I left Southern California in March, passing snow laden Joshua Trees in the high desert, heading north to Gold Country to work at the BLM Mother Lode Field Office. I camped along the American River for a couple of days before meeting some nice folks from whom I am now renting a lovely trailer.
The south fork of the American River and Salmon Falls Rd.
Before my internship began, I was exploring many nearby woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands. As I encountered unfamiliar plants, I wondered about their names, occurrences, and origins. I have since enjoyed learning about and re-encountering these species, though some of the beautiful flowers I had photographed I later discovered to be invasive. After three weeks of working here, I continue exploring locations which are new to me. Working as a field botanist is a sure way to get to know a new region to which you’ve just moved. Most of the fieldwork has involved scouting for Seeds of Success collection targets. Some of the work is nearly in my backyard, and almost always near others’ yards, while other work can take place three hours away as far south as Yosemite. We are scouting targets along the Merced River, where the wildflower bloom could convert many wildlife folks to botanists.
Delphinium along the Merced River near Briceburg, CA
There are also plans to collect seeds at the northern burn area of the Butte Fire that occurred last fall.
Butte Fire burn area around Jesus Maria – the Calochortus monophyllus is numerous
Calochortus monophyllus
Butte Fire burn area near Jesus Maria – Toxicoscordion exaltatum is in the distance
Toxicoscordion exaltatum
A bird’s eye – Gilia tricolor
Many collections will take place close to home on the Pine Hill Preserve lands. I have already made collections of two species. One of which was the common and abundant Claytonia perfoliata. The other was the much less common California endemic Wyethia bolanderi. No offense miner’s lettuce.
A bird’s eye view of the American River – collecting Gilia tricolor
Calochortus albus a stone’s throw from highway 50 on Pine Hill Preserve lands
Work has also involved meetings and tours of preserve lands, which are learning opportunities as well as opportunities to meet a wide range of professionals within the agency, from other agencies, in the private and non-profit sectors, along with students and fellow interns. A few days recently I have set up plots at locations in which vegetation was cleared, piled, and burned, where future monitoring will occur, which I am excited about.
Until next time,
John Woodruff
BLM Mother Lode Field Office