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Post by meadowview on Jan 29, 2012 15:47:13 GMT
Hi Folks:
We have good news on a number of fronts in pitcher plant land conservation. We now have two signed contracts from the landowners on both sides of Joseph Pines Preserve in Sussex County, VA. The land purchases will be funded by a grant from DEQ and a loan from the State of Virginia and will more than double our preserve to 234 acres. We hope to close on these purchases within the next couple months.
We're also about to close on another 15.7 acre addition to our Central VA Preserve (the Bass tract - see our 2009 newsletter for details).
What this means is we are not only securing the preservation of the northern most pitcher plant bog in Virginia but we are greatly expanding the scale of our preserves overall. This provides an incredible opportunity to see the last remnants of the pitcher plant community, in restored form, available nowhere else in the state.
Needless to say we need donations, and more importantly pledges, for land acquisition. Our upcoming newsletter will have the detailed financial issues discussed and I invite you to read about it at that time. But don't let that stop you from donating now. Even better, let others know about this effort and encourage them to donate to the land conservation by our non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
We also hope you will come and visit and see firsthand what is going on. Perhaps consider an eco-vacation and help out with restoration efforts. Much of the past years work has been captured by former intern Graham Hunt in his incredible photo-documentary, available in the General Discussion area of TerraForums.
Look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincerely,
Phil Sheridan, Ph.D. Director Meadowview Biological Research Station
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Post by meadowview on Jan 6, 2012 9:58:35 GMT
Hi Dave:
Utricularia radiata is a problematic species as to its true nature of habit. I posted a question last year on the list serve about this species and got several answers, similar to what our European friend mentioned. To whit, the species is generally an annual but can be perennial. We are cultivating U . radiata and I'm similarly confounded by its behavior. We had a number of plants for a a year or two and then the population collapsed and some new individuals appeared in tanks away from the main colony, go figure. Perhaps U. radiata at best is a biannual. Utricularia radiata does not seem to share the perennial habit of most of our North American temperate aquatic bladderworts which makes it somewhat unique.
Dave, look forward to your next visit where we can explore the nuances of this interesting plant.
Sincerely,
Phil Sheridan, Ph.D. Director Meadowview Biological Research Station
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Post by meadowview on Jan 3, 2012 15:13:32 GMT
Hi Kiwiearl:
Nice craftsmanship on the planter. What do you do about severe freezes, if you get them at all? I built something like this as a kid and lost all my plants to the beds freezing and killing the plants. The lofting of the beds means they will experience much more severe freeze/thaw cycles.
Sincerely,
Phil Sheridan Meadowview
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Post by meadowview on Nov 22, 2011 14:27:04 GMT
Hi Christian:
Beautiful photographs as expected. I'm glad you were able to get to Australia and eagerly look forward to more posts!
Sincerely,
Phil Sheridan Meadowview
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Post by meadowview on Nov 22, 2011 14:22:08 GMT
Hi Folks:
It looks like we have a Holiday Volunteer week emerging Dec. 17-23 with tasks splitting between horticultural work in the greenhouse (sowing seed and repotting seedlings, tending Nepenthes) and restoration field work on the Central Virginia Preserve (burning brush in fire barrels, cooking over open fire, cutting down invasive hardwoods, hauling wood). This should be an especially festive volunteer time because of the holidays and I look forward to all the good cheer. Please let me know if you are interested in volunteering!
Sincerely,
Phil Sheridan, Ph.D. Director Meadowview Biological Research Station 804-633-4336 meadowview@pitcherplant.org
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Post by meadowview on Oct 29, 2011 15:39:59 GMT
Hi Folks:
If anyone is interested we do have openings for volunteer interns over the Holiday Season in December. You might even be able to get school credit for the work. Please contact me at meadowview@pitcherplant.org if you are interested.
Sincerely,
Phil Sheridan, Ph.D. Director Meadowview Biological Research Station
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Post by meadowview on Sept 7, 2011 13:50:12 GMT
Hi Jim:
Would you please contact me privately at meadowview@pitcherplant.org about some important news on Sarracenia jonesii?
Sincerely,
Phil Sheridan, Ph.D. Director Meadowview Biological Research Station
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Post by meadowview on Sept 6, 2011 13:51:28 GMT
Hi Folks:
Good news! We received the official letter that our proposal, "Pitchers for the Public!" will be funded. The final rubber stamp committee meets next Tuesday. The grant of $56,500, from the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation, will pay 50% of the cost of purchasing the 14 acre Gatewood/Wilson tract and pay off the note on 3 acre Sheridan tract as part of our Central Virginia Preserve. See 2009 newsletter for details.
