4-H Educator Erica Clark teaching children about how to force perennial plant cuttings to leaf and bloom in the winter at the New Berlin Library and Museum. (Submitted photo)

NEW BERLIN — Chenango County 4-H Youth Development held an after-school science program at the New Berlin Library on January 17. 4-H Educator Erica Clark taught a program called “Forced Blooms."

The lesson started with participating children discussing the life cycle of plants, what plants need to grow, and how winter affects plants. They then learned two ways of forcing perennial plant cuttings to leaf and bloom in the winter. Both methods involve placing cut branches in warm water and placing them in a warm environment. The temperature of the water varies between methods, and one method loosely covers the plant cuttings in plastic.

Participating children were given Forsythia branches and taught how to prepare the branches by diagonally cutting and slightly smashing the base on the branch. The branches are then placed, fresh cut down, in warm water. Within one to three weeks the branches should be covered in yellow blossoms. All participating children were able to bring home their prepared Forsythia branches.

The lesson was concluded by discussing the importance of snow as both an insulator and an important source of nitrogen to plants. The children were then taught folding and cutting techniques for making paper snowflakes.

The crafts in the Juvenile Literature Room are Valentine Inch Worms and Heart Picture Frame Necklaces. Children 12 and younger are invited to make a craft while supplies last. Both crafts were donated to the library by Bits & Bobs of New Berlin.

The Chenango County 4-H Youth Development holds after school science programs at the New Berlin Library at 3:30 p.m. in the community rooms on the third Wednesday of each month during the school year. These events are taught by 4-H educator Erica Clark. The next session will be held on February 21.

Some great new additions to the library include: The Death Factory (A Penn Cage Novella) by Greg Iles, The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman, Baggage: Tales from a Fully Packed Life by Alan Cummings, Madeline Says Merci by John Bemelmans Marciano, I Love my White Shoes by Eric Litwin, Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party by Kimberly and James Dean, Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes by Kimberly and James Dean, Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Kimberly and James Dean, I am Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Ordinary People Change The World) by Brad Meltzer, Bugs by Britta Teckentrup, The Little Ghost who was a Quilt by Riel Naason, The Honeybee by Kristen Hall, and Black 47 DVD.

The New Berlin Library is located at 15 South Main Street in New Berlin. The library is open Monday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon.

The web address is libraries.4cls.org/newberlin/. Please contact us at 607-847-8564 or like and message our Facebook page New Berlin Library and Museum with any questions.

-Information from the New Berlin Library and Museum