This past month was one full of learning and growth…and missed seeds. August has been the most hectic month by far. I was able to collect from populations of Eriogonum heracleoides and umbellatum in the beginning of the month before heading off to Manchester, England for a week long conference.

While grateful for the opportunity, that meant leaving my seed collecting partner behind to harvest populations on her own. Not that she isn’t capable, it’s just a lot of work!

Working out in the field took a bit of readjusting, fortunately I somehow made it happen. As we became more comfortable and confident with using the tablets we got better and quicker at tracking our previously scouted populations and collecting the data we needed for the FS. I’ve used ArcoPro, ArcMaps and Esri before but, this forest views their data through the USFS ArcGIS Online program. It’s been an adjustment but, I’m grateful I had the opportunity to learn and become familiar with a wider variety of GIS programs. This forest has a lot of mapping planned for the future and it’s rewarding to feel like we get to contribute to a future forest vegetation layer!

Among our many populations to keep an eye on, we also worked on shipping our collected seeds as well as completing and submitting the mid-season report. It was a bit more difficult than we wanted it to be at first but, once we got rolling, wrapped it up and had many takeaways from the tasks. It was a great way to evaluate ourselves and see the work that was getting done. It also gave us an opportunity to reassess our action plan and what needed to be done moving forward.

Although we had some lows due to populations being missed due to absences or everything seemingly seeding and naturally dispersing everywhere all at once, we’ve also had our highs – both literally and figuratively. We’ve experienced the excitement of electrofishing in a collaborative project with fisheries and wildlife for an invasive species monitoring. Apparently this particular trip was unusual in that we caught many more fish than usual. I’ve never felt more like an animal crossing character lugging around my net than in that moment.

Just a heads up, no one looks cool walking uphill against a stream. We all will look like we belong in a cartoon, trudging around in waders and boots that feel like weights tied to your feet. Slipping and falling is truly a matter of when, not if. Unfortunately, I don’t have pictures showing the measuring and weighing process of the temporarily stunned fish since my hands were full of fish or was out following the “electro-cutioner” with an anxious and ready net.

The literal part of the highs previously mentioned involved collecting seeded populations of Lomatium triternatum from Tony Grove and Mountain mahogany on the ridges of Card Canyon. Nothing brought me more joy than getting to what I thought was the top of the population, only to find 50+ more individuals at every potential peak.

Here’s a picture of one of our gloriously crafted nets…we just got back from electrofishing the week prior…how we didn’t think to ask to borrow their nets…Cassidie and I still don’t know but, it got the job done! Go seed collection crew!

September ready or not, (but hopefully ready) here we come.