.), other forbs, and some woody plants, including Sitka spruce, Douglas-fir, and young leaves and twigs of salal. In Minnesota, aspens, willows, grasses, birches, alders, sumacs, and strawberries are consumed when green. In Ontario, summer diets consist of clovers, grasses, and forbs. Behavior Snowshoe hares feed at night, following well worn forest paths to feed on trees and shrubs, grasses, and plants. These animals are nimble and fast, which is fortunate, because they are a popular target for many predators. Lynx, fox, coyote, and even some birds of prey hunt this wary hare. Hares like to take dust baths. These help to remove ectoparasites from the hares' fur. Snowshoe hares are also accomplished swimmers. They occasionally swim across small lakes and rivers, and they have been seen entering the water in order to avoid predators. With the hindfeet splayed and the front feet close together, a snowshoe hare can erupt into a full run from a sitting position, attaining bursts of speeds of up to 40-56 km/h (25-35 mph) in a matter of seconds. Social System - The species is solitary, promiscuous, and sedentary. Males compete aggressively for receptive females, biting and scratching each other. Rarely, such encounters prove fatal to one of the combatants. Both sexes occupy small, overlapping home ranges of 1.6-4.8 ha (4-12 acre) that vary in shape with the configuration of the habitat. This species, which is well known for its dramatic fluctuations in numbers in other parts of its range, maintains relatively stable populations is the Adirondacks, and within suitable habitat, some of the highest densities anywhere, 1.7 per ha (0.7 per acre) Communication - Snowshoe hares use visual, tactile, vocal, chemical, and mechanical signals to communicate. Individuals "thump" with their hindfeet, perhaps as an alarm signal. During courtship, partners may touch noses before a male rushes or chases the female. Chases then alternate between the two, both stopping abruptly and turing to leap over the back of the other. Both may urinate on the other while leaping. Snowshoe hares perform guttural hisses at the conclusion of mating, and grunt, snort, or growl in other contexts. When captured, injured or frightened, they may scream. Communication and Perception Snowshoe hares have acute hearing, which presumably helps them to identify approaching predators. They are not particularly vocal animals, but may make loud squealing sounds when captured. When engaging in aggressive activities, these animals may hiss and snort. Most communication between hares involves thumping the hind feet against the ground. In summer, it feeds on plants such as grass, ferns and leaves; in winter, it eats twigs, the bark from trees, and buds from flowers and plants and, similar to the Arctic hare, has been known to steal meat from baited traps. Hares are carnivorous under the availability of dead animals, and have been known to eat dead rodents such as mice due to low availability of protein in a herbivorous diet. It can sometimes be seen feeding in small groups. This animal is mainly active at night and does not hibernate. The snowshoe hare has been reported to make many characteristic hare vocalizations, which are mainly emitted as a result of fear or stress associated with capture or predation. A common snowshoe hare vocalization is a high-pitched squeal, and other noises include whines, grunts and clicking sounds. Snowshoe hares are crepuscular to nocturnal. They are shy and secretive and spend most of the day in shallow depressions, called forms, scraped out under clumps of ferns, brush thickets, and downed piles of timber. They occasionally use the large burrows of mountain beavers (Aplodontia rufa) as forms. The snowshoe hare is a social species and has been spotted in groups of up to 25 individuals in one forest clearing at night, unlike most other Lepus species which are solitary until the mating season. Diurnal activity level increases during the breeding season. Juveniles are usually more active and less cautious than adults. Snowshoe hares are active year-round. The breeding season for hares is stimulated by new vegetation and varies with latitude, location, and yearly events (such as weather conditions and phase of snowshoe hare population cycle). Breeding generally begins in late December to January and lasts until July or August. In northwestern Oregon, male peak breeding activity (as determined by testes weight) occurs in May and is at the minimum in November. In Ontario, the peak is in May and in Newfoundland, the peak is in June. Female estrus begins in March in Newfoundland, Alberta, and Maine, and in early April in Michigan and Colorado. First litters of the year are born from mid-April to May. The gestation period is 35 to 40 days; most studies report 37 days as the average length of gestation. Litters average three to five leverets depending on latitude, elevation, and phase of population cycle, ranging from one to seven. Deep snow-pack increases the amount of upper-branch browse available to snowshoe hares in winter, and therefore has a positive relationship with the nutritional status of breeding adults. Litters are usually smaller in the southern sections of their range since there is less snow. Newborns are fully furred, open-eyed, and mobile. T hey leave the natal form within a short time after birth, often within 24 hours. After