Hi All,

After a slow start to our seed collecting season, we are off at a sprint.  We have spent quite a bit of time out in the West Desert for our initial seed collecting.  Our recent excursions into the mountains have resulted in 10 possible collections and a wonderful escape from the heat.  And I must mention it was absolutely breathtaking!! While out collecting seed and hiking around looking for plants of interest, I am often struck by the realization that many people never get to have a job like this: driving around, hiking, exploring Utah’s natural areas, and botanizing.  Plus we’re getting paid for this, which so mind-blowing 🙂

Learning to recognize common native plants has been awesome.  I have come to enjoy trying to key out plants with the help of my fellow intern who, thankfully, was a botany major.  Coming up with a name for a species I don’t know is always so satisfying (especially when it’s one we can collect). I am definitely looking forward to our return trips to the mountains to collect more seed!!

Cassie Heredia

BLM

Richfield, Utah

Boulder Mountain looking east

Geum triflorum: Old man’s whiskers

Cook Lake, Boulder Mtns