New York City the Future Metropolis
Thursday, May 6th, 2010| June 10, 2010 | ||
| 6:00 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
If you were not one of the 300 people who attended our recent event, “New York City the Future Metropolis,” you can see the speakers’ presentations on the event’s website. Also, feel free to contact them with any follow up questions.
www.solar1.org/nycfuturemetropolis
If you were there, thank you for coming! Because of your overwhelming response and support, we are planning to do this event again next year! Check back on our website to see who will be in next year’s lineup of some of the most creative minds in New York’s building industry.
Posted in Cleantech, Design, East River, Energy, Energy $mart Communities, Energy Efficiency, Green Building, NYSERDA, New York City, Renewables, Solar One, Solar One Events, Stuyvesant Cove Park, Sustainability, Technology | Permalink
Black Swallowtail at Solar One
Monday, August 17th, 2009
In the herb garden just outside of Solar One, we spotted 4 Black Swallowtail caterpillars. The were munching on the seedlings of last years dill plant.
At first glance we thought the caterpillars were Monarch caterpillars only because they are the only caterpillars we ever see in that garden, and from a distance they have similar stripes. But on closer inspection we noticed that they were definitely not Monarch caterpillars, nor were they on the correct host plant. These caterpillars were on our dill plants which are one of the host plants for the Black Swallowtail along with carrots, parsley, Queen Anne’s Lace, and a few other species.
The Black Swallowtail starts its life as a cream colored egg, it then goes through 5 larval instars and then forms its chrysalis (cocoon). After the chrysalis it emerges as an adult Black Swallowtail Butterfly.
The instars are different stages of growth the larva goes through to reach its mature size. The first two instars the larva or caterpillar is brown with a white band in the middle of its body. The following 3 instars the caterpillar is light green with black bands that have yellow dots on them (as shown above). It is the larval stage that these insects do most of their eating, in fact is seems like they never stop!
When the caterpillar enters the pupal stage, the time it forms it’s chrysalis, it begins the process of metamorphosis. This is when it changes shape from a caterpillar to a butterfly. Depending on the time of year the pupal stage can last from 8-12 days (if formed in early summer) or it can over winter (if formed in late summer) and emerge 8-9 months later. The time of year also determines the color of the chrysalis; green in summer brown in winter.
It seems as though we may have to wait till next year to see the beautiful Black Swallowtail butterflies emerge from their chrysalides. In a few days these caterpillars are going to form their chrysalides, they seem to be in the 5th instar now.
Check back with us on our flickr account @ solaronenyc for updated photos of the caterpillars, chrysalides and hopefully the butterflies.
Posted in Education, Food, Organic Farming, Solar One, Stuyvesant Cove Park | Permalink
Park Volunteer Day
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009| September 26, 2009 | ||
| 9:00 am | to | 1:00 pm |
SEPTEMBER 16th: Stuyvesant Cove Park Volunteer Days offer people the chance to get their hands dirty while assisting in the maintenance of the park and learning about its history and care.
Tasks include weeding, mulching, plant care, tree pruning, cleanup, graffiti removal and general beautification.
TIME: 9 AM – 1 PM
More info: http://solar1.orf/park
Posted in Education, Native Plants, Solar One Events, Stuyvesant Cove Park | Permalink
Stuyvesant Strolls
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009| September 16, 2009 | ||
| 6:00 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
SEPTEMBER 16th: The last in our series of evening walking tours of Stuyvesant Cove Park, will be co-led by NYC Audubon’s Gabriel Willow who will give detailed information about the birds in Stuyvesant Cove Park and how they relate to our native plants.
Refreshments to follow in the park.
TIME: 6 PM
RSVP: melissa@solar1.org
Posted in Education, Food, Native Plants, Solar One Events, Stuyvesant Cove Park | Permalink
Solar One Family Day–Creatures!
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009| August 29, 2009 | ||
| 10:00 am | to | 12:00 pm |
AUGUST 29th: Solar One’s series of events for children and their parents continues with Creatures Day.
Activities include learning about and tagging monarch butterflies, exploring cell structure and microorganisms with the return of the BioBus, worm composting demonstration with Lower East Side Ecology Center and Kevin from Nature’s WILD Encounters who will be bringing native animals for children and adults to learn about.
RSVP: melissa@solar1.org
Posted in Education, Native Plants, Solar One Events, Stuyvesant Cove Park | Permalink
