![\"Nine](\"https:\/\/dev-clm-blog.pantheonsite.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Nine-Mile-Canyon.jpg\")
<\/a>Wildflower display in Nine Mile Canyon, Sacatar Trail Wilderness<\/p><\/div>\n
Taking advantage of recent spring rains in the Western Mojave and Eastern Sierra Nevada, and the amazing blooms that have followed, the Seeds of Success program is once again a major focus for me. The combination of sufficient precipitation and our team\u2019s dedication has resulted in more forb-species seed collections than have occurred here during the past several years.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Caulanthus inflatus<\/em> population, Grass Valley Wilderness<\/p><\/div>\n In addition to the native seed collections I have taken the opportunity to involve myself in several other aspects of botanical work, at the Ridgecrest Field Office, and elsewhere in the California Desert District.\u00a0Highlights include:<\/p>\n Interdisciplinary team, hiking into the Bright Star Wilderness<\/p><\/div>\n Rare plant monitoring in the Algodones Dunes<\/p><\/div>\n Phacelia nashiana<\/em>, a BLM special status plant<\/p><\/div>\n Workers prepare to remove an invasive salt-cedar from a riparian area in the El Paso Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n Owens Peak Wilderness<\/p><\/div>\n Gopher snake near Grass Valley Wilderness<\/p><\/div>\n And much remains to come! On the horizon is a NEPA training in Las Vegas, a vegetation monitoring class in Billings, plant mapping projects, writing assignments, and yes, more native seed collections. I will be sure to keep you posted as things begin to heat-up here in the Mojave.<\/p>\n Marcus Lorusso<\/p>\n BLM Ridgecrest Field Office<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After working as a botanist and environmental educator in Oregon for more than 7 years, my present stint at the BLM Ridgecrest Field Office feels a bit like a sabbatical. What a learning experience and adventure it is proving to … Continue reading \n
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