I’m coming into my second month as an intern in Grants Pass, OR and I can’t believe how quickly the time is flying! My experience here has been rich in adventure and enjoyment, and I’m sure that there is plenty more to come.
That being said, the search for the federally threatened plant Fritillaria gentneri (FRGE) has not been all rainbows and unicorns. Lillie and I have encountered several site access problems, pulled countless ticks off of our persons, bushwhacked through miles of poison oak, and come across a juvenile rattlesnake whose rattle wasn’t developed enough to warn us. And many of the sites we revisit don’t have any flowering FRGE. Some days are tough.
Rattlesnake #2 of the season. I saw this one and ran away quickly. Lillie kept her distance, but stayed long enough to snap this picture.
With all of the hazards and frustrating situations we encounter, one might be disheartened. However, Lillie and I are not easily deterred. We face each day with determination and positivity. When our path is fraught with Ceanothus cuneatus, we battle through it. When a private road that would lead to BLM land has a gate or “No Trespassing” sign on it, we go find a different access point. And when we do find FRGE or another cool discovery, the reward makes everything worth it!
Every day provides new opportunities to learn and work on our problem solving skills. Every day also provides us with chances to view some stunning landscapes, see and learn new plant species, encounter interesting critters, and just generally enjoy each other’s company! Lillie and I are thick as thieves, and I’m really happy to have the chance to intern with someone that I like to spend time with, even when I’m not getting paid to do so. We spend our weekends hiking and exploring in the area, trying out different local restaurants, and binge-playing Scrabble.
Lillie with the lily!
Calypso bulbosa
Sometimes we get to hike to high places
Some mid-April snow at the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
The Fritillaria gentneri are going to fruit in most of the lower elevations sites, so once we revisit the higher elevation FRGE sites located in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, we will be finished working with this species. Though we did not find as many FRGE as we would have liked, it served to make each sighting all the more special and exciting. Our FRGE site revisits have provided valuable insight into which areas should be priority for visiting in the future and which areas may not be worth visiting again. That being said, I’m excited that soon we will be looking for a different rare plant.
It’s hard to say goodbye to FRGE, but it’s made easier because the fruits aren’t nearly as pretty as the flowers
-Kiki
Grants Pass Interagency Office, BLM