Plant Science Day At Ag Station

HAMDEN – The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station will hold its annual Plant Science Day open house on Wednesday, August 4, from 10 am to 4 pm, at Lockwood Farm. Admission and parking are free.

Julia Belaga will be the main speaker at 11:30 am, talking on the subject, “Turning Science Into Public Policy.” She is co-chair of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, serves on the board of the National Audubon Society’s Connecticut chapter, and the Connecticut Fund for the Environment, and is vice chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Westport.

Other speakers from the agricultural experiment station staff include Victoria L. Smith on “Sudden Oak Death — A Potential New Threat to Connecticut Forests” at 10:15 am; Theodore G. Andreadis on “Learning to Live with West Nile Virus in Connecticut” at 1:15 pm; Doublas W. Dingman on “Grub Diseases: What’s Going On Under the Grass?” at 2:15 pm; and Richard S. Cowles on “Managing Hemlock Woolly Adelgid” at 2:45 pm.

In addition there will be demonstrations by Kenneth A. Welch on “Diagnosis, Identification, and Processing of Insect Specimens” at 10:45 am and by Thomas M. Rathier on “The Wonders Beneath Our Feet — Simple Explanations of How Healthy Soil Works” at 1:45 pm.

There will also be barn displays on a range of topics and about 60 other field plots and exhibits will be available for viewing during the day.

Entomological topics to be highlighted include introduced insects that threaten landscape and orchard plants, spiders, mosquito surveillance for West Nile virus, Lyme disease, and tactics to control the deer tick.

The bird and butterfly garden, the Connecticut Nurserymen’s Garden, displays on weeds and wild plants, and nursery and bee inspections also will be available to visitors.

Lockwood Farm is in the Mt Carmel section of Hamden. For more information, check the experiment station website, www.caes.state.ct.us or call toll free 877-855-2237.