leaving the birthplace, siblings stay near each other during the day, gathering once each evening to nurse. Weaning occurs at 25 to 28 days except for the last litter of the season, which may nurse for two months or longer. Female snowshoe hares can become pregnant anytime after the 35th day of gestation. The second litter can therefore be conceived before the first litter is born (snowshoe hares have twin uteri). Pregnancy rates ranged from 78 to 100% for females during the period of first litter production, 82 to 100% for second litters, and for the periods of third and fourth litters pregnancy rates vary with population cycle. In Newfoundland, the average number of litters per female per year ranged from 2.9 to 3.5, and in Alberta the range was from 2.7 to 3.3. In Alberta the average number of litters per year was almost 3 just after a population peak and 4 just after the population low. Females normally first breed as 1-year-olds. Juvenile breeding is rare and has only been observed in females from the first litter of the year and only in years immediately following a low point in the population cycle. Reproduction Like most hares (and rabbits), snowshoe hares are prolific breeders. Females have two or three litters each year, which include from one to eight young per litter. Young hares, called leverets, require little care from their mothers and can survive on their own in a month or less. Snowshoe hare populations fluctuate cyclically about once a decade—possibly because of disease. These waning and waxing numbers greatly impact the animals that count on hares for food, particularly the lynx. The snowshoe hare may have up to four litters in a year which average three to eight young. Males compete for females, and females may breed with several males. Young snowshoe hares, known as leverets, are born in nests which consist of shallow depressions dug into the ground. They are born with a full coat of fur and with their eyes open, and remain concealed within dense vegetation. The female snowshoe hare visits the leverets to nurse them. Hares greatly influence the world around them, including the vegetation, predators, and other herbivores and omnivores that live in the same habitats. Hares browse heavily on vegetation. Browsing affects the growth of plants and stimulates plants to produce secondary compounds that make them unpalatable for hares and other omnivores. Predation The relationship between snowshoe hares and their year-round predators including lynx, great-horned owls, and northern goshawks is well documented. These and other predators such as golden eagles depend on snowshoe hares as a food source early in the nesting season. Across the boreal forest, the population size and reproductive success of many predators cycles with the abundance of hare. In Yukon, 30-day survival of radio-tagged leverets was 46%, 15%, and 43% for the first, second, and third litters of the year, respectively. There were no differences in mortality in plots with food added. The main proximate cause of mortality was predation by small mammals, including red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) and Arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii). Littermates tended to live or die together more often than by chance. Individual survival was negatively related to litter size and positively related to body size at birth. Litter size is negatively correlated with body size at birth. Snowshoe hares are experts at escaping predators. Young hares often "freeze" in their tracks when they are alerted to the presence of a predator. Presumably, they are attempting to escape notice by being cryptic. Given the hare's background-matching coloration, this strategy is quite effective. Older hares are more likely to escape predators by fleeing. At top speed, a snowshoe hare can travel up to 27 mile per hour. An adult hare can cover up to 10 feet in a single bound. In addition to high speeds, hares employ skillful changes in direction and vertical leaps, which may cause a predator to misjudge the exact position of the animal from one moment to the next. Important predators of snowshoe hares include gray foxes, red foxes, coyotes, wolves, lynx, bobcats and mink. Predators The snowshoe hare is a major prey item for a number of predators. Major predators include Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), bobcats (L. rufus), fishers (Martes pennanti), American martens (M. americana), long-tailed weasels (Mustela frenata), minks (M. vison), foxes (Vulpes and Urocyon spp.), coyote (Canis latrans), domestic dogs (C. familiaris), domestic cats (Felis catus), wolves (C. lupus), mountain lions (Felis concolor), great horned owls (Bubo virginianus), barred owls (Strix varia), spotted owls (S. occidentalis), other owls, red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis), other hawks (Buteonidae), golden eagles (Aquila chryseatos), and crows and ravens. Other predators include black bears (Ursus americanus). In Glacier National Park snowshoe hares are a prey item of Rocky Mountain wolves (Canis lupus irremotus). A major predator of the snowshoe hare is the Canadian lynx. Historical records of animals caught by fur hunters over hundreds of years show the lynx and hare numbers rising and falling in a cycle, which has made the hare known to biology students worldwide as a case study of the relationship