I see a lot of book covers in my work and I totally judge those books by their covers. I have a fondness for gothic mysteries. Give me a grim landscape with a tattered tree line and a huge spooky house and I’m going to pick up that book to take a second look. I hate legal mysteries and so skip right over books with gavels or the scales of justice. They say not to do that (whomever they happen to be), but I know I’m not alone. That’s why writers want bookstores to display their books facing out instead of stacked up by the spines, and it’s why you will see so many of our new books displayed so you can view the covers.
It’s still summer out there — so much heat and stickiness. Let’s take a look at some of the resources we have that can enhance your outdoor experience. We’ll start off by looking at some books with canoes or kayaks on the covers: these books could contain water travel, watery picnics, water explorations or miles and miles of shore to watch. Fiction books may have murders or romance. Nonfiction books may have personal stories about canoe trips, or they may be guide books to help you choose your next river. (Missouri has Missouri has 51,978 miles of river so lots of opportunity to cool off!)Continue reading “Summer Fun in the Sun!”
A brown-belted bumble bee, Bombus griseocollis, feeds on a button bush flower. Photo credit Maggie Maginness
A friend and I recently braved high heat, oppressive humidity, ticks and sunburn — not to mention the potential for bee stings–to catch, photograph and identify (and then release) bumble bees in central Missouri. After about three hours of that, I returned to my air conditioned home and spent at least three hours sorting our photos and uploading our data for the Missouri Bumble Bee Atlas project. This was in addition to a day-long training and lots of planning.
And I was happy to do it!
This two-spotted bumble bee, Bombus bimaculatus, was one of 26 bumble bees captured and identified in our survey this July. Photo credit Maggie Maginness
What’s so special about bumble bees? you ask.
In recent years, there’s been a lot of concern about populations of pollinators, the insects, birds and bats that transfer pollen from one flower to another. Pollination is necessary for plants to generate seeds. Some plants can be pollinated by the wind, like corn and ragweed, but many or most need a little help. Animals that visit flowers (usually for nectar) get dusted with pollen which is then carried on to the next flower. This process is important for many commercial crop plants but also the wild native plants that are essential to our native ecosystems.
Bees in general have garnered a lot of attention in the last ten or more years with concerns about the colony collapse disorder–which only affects honey bees. Honey bees are good pollinators. They visit a lot of flowers. BUT they are not as good as bumble bees, and here’s why.
First, honey bees are not native to North America (they come from Europe). Secondly, honey bees are primarily in search of nectar not pollen.
Bumble bees are native species that have evolved with the local plants. Bumble bees focus more on collecting pollen, so they are really good at inadvertently carrying pollen between flowers. Thirdly, some plants can only be pollinated effectively by bumble bees, which use a special buzzing technique to get these flowers to release pollen.
Because of bumble bees’ ecological importance, organizations like Xerces Society, Quail Forever, Pheasants Forever, MU and the MDC have come together to support the Missouri Bumble Bee Atlas, a citizen science project working to identify the bumble bee species in Missouri. There are concurrent efforts in Canada and many other states. The data from this project and other bumble bee monitoring projects is collected and housed on the Bumble Bee Watch website, which is open to the public.
An American Bumble bee, Bombus pennsylvanicus, forages on a purple fall aster. Photo credit Maggie Maginness
Bumble bees are important to our ecosystems, and that’s part of why I’m participating in the Atlas project. I find a beauty in how they fit into Missouri’s landscape. Our bumble bees need the flowers, but the flowers also need them. Bumble bees have personality. You might call them a charismatic mega fauna of insects. They are big (for a bee), furry and relatively docile. Case in point, no one got stung in the process of catching, photographing and releasing 24 bees! They are so focused on their work collecting pollen and nectar that they are embarrassingly easy to catch. Just stay away from their nests.
Other interesting things about bumble bees. Only the females can sting, but unlike honey bees, they can sting repeatedly. They are most likely to sting you if they are defending their nest or in imminent danger, like getting stepped on. In Missouri, bumble bees are the only native bees that nest communally. In the spring, bumble bee queens emerge from whatever cozy spot they found to over winter, breed with a male and then start a nest. At the end of the summer the new queens emerge, and fatten up before settling in somewhere for the winter. The nest is only used for one year. The queen and her workers don’t see another season.
If you think bumble bees might be great, here are some things you can do:
Take a look at these materials to learn more about bumble bees;
Visit Bumble Bee Watch to see what species of bees have been collected in your area and elsewhere;
Plant native flowers. If there are flowers for them, bumble bees will miraculously show up and do their thing;
Volunteer as a citizen scientist with Missouri Bumble Bee Atlas;
Visit the Missouri Bumble Bee Atlas website and peruse their educational resources. They have videos and documents about pollinators, identifying bumble bees, why populations are declining and more;
Leave some piles of grass, brush or other ‘messy’ areas where bumble bees might like to nest;
Don’t use insecticides in your garden;
Buy your plants and seeds from plant nurseries that do not use insecticides Some insecticides are very persistent and can even be transferred to the seed and the new plant that grows from the seed. You’ll have to ask the seller what the policy is. If they don’t know, recommend they find out, and look for plants elsewhere.
