Woah! It’s September and my colleagues and I have done about thirty-five seed collections. Our squad has been pretty successful in scouting populations and collecting from them efficiently. Sometimes we do two or three collections in a day! I don’t actually know if this is impressive, though, I just feel like we’re doing alright.
We collected birdsfoot trefoil while a storm rolled in over the desert. We were completely safe, of course, and left the area before it got too serious!
When collecting in the rain it is important to wear the proper protective gear– in my case a dashingly fierce, hot pink rain coat.
We have three sites that we collect Eriogonum nudem, a pretty plant that is tall and easy to collect from. When put on as a headpiece, it makes an impressive nature crown. Try it out next time you see it!
This mint was a beautiful collection. Not only was it delightfully fragrant with maybe one hundred seeds per flower head, but this population was located in a pine forest overlooking Eagle Lake.
Sometimes collections are frightfully comfortable– Rachael was able to recline of the soft ground as we collected trefoil in a riparian area.
While collecting california prickly poppy– quite possibly one of the most prickly materials on this planet Earth– I stumbled upon the tiniest and most precious creature. A horny toad!
We’ve begun earnestly hunting for Mountain Mahogany, a fun collection if one can find trees producing enough seed to beat it off the branches. The experience is altogether unpleasant, however– the seeds are covered in tiny fibers which will work their way under one’s clothing and into one’s flesh. Very itchy.
I’ve got about seven weeks left at this internship. It’s truly shocking how fast it’s gone! I’m sure the coming weeks will be just as full of adventure as the preceding ones.
Until next time!
Lillie P.