between numbers of predators and their prey. Northern populations of snowshoe hares undergo cycles that range from seven to 17 years between population peaks. The average time between peaks is approximately 10 years. The period of abundance usually lasts for two to five years, followed by a population decline to lower numbers or local scarcity. Areas of great abundance tend to be scattered. Populations do not peak simultaneously in all areas, although a great deal of synchronicity occurs in northern latitudes. From 1931 to 1948, the cycle was synchronized within one or two years over most of Canada and Alaska, despite differences in predators and food supplies. In central Alberta, low snowshoe hare density occurred in 1965, with 42 to 74 snowshoe hares per 100 acres (40 ha). The population peak occurred in November 1970 with 2,830 to 5,660 snowshoe hares per 100 acres (40 ha). In the southern parts of its range, snowshoe hare populations do not fluctuate radically. As well as being prey to a number of forest animals, the snowshoe hare is hunted mainly for food by humans, particularly in Canada. Habitat loss and fragmentation, and possibly climate change, also threaten populations of the snowshoe hare. Clear-cutting of forests, whereby most or all of the trees in an area are cut down, reduces the area of ideal habitat for the snowshoe hare, which tends not to venture into open areas. The hares reach maturity after one year. Many hares do not live this long. But some hares can live as long as five years in the wild. Snowshoe hare conservation Although the snowshoe hare currently has a stable population trend and is not currently considered to be threatened, there are some conservation strategies in place for this species. In order to increase populations of the snowshoe hare in some southern states, hunting has been banned either permanently or temporarily, although it is not certain how effective this has been. In some areas, snowshoe hares have been bred in captivity and introduced to the wild in order to artificially boost populations. However, this has not been overly successful as many of these hares die during transport, and those that are introduced to the habitat are extremely susceptible to predation. Predator control has been suggested as a means of reducing mortality in the snowshoe hare, but this method produces several challenges for conservationists. Further research into various aspects of the snowshoe hare’s ecology has been recommended, as well as long-term monitoring of the species’ population trends, and studies on the impact of specific forestry management. In addition, the snowshoe hare occurs in several U.S. National Wildlife Refuges (NWR), including Koyukuk NWR, Red Rock Lakes NWR and Kodiak NWR, which are likely to afford it some protection. Snowshoe hares have been widely studied. One of the more interesting things known about hares are the dramatic population cycles that they undergo. Population densities can vary from 1 to 10,000 hares per square mile. The amplitude of the population fluctuations varies across the geographic range. It is greatest in northwestern Canada, and least in the rocky Mountain region of the United States, perhaps because there is more biological diversity in more southerly regions. The lack of diversity in the Northwestern portion of the hare's range means that there are fewer links in the food chain, and therefore fewer species to buffer either dramatic population increases or decreases. Disease may play a part in population fluctuation. Pneumonococcus, ringworm, and salmonella have all been associated with population crashes. Snowshoe hares are also famous for their seasonal molts. In the summer, the coat of the hare is reddish brown or gray, but during the winter, the coat is snowy white. The molt usually takes about 72 days to reach completion, and it seems to be regulated by day-length. Interestingly, there seem to be two entirely different sets of hair follicles, which give rise to white and brown hairs, respectively.  In the wild as much as 85% of snowshoe hares do not live longer than one year. Individuals may live up to 5 years in the wild. Economic Importance for Humans: Positive Snowshoe hares are utilized widely as a source of wild meat. In addition to this, they are an important prey species for many predators whose furs are highly valued. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/s/snowshoe-hare/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowshoe_hare https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Snowshoe-Hare http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/species/who_we_are/ssc_specialist_groups_and_red_list_authorities_directory/mammals/lagomorph_specialist_group/ https://www.arkive.org/snowshoe-hare/lepus-americanus/ http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lepus_americanus/ https://www.esf.edu/aec/adks/mammals/snowshoe_hare.htm https://www.denali.org/denalis-natural-history/snowshoe-hare/ https://www.nps.gov/articles/snowshoe-hare.htm Snoring and Nasal Obstruction in Rabbits Did you know rabbits snore? Even occurring while they are awake, it is generally a result of blockage in the animal's airway. Typically referred to as stertor and stridor, it can also occur if nasal tissues are weak or flaccid or from excessive fluid in the passages. Symptoms The symptoms, signs and types