Vale Collections and Trainings

Week five is now over. I can’t believe it’s already been that long. Thursday and Friday of week four Susan and I went down to the McDermitt area to monitor two sensitive plant species there: Artemisia papposa (Fuzzy sagebrush) and Collomia renacta (Barren Valley Collomia). We were able to locate one of two populations of Artemisia papposa, and had some trouble with the Collomia renacta. The Collomia is newer and we were unsure if the species we were seeing was in fact the renacta. Overall, it was good to get some eyes out in the area and see what’s going on. We got an estimated count at each site, and took note of their habitat and general condition.

Artemisia papposa

Morning sky in McDermitt

Earlier that week I got to take an ArcPad class through the BLM, which taught us how to use the Trimble GPS. I feel extremely confident in my ability to use the Trimble for a variety of tasks now, and am looking forward to using my new skills in the field. I’m glad I was able to take part in the class.

This week we went back to a collection site of Viola trinervata, and collected another 800 seed heads or so. That will put us over the 10,000 seed minimum for the Seeds of Success program, but Susan will return to the site one more time next week so that we collect all throughout the seeding period. The more seed, the better! It was my first collection this year, and it was very successful.

Viola trinervata field site

We also just finished with the Seeds of Success training course. It was in Boise, ID this year, so we made the hour and a half journey each morning for three days. This made for long days, but was worth it. We learned more about the program, the protocol, proper seed care, seed biology, and plant taxonomy. It was organized well, and I feel better able to collect native seed according to the protocol now. Wednesday we were in the field and did an actual collection together, which put everything we learned on Tuesday into context. There was such a wealth of information there, among all the mentors and instructors, I’m thankful they opened the course up to interns this year. Thursday, as an extra part of the training, we went to the Oregon State University Malheur Experiment Station right here in Vale, OR, to see what can be done with the seed we help collect. It was great to see the kind of research that is being done in an effort to increase the use of native seed on the landscape, and for restoration purposes.

Experimental field of native species

I feel more at home here now. I’ve become familiar with the town, and the neighboring towns, and have more of a routine at work now too. Despite this fact, I definitely miss my friends and family back in Illinois, and am looking forward to heading back in June for the Chicago Botanic Garden training week.

Now that it’s really starting to warm up here I’m off exploring more of Eastern Oregon. This weekend I’m off to Leslie Gulch! I’m looking forward to seeing, and attempting to paint, the beautiful geology down there. It’ll be the first time I’ve camped out alone, so it should be interesting.

Here are some more photos I’ve taken for fun: