This is Eli Grinberg reporting live from Chuchupate Ranger Station of Los Padres National Forest in Frazier Park, California! I am a recent graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a bachelor of sciences in forestry and wildlife biology. I have been here in Los Padres National Forest for two weeks and I am loving the work so far. My primary responsibilities are collecting seeds to be used in the envisioned drought-tolerant pollinator “Foster Garden,” (named after the late Mike Foster, a pervious employee of the forest service here and prominent community member of the area), catching insects to be featured in a collection of pollinators found in this region of the forest, and reporting to my supervisor and Resource Officer, Ivana Noell. A typical day involves a hike with my fellow interns to the various springs and water rights that belong to the Forest Service; the Forest Service “Pathways” interns are responsible documenting and updating water data, while I collect goodies to be processed later in the office.
(Xylacopa sp. visiting Argemone munita, the prickly poppy.)
I have spent plenty of time in Los Padres National Forest, though I had only been to this area of California once in my life prior to my internship. I was on the desert trip headed to Joshua Tree for my field botany class in the spring, and we made a brief stop on Lockwood Valley Road to learn the dominant plants above the Sespe Wilderness. I did feel familiar with the plants of this area when I arrived, but I feel that I have learned so many new flowers and shrubs and insects in the last two weeks! Ivana and friends have provided me with some great resources for identifying pollinators, mainly distinguishing characteristics among bumble bees and butterflies. I am still in search of beetle, fly, wasp and hummingbird resources to help with identification, feel free to pass them my way if you have any. Pam DeVries also has supplied our the station with some copies of her book titled, “A Field Guide to the Plants of the San Emigdio Region of California,” which has been invaluable for identifying and learning new plants!
(Penstemon labrosus, San Gabriel Beardtongue. I snapped this shot on the Mt. Pinos Summit trail!)
I am most excited to learn more about the different flowering and seeding times of the plants of this region. Based on what seeds are mature in the field right now, I can make an educated guess that some of the first blooming plants in this area were the cobwebby thistle (Cirsium occidentale), the array of Ericameria species represented here, the deltoid balsam root (Balsamorhiza deltoidea) and the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)…this obviously changes with elevation so I will specify within the ranges of 5000-6500′. I am also extremely excited to continue documenting our hikes throughout the summer, huge thanks to Liz Buchroeder for letting me use her amazing camera and lenses!
(Ladybird Beetle hanging out on some Urtica dioica, or stinging nettle flowers)
Eli Grinberg
Chuchupate Ranger Station
Mt. Pinos Ranger District
Los Padres National Forest
US Forest Service