of stertor and stridor depend on the underlying cause and severity of the condition. For example, an extremely stressed rabbit or a rabbit with a lowered immune system may sound excessively hoarse while breathing. Other typical signs for rabbits suffering from stertor and stridor include: Sneezing Rapid or loud wheezing sounds during breathing Nasal discharge (sometimes due to sinusitis or rhinitis) Discharge from the eyes Lack of appetite Inability to chew or swallow Oral abscesses (especially in the teeth) Causes Rabbits tend to be nasal breathers and any physical deformity or unusual nasal structure can result in a lower-pitched (stertor) or higher-pitched (stridor) sound emanating from the airway or nose. There are, however, many other causes for stertor and stridor in rabbits. These include: Sinusitis and rhinitis Abscesses, elongated teeth or secondary bacterial infections Facial, nasal or other trauma affecting this region, including bites from other insects or animals Allergies and irritants including inhaling pollen, dust or other insects Tumors that lodge in the airway Dysfunction of the neuromuscular system, which may include hypothyroidism or diseases affecting the brainstem Swelling and edema in the upper respiratory system Inflammation of the soft palate or throat and voice box Anxiety or stress Diagnosis To diagnose the animal, a veterinarian will first determine where the sounds are originating from in the rabbit. They will then conduct various lab tests, including X-rays, which are used to explore the rabbit's nasal cavity and identify any facial abnormalities or signs of abscesses and bacterial infections, such as Pasteurella. Other procedures may include collecting cultures Treatment includes providing supplemental oxygen to the rabbit, when appropriate, and providing a quite, cool and calm environment in which to live. A rabbit must also have a clear and unobstructed airway, keeping its ear and nasal cavities clean and debris-free. To combat harmful bacterial infections from developing, the veterinarian may alter the rabbit's diet to include more leafy greens. Medications which are helpful to control bacterial sinusitis, rhinitis or other related infection include antibiotics. And while steroids may be used to reduce nasal swelling or inflammation, it can worsen bacterial infections and should only be used when absolutely necessary and under the direct care of a trained veterinarian. Living and Management Because stertor and stridor are often related to airway obstructions, there are many serious complications which may arise. Pulmonary edema, or fluid retention in the lungs or airway, is one such common example. It is, therefore, important to closely monitor the rabbit and bring it to the veterinarian's office for regular checkups and follow-up care during recovery. https://www.petmd.com/rabbit/conditions/nose/c_rb_stertor_stridor The Shot Hare Wales Beti Ifan was one of the witches of Bedd Gelert. Her fear had fallen upon nearly all the inhabitants, so that she was refused nothing by any one, for she had the reputation of being able to handle ghosts, and to curse people and their possessions. She therefore lived in comfort and ease, doing nothing except keeping her house moderately clean, and leaning on the lower half of her front door knitting and watching passers-by. But there was one man in the village, a cobbler and a skilled poacher, who feared neither Beti Ifan nor any other old hag of the kind. His great hobby was to tease and annoy the old woman by showing her a hare or a wild duck, and asking her if she would like to get it. When she replied she would, he used to hand it almost within her reach and then pull it back, and walk away. She could not do him much harm, as he had a birthmark above his breast; but she contrived a way by which she could have her revenge on him. She used to transform herself into a wild duck or hare, and continually appear before him on the meadows and among the trees whenever he went out poaching, but took good care to keep outside the reach of the gun. He, being a good shot, and finding himself missing so frequently, began to suspect something to be amiss. He knew of a doctor who was a "skilled man" living not far away, so he went to consult him. The doctor told him, "Next time you go out take with you a small branch of mountain ash, and a bit of vervain and place it under the stock of the gun." Then giving him a piece of paper with some writing on, he said, "When you see the hare, or any other creature of which you have some doubt, read this backward, and if it is old Beti you will see her in her own form, though she retain her assumed form; shoot at her legs, but mind you do not shoot her anywhere else." The next day, as he was working his way through a grove near Beti's house, he could see a large hare hopping in front of him. He drew out his paper and read as he was instructed; he then fired at her legs, and the hare ran towards Beti's cottage. He ran after it, and was just in time to see the hare jumping over the lower half of the house door. Going up to the cottage he could hear the old woman groaning; when he went in she was sitting by the fire with blood streaming from her legs. He was never again troubled with the hare-like appearances of old Beti'r Fedw. https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type3055.html#haas © Copyrighted

