Thanks to all the interns and instructors that made last week’s training in Chicago special. The Garden was beautiful and I finally have faces to the CLM coordinator names. Krissa is a rock star! We are excited to help her collect Oenothera in Oregon for pollinator research.

We made our first collection of Microsteris gracilis! It was painstaking, but we should have at least 18,000 viable seed to send to Bend. Our other seed collecting endeavors have fallen through so far. Cows ate the Lupine, Lewisia had it’s ovaries eaten by orthopterans and the Bud Sage frosted. We are looking forward to something not being eaten or shriveled.

The high desert is keeping us tempted with false promise of rain as we endure the drought. Surely our collected seed will reflect the best genetic varieties for sustained dry conditions. South central Oregon has a frost advisory tonight but the highs should be back in the 80s by Thursday.

Yesterday was my only day of rest in 8 days of training and travel. I spent it in my hammock watching fledgling nighthawks practice their maneuvers in the daylight and then took a drive in the Warner Mountains to a little lake where I again observed nighthawks. I compared grasses growing in lava scab-land and stared at the mountains and dreamed of having the time to hike to the top of each one. There were many animal tracks in the dust  but I only encountered birds.

Lucy Landis, Lakeview, OR BLM

Best shade of violet award

Phacelia linearis

Rare Eriogonum

Spooky snake