Tell other people to watch out for the bees! We need them!
The biannual Project Homeless Connect provides health and human services, hair cuts and seasonal supplies for folks in need. Anyone can flex their neighborly muscles by volunteering during the program on Thursday, July 28th. Simply sign up using this form. Here at Columbia Public Library, we are accepting donations of supplies for this event now through July 22. Look for the gray tub in the lobby to deposit the following items:
Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 by Jason Delpire
Summertime is camping time, for those that like that sort of thing. My idea of “roughing it” is staying in a hotel that doesn’t have a heated pool. Well, just because you sleep in the wild, doesn’t mean you have to eat like an animal. I’ve made a list of titles on the subject. Continue reading “Read the Recipe! Camping”
Flowers are blooming and fresh vegetables are here. Ah, the many beautiful colors of summer! Pompom garlands are colorful, quick and inexpensive. Use them as party decorations, hang them in a window or frame a doorway. All you need are pompoms, yarn and a needle with a large enough opening to string the yarn. We have provided all of these items in our next Crafternoon-To-Go kits which will be available on June 17.
These kits will be available while they last in all of our branches. You may pick them up at the Reference Desk at the Columbia library and near the service desks at our other branches. Be careful when handling the kits, as they do have needles inside. For other decorating with craft ideas, try this list.
I collect those black Singer sewing machines. They are awesome! And they will continue sewing as long as you keep them clean and oiled. My featherweight machine is named Inskeep after my mother-in-law as it was her machine before me. She sewed my husband’s school shirts with it and probably many other things but of course, as a child, he only remembers what involved himself. I don’t know if he actually liked the shirts. I don’t think that was one of his mother’s requirements. Continue reading “Beginning Sewing”
As we swing into summer and flowering plants start blooming, I want to introduce you to the concept of wild harvesting, which is finding dye plants in the ditches along country roads and highways. Wild harvesting should not be done in your neighbors’ yards without permission nor in a protected area such as a park. Always park safely and watch the traffic, don’t over-harvest an area, and always watch for the wildlife sharing the ditch with you.
With so many events happening in May, we thought we would make this month’s Crafternoon super easy: refrigerator magnets. We provide the magnet, flat glass bead, Mod Podge and a glue applicator stick. All you need are a pair of scissors, a dab of glue and a picture of a family member, furry friend or even just decorative paper. (These kits are designed for adults; the magnets and glass beads can be dangerous for children due to their small size.)
These kits will be available while they last in all of our branches on Friday, May 13. You may pick them up at the reference desk at the Columbia library and near the service desks at our other branches. For other picture craft ideas, try this list.
Crab apple blossoms change from fuchsia to blush pink along one of three Tree Trails on Mizzou’s campus
Getting outside in this spring air is grounding, refreshing and stimulating to all our senses. Budding trees, aromatic blossoms and brilliant shades of green abound. Raptors soar above us in stark contrast to the pastel sky. The creeks and streams babble terrifically cold water. There is so much life to witness and be among.
We are truly lucky in central Missouri to have a number of quality trails and natural areas where we can do just that. But keeping track of all the options can be tricky, as there are many distinct jurisdictions. There’s municipal parks, college grounds, state parks, conservation areas and even a national forest on the southwest border of Boone and Callaway counties. These trails run the gamut of accessibility and activities. Some are paved and centrally located while others are rugged, faintly developed and remote. Use the links below to discover your next local trail.
“Its landscape of entrenched creek valleys, massive limestone bluffs and caves, and rolling grassy uplands intrigues and charms…Listen for spring peepers, watch for Virginia bluebells, and catch the fragrance of wild plum.”
Flowers are blooming and fresh vegetables are here. Ah, the many beautiful colors of summer! Pompom garlands are colorful, quick and inexpensive. Use them as party decorations, hang them in a window or frame a doorway. All you need are pompoms, yarn and a needle with a large enough opening to string the yarn. We have provided all of these items in our next Crafternoon-To-Go kits which will be available on June 17.
With so many events happening in May, we thought we would make this month’s Crafternoon super easy: refrigerator magnets. We provide the magnet, flat glass bead, Mod Podge and a glue applicator stick. All you need are a pair of scissors, a dab of glue and a picture of a family member, furry friend or even just decorative paper. (These kits are designed for adults; the magnets and glass beads can be dangerous for children due to their small size.)