We recap the South by Southwest Education conference (SXSW EDU) in 2018 after it ends, talking about the reactions of attendees, educational technology, PBS, escape rooms, political visitors, the educational pipeline from industry on down to K-12, ideas for future SXSW events, and more. Related to this episode: • Scandinavian Airlines direct flight between Austin and Stockholm: http://kut.org/post/scandinavians-apparently-love-sxsw-so-airline-flying-nonstop-austin • The lingonberry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccinium_vitis-idaea • SXSW EDU (South by Southwest Education): http://sxswedu.com/ • SXSW EDU panel “Practitioner Perspective: Finding Edtech Efficacy”: https://schedule.sxswedu.com/2018/events/PP76404 • Example research paper on an educational product (a K-12 engineering curriculum in this case): https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10956-014-9498-4 • KIPP Chart School network: http://www.kipp.org/ • “What Matters for Charter Performance,” 2017 article from US News: https://www.usnews.com/opinion/knowledge-bank/articles/2017-06-30/3-hidden-findings-from-credos-charter-school-performance-study • PBS Kids apps: http://pbskids.org/apps/ • Engineer's Guide to Improv and Art Games, book available at SXSW book signing and online: https://www.pioslabs.com/improv4design.html • Lead users, in business: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_user • Empathic lead user analysis: http://proceedings.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/proceeding.aspx?articleid=1604193 • Stanford Design School escape room, Deeper Learning Puzzle Bus: https://dschool.stanford.edu/k12-lab-network/puzzles • Unity for Education, game design engine: https://store.unity.com/education • Unreal Engine for Education: https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/education • “How Integrating Arts Into Other Subjects Makes Learning Come Alive” from KQED: https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/38576/how-integrating-arts-into-other-subjects-makes-learning-come-alive • “Yes, and” game, similar to “Yes, I know”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSzCfsGvwj0 • “Reacting to Secretary DeVos at SXSW EDU,” article in Inside Higher Ed: https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/technology-and-learning/reacting-secretary-devos-sxsw-edu • “Betsy DeVos at SXSW EDU: ‘What Students Really Need Won't Originate in Washington',” article in EdSurge: https://www.edsurge.com/news/2018-03-06-betsy-devos-at-sxsw-edu-what-students-really-need-won-t-originate-in-washington • “Betsy DeVos addresses education inequality during SXSW panel,” article in The Daily Dot: https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/betsy-devos-education-sxsw-panel/ • Panelpicker for next SXSW: https://www.sxswedu.com/panelpicker/ • “What does college and career readiness mean?” article from the Washington DC Superintendent of Education: https://osse.dc.gov/service/what-does-college-and-career-readiness-mean • “How to Prepare Kids for Jobs that Don't Exist Yet,” session at SXSW EDU: https://schedule.sxswedu.com/2018/events/PP72525 • WeCreateEdu, a YouTube educational collaborative: http://www.wecreateedu.com/ • The photo in this episode's cover art was taken at the Austin Convention Center during SXSW EDU 2018. It shows a collaborative wall for attendees to write on and draw on during the conference. Our closing music is “Yes And” by Steve Combs, used under a Creative Commons Attribution License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Subscribe and find more podcast information at: http://www.k12engineering.net. Support Pios Labs with regular donations on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pioslabs, or send one-time contributions by buying us coffee: https://ko-fi.com/pioslabs. Thanks to our donors and listeners for making the show possible. The K12 Engineering Education Podcast is a production of Pios Labs: http://www.pioslabs.com.

:35 What’s For Dinner: Edible Landscaping We discuss some of the plants that do double duty in the landscape: these are attractive and edible! The plants mentioned are: Roses, crabapple trees, plum trees, blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) old-fashioned quince (Chaenomeles japonica 'Toyo-Nishiki’), bee balm, ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium), potato-bean vine (Apios americana), doyle's thornless blackberry, rainbow chard, salad greens, and nasturtiums. 10:05 The Plant Noob: Buying Plants in 6 packs vs. 4” Pots Those new to planting often wonder why some plants are sold in inexpensive six packs, while others are only available in small pots. Ellen and C.L. explain. 14:15  Eat/Drink/Grow: Growing Plants From Pits and Leftovers Have you ever wondered if you can grow an apple or orange tree from the pit of the fruit you bought in the store? And how about making a houseplant from the top of a pineapple or the seed from an avocado? 21:25 Insider Information: Those Cheerful Supermarket Primroses… They have round flowers in bright colors and make us believe that spring is, indeed, just around the corner. Ellen and C.L. talk about whether you can plant these outside once the warmer weather actually arrives. 29:00 Love Letters and Questions: Soil Treatments Is it possible to treat the soil to get rid of all your insect and disease problems?

