Burlington Science Center Blog

American Holly is not only found as a bush, but it can grow as a tree up to a height of 100 ft.  It flourishes in moist woodland habitats from Maine to Florida and as far west as Texas.

Look at the holly twig, and you will notice that it has sharp points at the ends of each leaf.  This is to help prevent animals such as rabbits, horses, cattle and deer from feeding on it! This is an example of a Plant Defense!

The holly bush/tree is best known for its bright red berries (fruit) that mature in the fall.  These attractive berries are known to be poisonous to humans!  Eating them will most likely make you sick to your stomach.  However, they are not poisonous to birds.  Many songbirds feast on the berries throughout the winter months.

Holly twigs are commonly used in Christmas decorations for their vibrant green and red colors.

Holly wood is hard and white, close-grained and fine in texture. Once highly polished, it can be used for inlay work and carvings, and is strong enough for practical uses such as riding crops and walking sticks.  Boat builders also use it for inside flooring due to its strength.

Did you know?

There are male and female holly bushes!  Only the female bush produces the berries. However, you must have a male bush nearby in order to pollinate the female bush flowers.   If you decide to plant a holly bush in your yard, make certain that you buy both a male and female and plant them close to one another.

Two thousand years before holly became a traditional symbol of Christmas, the Romans treasured it as the sacred plant of their god Saturn. They believed holly warded off lightning strikes and witchcraft, and gave it, with small gifts attached, to each other at Saturnalia, the feast of Saturn. The Anglo-Saxons thought holly had mystical powers because it remained green throughout the winter.

Traditional weather forecasters swear by the sign that a greater number of berries on holly bushes in the autumn signify a severe winter to come.

Good Luck Symbol

The tradition of hanging a holly wreath on the door began during the 17th Century. Using branches of holly to decorate inside the home was thought to bring good luck. It was therefore used for wedding floral arrangements. Some superstitious householders hung holly on windows to ward off witches and evil spirits. Christians later adopted holly wreaths to decorate their front doors during the Christmas season.

Grow Holly at Home!

Holly bushes grow very well in Massachusetts and can be purchased at your local garden center.  Remember to buy both a male and female bush.  Planting them in your yard will not only help feed the birds, but provide your property with a little “green” color all year-round!

The Science Center would like to thank Premier Fence of Avon, MA for their donation of more than 50 feet of fence for our animal weathering enclosure.   A beautiful gate was also included in the donation.

The fence and gate were delivered shortly after Thanksgiving break.  It will serve as a barrier around the enclosure, making the animals feel more comfortable.

Special thanks to John Feerick, the owner, Joe, Ellen, and Donnie!  We greatly appreciate everything!

Check out the Premier Fence website below for all your fencing needs!

http://www.premier-fence.com

The Burlington Science Center would like to announce its new animal weathering enclosure at BHS!

This animal enclosure is located outside the Burlington High School Cafeteria.

This cage will provide an area for animals to receive exercise, fresh air, and enrichment (stimulation). The cage will also provide natural sunlight, therefore enhancing vitamin production within the animal.

This cage was generously built and donated by the Russell Family of Burlington.  Kevin, Jean, Kobe, and Maya worked on the cage this past summer.

Premier Fence of Avon, MA made a generous donation of over 50 feet of post and rail fence to surround the enclosure.

Some of the animals who will benefit from this enclosure are the Red-tail hawk, Red-footed Tortoises and Silkie Bantam chickens.  BHS students can enjoy watching these animals during their lunch.

The Science Center always dreamed of having an outdoor cage for their animals.  We can not express how thankful we are to those who contributed to this project!

Be sure to check the BHS school newspaper (The Devil’s Advocate) for an upcoming article about the enclosure.

Last month at Bridgewater State College, Mr. Papadonis was inducted as a member of the Massachusetts Hall of Fame for Science Educators.

 The Massachusetts Hall of Fame for Science Educators was established in 1991.  Its purpose is to honor Science Educators who made significant contributions to Science Education in the State of Massachusetts.

 Mr. Papadonis was nominated by Thomas Vaughn, president of the Massachusetts Science Educators Hall of Fame, Dr. Joel Rubin, past director of teacher services at the New England Aquarium and Dr. Dave Lyons, president of the Massachusetts Science Supervisors Organization. 

Papadonis grew up in Needham, MA and attended Needham Public Schools.  At the age of 16, he became an aide at the Needham Science Center.  He also taught at Marshall Simonds Middle School from 1972 to 1984.  Mr. Papadonis opened up the Burlington Science Center in 1984.

