What's up, Forsyth?

What’s Up, Forsyth? In our last post, we dug into how ozone affects plants and why some are more susceptible than others. Today, we're putting that knowledge to use by introducing you to a way to monitor air quality right in your own backyard! We are also sharing tips and preliminary findings from our very own ozone garden in Kernersville— a recent collaboration between the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden and Triad Air Awareness . Figure 1. Air Awareness Coordinator, Sarah Coffey, standing next to the newly installed Ozone Garden sign at the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden in Kernersville, NC. What’s an Ozone Garden? An ozone garden is a specially designed garden filled with plants that are sensitive to ozone. In addition to beautifying any space and serving as a hub for native pollinators, these plants are bioindicators — living organisms that help scientists and citizen scientists monitor environmental health. When ground-level ozone interacts with the cells inside leav...

What’s Up, Forsyth? In our next two blog posts, we will discuss how ozone ( O₃)   affects plants and how studying certain “ozone sensitive” plants can inform us of local air quality issues. In this first blog, we will delve into the physiological effects of  O₃   exposure on plants and the subsequent ecosystem and economic effects. In our following blog, we will explain how “ozone gardens”—areas planted with species that physically show ozone damage on their leaves—can help raise air quality awareness in our communities. We will also highlight a recent partnership between Triad Air Awareness and the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden to plant Kernersville’s first public ozone garden . Let’s begin by defining ground-level ozone. What is Ground-Level Ozone? Stratospheric ozone, commonly called the ozone layer, is naturally occurring in the Earth’s upper atmosphere and protects us from the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, this same gas is an air pollutant ...

What’s Up, Forsyth? We are excited to share with you a new initiative within the City of Winston-Salem and in Forsyth County that will protect pollinators, reduce water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and improve air quality in our communities! For the first time ever, we are participating in “No Mow March”—an adaptation of “No Mow May,” which began in the United Kingdom where the growing season starts later than in North Carolina. What is “No Mow March”? As the name suggests, Winston-Salem residents are encouraged to let their yards grow through March 31 and will not be cited for not mowing their lawns. However, to avoid fines, residents should resume compliance with the city code on high grass and weeds in April. Participants in No Mow March are encouraged to take the pledge on the City of Winston-Salem’s Sustainability webpage . Also, yard signs are available for purchase for only $14! These signs will help raise awareness of the initiative and increase adoption of ...

What’s Up, Forsyth? In this blog post, we explain how the air pollution and airborne pollen levels are changing seasonally. We also compare Forsyth County’s air quality and pollen season in 2024 with 2023 and share tips for reducing air pollution exposure this winter. How is our air quality changing this time of year? Ground-level ozone season (the period of time when we monitor and forecast for ozone) lasts from March 1 st to October 31 st . This is because sunlight and heat are needed for it to form. Between November 1 st and February 28 th /29 th , ozone concentrations are much lower since our days are shorter and colder, and it is not necessary, nor required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to monitor for ozone in North Carolina during this period. Particulate matter (PM) concentrations can be high any time of year, therefore, we monitor PM and provide the air quality forecast for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) year-round. PM levels are generally higher in win...