Could something as insignificant as the tiny blueberry offer powerful protection and healing for your body? It can—and probably in ways that you’ve never dreamed possible. Rich in manganese, phytonutrients, fiber and vitamin C, blueberries are one of the most powerful antioxidants in the plant kingdom. They offer extraordinary anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. They may even help combat diabetes. This was first discovered way back in 1927, when it was found that taking a specific extract of blueberry can significantly slash blood sugar levels. These findings were largely ignored by mainstream medicine. The editorial board on the Journal of the American Medical Association—America’s most revered medical journal—argued that this had to be impossible. They claimed that such extracts could never be standardized. Now, thanks to investigations by independent Life Extension scientists, you can buy an inexpensive, specific blueberry extract, further enhanced with pomegranate, which works wonders. Blueberries are not bilberries. It’s important that you know the difference. Both berries belong to the Heath family of plants, which include rhododendron, American laurel, and broom. The difference between them comes in the size of their seeds, and their skin. Bilberries have been grown all over northern Europe since the 16th century. Unlike blueberries, bilberries are acidic in flavor. These dark blueish-purple berries have long been popular in Sweden. Blueberries (their botanical name is Vaccinium corymbosum or Vaccinium angustifolium) tend to be hybrids of three native American species. They are up to four times larger than bilberries, and they’re pleasingly sweet. Most commercially cultivated blueberries are grown in North America and New Zealand, as well as to some degree in parts of Western Europe. When researchers analyzed vegetables and fruits to determine their antioxidant capacities, blueberries came high on the list. They can destroy free radicals, combat oxidative stress, help maintain healthy blood flow, healthy LDL and blood pressure levels. Blueberry extract, when combined with other natural berry components, may even help prevent and clear bladder infections by blocking bacteria from attaching to the walls of the bladder. In 2005, researchers discovered that the polyphenols which a specific blueberry extract contains can reverse both motor defects and cognitive defects which can develop as your body ages. Polyphenols are natural plant molecules with potent antioxidant capabilities. According to the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, it is the multi-leveled range of polyphenols that brings blueberries their anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The two most active constituents found in blueberries are anthocyanins and pterostilbene. Blueberry anthocyanins are considered one of nature’s most potent antioxidants. It’s pterostilbene, the other blueberry constituent, that helps maintain healthy lipid and glucose levels within healthy ranges. Through its unique biological effects and antioxidative potential, pterostilbene also helps maintain your healthy DNA structure. Blueberry extract also triggers neurogenesis—by stimulating nerve supply and adaptability in the part of the brain primarily affected by Alzheimer’s disease—the hippocampus. People who take in a lot of natural polyphenol molecules from plants have significantly lower rates of neurodegenerative disorders. Blueberry polyphenol molecules are able to cross the blood brain barrier. They’ve even been shown to enhance the release of essential neurotransmitters from aged brain cells. Meanwhile in 2008, animal-based research carried out at University of Florida discovered blueberry extract can prevent the final steps in the formation of destructive amyloid-beta proteins—a major trigger for loss of memory and good brain functions. Other recent studies show that blueberry extract may prevent DNA damage and encourage fast, accurate DNA repair. A recent animal study showed that blueberry compounds increased mean lifespan by 28%. Translate that into human terms and you’re looking at 22 years. Finally, and most fascinating to me, is the way natural compounds in blueberries can act as nootropics. These are often known as smart drugs, neuro enhancers, or cognitive enhancers, which improve aspects of mental functions. I not only have a love of organic blueberries and eat a lot of them when they’re in season. I have been so impressed with the new Life Extension Blueberry Extract with Pomegranate that I take it daily. Do see if you benefit from it as much as I have—and let me know, won’t you? Life Extension, Blueberry Extract with Pomegranate, 60 Veggie Caps http://www.iherb.com/life-extension-blueberry-extract-with-pomegranate-60-veggie-caps/37818?rcode=yes026

Could something as insignificant as the tiny blueberry offer powerful protection and healing for your body? It can—and probably in ways that you’ve never dreamed possible. Rich in manganese, phytonutrients, fiber and vitamin C, blueberries are one of the most powerful antioxidants in the plant kingdom. They offer extraordinary anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. They may even help combat diabetes. This was first discovered way back in 1927, when it was found that taking a specific extract of blueberry can significantly slash blood sugar levels. These findings were largely ignored by mainstream medicine. The editorial board on the Journal of the American Medical Association—America’s most revered medical journal—argued that this had to be impossible. They claimed that such extracts could never be standardized. Now, thanks to investigations by independent Life Extension scientists, you can buy an inexpensive, specific