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<\/a>Since\u00a0our interenship is a bit different than other SOS interns based at BLM offices – I thought I would share some photos\/info about what goes on at a plant materials center.<\/p>\nThis is one of the diagrams they showed us at the SOS training in Denver a few weeks ago. Working here at the PMC \ufeff\ufeffwe are getting exposure not only to seed collecting, but also to steps 2 and 3 in the process.<\/p>\n
Just like the picture from the diagram, we do a lot\u00a0“evaluation and development” here at the CAPMC.\u00a0 We develop propagation protocals for different plant species — trying out different methods of stratifcation and scarification and planting seeds in different soil types until we find a strategy that works well and we have a high germination rate.\u00a0 We when aren’t out seed collecting, we spend a lot of time in the CAPMC greenhouses –><\/p>\n Planting seeds, transferring seedlings into bigger pots and keeping our plants\u00a0happy!<\/p>\n \ufeff\ufeffThe next step in the NPMDP program is “field establisment”<\/p>\n We have a lot of specialized machinery here at the CAPMC, for example this transplater which is being used to transfer these grass plugs into the field.<\/p>\n After a few years, the fields look like this (Southern California Brome –>)<\/p>\n Each of the fields is a different “release” species.<\/p>\n The seeds from\u00a0our releases are then collected and sent off to commercial seed growers — where they can be grown out in large quantities for restoration and conservation projects.<\/p>\n Good luck to everyone with their seed collecting!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hello to all the other CLM interns around the country. My name is Melissa, and I have been working as an SOS intern at the California Plant Materials Center in Lockeford, CA (near Lodi, about 40 minutes south of Sacramento) … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n