Sincerely,
Phil Sheridan, Ph.D. Director Meadowview Biological Research Station
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Post by meadowview on Aug 20, 2011 19:28:41 GMT
Hi CPFreak:
You might want to consider Meadowview as an alternative to all the work and heartache of starting a new club in our region. We've already got the organization, facilities, and track record to do what you want to do. For example, this past May we hosted a fabulous talk by Francois Mey on the Nepenthes of Indo-China. If you would like to volunteer and help get more activities going in the area we would be more than happy to help with such efforts. Please feel free to contact me privately at meadowview@pitcherplant.org.
Sincerely,
Phil Sheridan, Ph.D. Director Meadowview Biological Research Station
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Post by meadowview on Aug 11, 2011 18:49:16 GMT
Hi Mike:
No deadline, we take applications all year. We've found the intern program basically falls into two classes: students who can intern over the summer, May-August; students who just completed there bachelors but are waiting to get into graduate school or trying to get a job, term 3 months to one year.
I have intern job description and requirements if you want to post somewhere.
Best,
Phil
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Post by meadowview on Aug 9, 2011 12:59:31 GMT
Hi Folks:
We just completed our third summer of the Meadowview intern program. Interns Graham Hunt and Richard Curzon did a fantastic job and I really hated to see them leave and return to school. Richard got college credit for his internship through Brigham Young University where he is majoring in Wildlife and Wildland Conservation. Graham Hunt is finishing his art degree at Christopher Newport University and did a wonderful job chronicling his intern experience with a photo documentation on the General Discussion link at TerraForums. Graham and Richard participated in original field work turning up a number of new populations of rare plants, re-potting plants, and restoring native pitcher plant bogs.
We are accepting applications for the winter program and ask you to let folks know about openings for next summer. Don't forget we also have Eco-vacations for those that want to help out for a few days or weeks.
Please let me know if you have any questions and contact me by e-mail at meadowview@pitcherplant.org.
Sincerely,
Phil Sheridan, Ph.D. Director Meadowview Biological Research Station
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Post by meadowview on Jul 28, 2011 17:23:48 GMT
Hi Folks: Due to the generosity of our many donors our Central Virginia Preserve note is down to less than $8000, from $19,000 in May 2010! We've completed phase 1 of our restoration program with a partial hardwood removal and planting of native Caroline County Sarracenia purpurea. Thanks to our contractors, volunteers, and interns for getting this work done. Our interns Graham Hunt and Richard Curzon have done a fantastic job helping and covering progress on both our Face book page and Terra Forums. We have a link on our web page at www.pitcherplant.org about the Fund Drive and Graham's extensive photo gallery. We would like to pay off the $8000 note on the 3 acres within the next few months as we enter a new grant competition to purchase additional land. Please let folks know that donations are welcome. We encourage you to make an appointment to come see the project or to arrange an ecovacation or volunteer time. Look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Phil Sheridan, Ph.D. Director Meadowview Biological Research Station
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Post by meadowview on Jul 24, 2011 14:11:34 GMT
Hi Cold Coffee:
We had two Governor's School students do a research project last year on the effects of nutrient fertilization and seed germination in VFT's. We're planning on submitting this paper for publication this fall.
Our students looked at germination rates of VFT stored in the refrigerator from 2004 to 2009. There was a linear drop in germination rate, with 2004 seed less than 2%.
Now, keep in mind, it probably is possible to store VFT seed indefinitely if the seed is dried to the correct moisture level and frozen. We simply air dried the seed and stored in paper envelope in refrigerator. Germination rates were still fairly good with one year old seed stored this way (42%). Fresh seed was 68% germination.
Sincerely,
Phil Sheridan, Ph.D. Director Meadowview Biological Research Station
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Post by meadowview on Jul 13, 2011 12:45:33 GMT
Hi Barry:
I have to tell you how delightful your video was to watch several weeks ago. The interns and I were working outside in 100F with high humidity and came in for a break and watched your video. Ahh. cool green meadows with snow! It was like eating a York Peppermint Patty. I really love those Darlingtonia meadows.
Sincerely,
Phil Sheridan Meadowview
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Post by meadowview on Jun 23, 2011 13:35:42 GMT
Hi Nepenthes77:
The first report was simply a web listing of the plant by a UK grower. I contacted the grower and he said he got the plant from P&J. I contacted P&J and they gave me the Hindle report.
I also found a report in the Florida Natural Areas Program from 1988. However, the collection site was an area I know that does NOT have this taxon. Collection done the year I was there too! Probably erroneous i.d.
Best,
Phil
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