blueberry extract, further enhanced with pomegranate, which works wonders. Blueberries are not bilberries. It’s important that you know the difference. Both berries belong to the Heath family of plants, which include rhododendron, American laurel, and broom. The difference between them comes in the size of their seeds, and their skin. Bilberries have been grown all over northern Europe since the 16th century. Unlike blueberries, bilberries are acidic in flavor. These dark blueish-purple berries have long been popular in Sweden. Blueberries (their botanical name is Vaccinium corymbosum or Vaccinium angustifolium) tend to be hybrids of three native American species. They are up to four times larger than bilberries, and they’re pleasingly sweet. Most commercially cultivated blueberries are grown in North America and New Zealand, as well as to some degree in parts of Western Europe. When researchers analyzed vegetables and fruits to determine their antioxidant capacities, blueberries came high on the list. They can destroy free radicals, combat oxidative stress, help maintain healthy blood flow, healthy LDL and blood pressure levels. Blueberry extract, when combined with other natural berry components, may even help prevent and clear bladder infections by blocking bacteria from attaching to the walls of the bladder. In 2005, researchers discovered that the polyphenols which a specific blueberry extract contains can reverse both motor defects and cognitive defects which can develop as your body ages. Polyphenols are natural plant molecules with potent antioxidant capabilities. According to the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, it is the multi-leveled range of polyphenols that brings blueberries their anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The two most active constituents found in blueberries are anthocyanins and pterostilbene. Blueberry anthocyanins are considered one of nature’s most potent antioxidants. It’s pterostilbene, the other blueberry constituent, that helps maintain healthy lipid and glucose levels within healthy ranges. Through its unique biological effects and antioxidative potential, pterostilbene also helps maintain your healthy DNA structure. Blueberry extract also triggers neurogenesis—by stimulating nerve supply and adaptability in the part of the brain primarily affected by Alzheimer’s disease—the hippocampus. People who take in a lot of natural polyphenol molecules from plants have significantly lower rates of neurodegenerative disorders. Blueberry polyphenol molecules are able to cross the blood brain barrier. They’ve even been shown to enhance the release of essential neurotransmitters from aged brain cells. Meanwhile in 2008, animal-based research carried out at University of Florida discovered blueberry extract can prevent the final steps in the formation of destructive amyloid-beta proteins—a major trigger for loss of memory and good brain functions. Other recent studies show that blueberry extract may prevent DNA damage and encourage fast, accurate DNA repair. A recent animal study showed that blueberry compounds increased mean lifespan by 28%. Translate that into human terms and you’re looking at 22 years. Finally, and most fascinating to me, is the way natural compounds in blueberries can act as nootropics. These are often known as smart drugs, neuro enhancers, or cognitive enhancers, which improve aspects of mental functions. I not only have a love of organic blueberries and eat a lot of them when they’re in season. I have been so impressed with the new Life Extension Blueberry Extract with Pomegranate that I take it daily. Do see if you benefit from it as much as I have—and let me know, won’t you? Life Extension, Blueberry Extract with Pomegranate, 60 Veggie Caps http://www.iherb.com/life-extension-blueberry-extract-with-pomegranate-60-veggie-caps/37818?rcode=yes026

I personally don’t think blueberries are actually true blue.They are kind of a dusty indigo colour on the outside and mainly white or pale green on the inside.That said, they are as blue as a food is ever going to get. Most people are unaware there are many varieties, and around the globe blueberries are known by differing names.In northern England they are often called Whineberry, and in other parts of the UK Whortleberries.In America they can also be referred to as Bilberries or Huckleberries (think of Huckleberry Finn).In Australia we just call them blueberries.Regardless of the species or name, blueberries are a member of the Vaccinium species.The firm skin surrounds a soft and juicy flesh with tiny, tender seeds.They are on average the size of a pea.Blueberries taste sweet and tart and are usually eaten raw, but are also spectacular baked into muffins or cooked into fruit compote or a jam.They are a fantastic source of vitamin C.Here are some great ideas for using blueberries:Cooked into an apple pie or crumbleAdded to a fresh fruit saladBlended with other berries and frozen into a sorbetServed with low fat Greek yoghurtSprinkled over pancakes, or added to the pancake batter.Blueberry Pancakes1 egg2 tbsp caster sugar¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda1 cup buttermilk1 cup self-raising flour2 tbsp butter, melted½ cup blueberries In a bowl, whisk together the egg and castor sugar.Sift together the self raising flour and bicarbonate of soda.Melt butter and leave cool.Slowly add the flour and buttermilk alternately to the egg and sugar mix.Then whisk in the cooled melted butter and stir in the blueberries.Place tablespoons of batter into a greased frypan on medium heat.Serve warm pancakes with butter and maple syrup.Serves 4.Note: Alternatively, other ingredients such as diced apple and cinnamon or chocolate chips can used instead of blueberries.

