The second month has brought the transition from rare plant monitoring to seeds of success (SOS). We’ve added Penstemon grahamii to our list of rare species we’ve monitored, but other than that we have spent the majority of our time locating populations for SOS and doing all the background work for collections. So far we’ve scouted out 10 or 11 populations from which we’ve collected herbarium samples and filled out the data sheets on. However, this week we spent our time at the CBG Workshop and we’re rethinking some of our collection sites, based on the information we learned here.
Even though we’ve been working for 2 months, getting to go to the CBG Workshop has been an amazing experience. I’ve met a lot of the other interns and got to hear about their experience in different areas of the US and got to hear about some of the different foci of the internships, although most are SOS. I thought my co-worker and I would be the minority here, having already started, and that most of the other interns would be just starting, but it turns out there are only a handful of people that are starting this week; most have worked 1 or 2 months already. The most helpful thing from the workshop was learning about SOS. We found out some of the best collection methods, how to make certain our collection will have over 10,000 seeds, how to use a Munsell soil chart, and the drying and shipping process. After the workshop, I’m going to feel a lot more confident going back to Vernal and making collections.
Right before we left for the workshop we checked out all of our seed collection populations to start making collections. However, most of our populations were not at natural dispersal stage, so when we get back this coming week we’re going to have a lot of catching up to do. Aside from that we also have a lot of commitments in the month of June. We plan on doing a week long survey with SWCA to monitor Sclerocactus wetlandicus, we’re going to teach kids about plants at a workshop, and we’re getting taken around the Pariette Wetlands one day to prepare for the workshop. Hopefully we’ll be able to keep up with everything!
Here is a picture of some of the CLM interns at the Workshop as well as the Penstemon we surveyed for.
