News Archive

Wakefield Estate Takes on the Winter Moth; Begins to Test Different Non-Toxic Control Strategies

Sunday, 02 November 2008 16:21

Have you noticed all the moths flying in front of your car’s headlights on some of the more balmy evenings recently? These are winter moths (Operophtera brumata) and as many of you know, this pest has been responsible for widespread defoliation for most of the last decade.  Equally problematic, in its larval stage, the moth crawls into unopened buds of many early blooming trees, especially fruit trees and maples. Without blooms, fruit trees will not produce fruit. The winter moth infestation has caused significant damage at the Wakefield Estate, especially in the orchard.

Read more: Wakefield Estate Takes on the Winter Moth; Begins to Test Different Non-Toxic Control Strategies

Thacher Students Try Their Hand at Propagation

Saturday, 01 November 2008 16:17

Thacher Montessori students from Sally Fitzgerald’s Science Lab are conducting an experiment in their new greenhouse using some plant material from the Wakefield Estate. After collecting seed pods from some of the Wakefield Estate’s honey locusts, the students prepared the seeds by soaking them in near boiling water and then planted them in pots to take back to the school. The students also dug and seedlings that had self-sown to compare with their seedlings.