I personally don’t think blueberries are actually true blue. They are kind of a dusty indigo colour on the outside and mainly white or pale green on the inside. That said, they are as blue as a food is ever going to get. Most people are unaware there are many varieties, and around the globe blueberries are known by differing names. In northern England they are often called Whineberry, and in other parts of the UK Whortleberries. In America they can also be referred to as Bilberries or Huckleberries (think of Huckleberry Finn). In Australia we just call them blueberries. Regardless of the species or name, blueberries are a member of the Vaccinium species. The firm skin surrounds a soft and juicy flesh with tiny, tender seeds. They are on average the size of a pea. Blueberries taste sweet and tart and are usually eaten raw, but are also spectacular baked into muffins or cooked into fruit compote or a jam. They are a fantastic source of vitamin C. Here are some great ideas for using blueberries: Cooked into an apple pie or crumble Added to a fresh fruit salad Blended with other berries and frozen into a sorbet Served with low fat Greek yoghurt Sprinkled over pancakes, or added to the pancake batter. Blueberry Pancakes 1 egg 2 tbsp caster sugar ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup self-raising flour 2 tbsp butter, melted ½ cup blueberries In a bowl, whisk together the egg and castor sugar. Sift together the self raising flour and bicarbonate of soda. Melt butter and leave cool. Slowly add the flour and buttermilk alternately to the egg and sugar mix. Then whisk in the cooled melted butter and stir in the blueberries. Place tablespoons of batter into a greased frypan on medium heat. Serve warm pancakes with butter and maple syrup. Serves 4. Note: Alternatively, other ingredients such as diced apple and cinnamon or chocolate chips can used instead of blueberries.

During the summer when the heat is stifling, it’s important to take advantage of shade when you are outdoors.  If your yard has no shade trees you may not have much respite from the heat. Shade on your home and air conditioner may also decrease your energy costs in the summer.  With all of these benefits you may be considering planting shade trees on your property.  Planting a tree is a (hopefully) long-term commitment so you want to choose the right tree from the start.  If you choose an evergreen tree you will have shade year-round while deciduous trees will shade your house in summer but allow the sun to warm your house in winter when they lose their leaves.  You can plant shade trees at any time of year; just be sure to follow UF recommendations for proper planting practices.   To learn more about these practices visit Planting and Establishing Trees at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/EP/EP31400.pdf. Pinellas County is unique in several ways- most of us have smaller lots to work with, some have salt breezes from the water to contend with, and we all have wind storms.  You may be wondering what shade trees can we plant here that will thrive in our unique environment?  A favorite shade tree in our county is the Live Oak, Quercus virginiana (large tree, zones 8-11).  Live oak is a great choice but grows very large- up to 40 to 60 feet in height with a 60 to 100 foot spread.  It is drought and salt tolerant as well as wind resistant, which is why it’s a popular choice if you have the room. Sparkleberry, Vaccineum arboreumSweetgum, Liquidambar styracifluaIf you have a moist but well-drained site and space you could consider Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua (large tree, zones 5b-10a) or Sparkleberry, Vaccinium arboreum (small tree, zones 7-10).  These two choices are deciduous, so they will lose their leaves in winter when you would probably prefer more sun anyway.  Their leaves also turn beautiful colors before they fall bringing seasonal color to your landscape.  Sparkleberry has high wind resistance and sweetgum is considered to have medium-high wind resistance.  Sparkleberry also flowers profusely if grown in full sun.Silver variety of Buttonwood, Conocarpus erectusFor smaller property with drier conditions you might consider the following small trees, all of which are salt and drought tolerant and have high wind resistance: Buttonwood, Conocarpus erectus (small tree, zones 10a-11), Simpson’s Stopper, Myrcianthes fragrans (small tree, zones 9-11), and Yaupon Holly, Ilex vomitoria (small tree, zones 7-10).  These three choices are all evergreen and will provide year-round shade.  All three of these choices can be grown as a large shrub or a small tree.  Each of these have unique characteristics that take them beyond a simple shade tree: Buttonwood has a silver variety that has silvery leaves that shimmer in the sun and the wind, Simpson’s Stopper has reddish, flaking showy bark and Yaupon Holly produces beautiful red fruit in the fall and winter on the female plants (males must be present for fruit production). Yaupon Holly, Ilex VomitoriaYaupon Holly fruitThe right shade tree for you may not be on this short list, but remember to consider size, evergreen vs. deciduous, color, seasonal interest, and match growing conditions to your site conditions for the greatest chance of success.  For more guidance with this and other plant choices in your landscape please visit the interactive plant selector Florida-friendly Plant Database at http://floridayards.org/fyplants/.  For information on the health and maintenance of shade trees please visit: http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/maintenance.shtml.*Northern Pinellas County is in zone 9b, central and southern Pinellas County is zone 10a.