Mr. Papadonis credits his success in learning from his two mentors, Larry White and Norm Harris, and his many years at the Burlington Science Center and New England Aquarium.

Click below to learn more about the “Winter Moth.”

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2009/12/03/invasion_of_winter_moths_has_scientists_residents_looking_for_answers/?s_campaign=8315

We would like to congratulate the winner of our 2009 Name the Alligator Contest.  The winner is Aurora Golden from Grade 2 at Pine Glen School. 

The name Aurora chose was “Orion” (named after her brother).  She had her picture taken for the daily newspaper and received a Science Goody Bag as a Prize.

The Science Center’s Alligator was confiscated by the police from a Massachusetts residence. They are illegal to own as pets within the Commonwealth.

Orion is approzimately two years old and as an adult can grow to up to 12 feet in length.

We recently had the pleasure of having a Barred Owl visit the Science Center.  Jasper lives at a non-profit wildlife organization called Windows on Wildlife, run by Heidi Wejman.

The Barred Owl was used by Ms. Pavlicek for a Bird Program at our Fox Hill Elementary School.  The Science Center Aides also had a chance to meet this beautiful bird.

We wanted to introduce our new Science Center Asisstant, Diane Welch.  She works at the Science Center, helping to maintain and upgrade kits, manages the office and occasionally helps with school programs. 

Diane is a Burlington resident and her son, Shane attended Pine Glen School.  She is also a State falconer, training hawks to hunt and fly. 

MaryLou McQuinn retired from the Science Center and we wish her the best.  She will be forever missed.

On October 6^th, The Burlington Science Center coordinated with Burlington resident and local Realtor, Carol McDonald Macri of RE/MAX Encore to offer a very special opportunity to take a ride in the RE/MAX of New England Hot Air Balloon.  Sponsored by RE/MAX Encore, “Big Max,” the seven-story-tall red, white and blue RE/MAX hot air balloon, took flight on the football field.  All Burlington students and parents were invited to attend the event.  Approximately, 100 students in grades 3, 4 and 5 were selected by raffle to ride in the RE/MAX balloon while tethered to the ground! 

 

The event also included The Burlington Science Center’s Rocket Car, Mini Hot Air Balloon and the launching of some very Large Scale Model Rockets. Mr. Papadonis and Ms. Pavlicek of the Science Center also shared their “flight science” expertise with the students. 

 

Major Harding from Hanscom Air Force Base demonstrated his radio controlled wireless glider and helicopter. The Glider was outfitted with a digital video camera that photographed the entire football field, stadium seating and surrounding views.

 Click below to view footage from the glider:

(Video coming soon) 

The RE/MAX hot air balloon is the widely recognized corporate logo for RE/MAX real estate offices worldwide, owner of the largest corporate hot air balloon “fleet” in the world. Carol McDonald Macri and The Solutions Team are affiliated with RE/MAX Encore of Wilmington. They were proud to be able to give back to the community and have had a positive impact on the children.

 www.SolutionsRealEstateTeam.com.

 

We also had many staff and parent volunteers.  Thanks to all involved in such a wonderful event.

 

What do they look like?

Large (5/8 inch long x 1/3 inch wide), winged, brownish black with some gray or light brown, flattened back. 

Where are they found?

They are found in Canada, Central America, and throughout the United States.  Squash Bugs live in large populations and are typically found during the spring in gardens (they travel there to mate and lay eggs) and in fall (seeking shelter from cold temperatures).  Their habitat includes the shelter of dead leaves, vines, or the boards of a house in the fall and winter.

 What do they eat?

They have a sharp beak-like mouth that is used to suck the juices from particular plants.  The Squash Bug especially loves squash and pumpkins.  Their mouth folds under their body when they are not eating.

 Why are they called the Squash Bug?

Even though they love squash, the name comes from the odor they give off when they are crushed.  This odor is an animal defense that stops mammals and birds from eating them. (PLEASE DO NOT CRUSH!)

 

Are they harmful?

To humans, NO!  But they are a problem for plants.  They damage plants by removing the juice from the leaves, causing the plant to wilt and collapse.  They can also inject certain bacteria into plants and vegetables by sticking their mouth into the plant they eat.

 How do you remove the Squash Bugs?

Call Ms. Pavlicek to remove them! Just kidding!

It is extremely hard to get rid of a population of insects.  They lay numerous amounts of eggs that are difficult to find.  The only way to remove them is by hand.  Boards can be placed where the insects are commonly found.  The insects will gather there for shelter and then can be removed.

Certain types of squash and plants that are resistant to the insect can also be planted to replace infested ones.