In between doing SOS collections and scouting this month, we have been going out and doing field monitoring. Monitoring is my favorite part of the CLM internship experience. I’m the only intern in the office, and I spend a lot of time on my own in the field doing seed collections or looking for rare plants. While I learn the plants that I’m looking for intimately, nothing compares with going out to monitor vegetation with my mentor. I find it the best way to learn some of those pesky forbs that are constantly dying, and so seemingly unidentifiable.
Plus there is nothing better than spending a day in the field with other people. And then all the number crunching…!