{"id":88100,"date":"2024-07-25T14:02:29","date_gmt":"2024-07-25T21:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.clminternship.org\/?p=88100"},"modified":"2024-07-25T14:02:29","modified_gmt":"2024-07-25T21:02:29","slug":"its-an-early-monsoon-season-the-land-is-becoming-alive-again-and-so-is-my-dry-desert-skin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.clminternship.org\/?p=88100","title":{"rendered":"Its an early monsoon season – the land is becoming alive again and so is my dry desert skin!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Before moving to Tucson – everyone who had lived here at some point in their lives would always tell me how great monsoon season was. I didn’t get my hopes up as for the last 2 years, Tucson has experienced especially long, hot and dry summers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, to my surprise – I like to imagine it as a wholesome welcome gift to me – the environment has brought not just an early monsoon season but a generous one. The most rewarding part of experiencing this summer’s desert rain is witnessing the ocotillos transition from barren to happy & thriving within just a matter of days – it’s a wonderful reminder of how resilient nature can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Within my first few weeks of working on the Coronado crew, we had the opportunity to camp for two nights at the top of Mt. Graham to assist Soil Scientists – Henry and Eric – in identifying plants within their study site. I never been humbled as quickly as being thrown into ID-ing sedges on my first botanizing trip. Never will I ever take my beloved hand lens for grated again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overall, my experience work in Coronado NF so far has been equally challenging and exciting – and I’m very grateful I get to do this work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some things I’m especially grateful for this week<\/p>\n\n\n\n
hearing Mexican Spotted Owls singing in the night<\/li>
liquidIV<\/li>
my co-intern\/ now friend Bees validating me on my truck driving abilities<\/li>
the Mt. Graham meadow where I identified my first graminoid<\/li>
monsoon storms lowering the Arizona temp by 10 degrees<\/li>
camp site ramen after a long day’s work <\/li>
the humidity rehydrating my dry desert skin<\/li>
desert sunsets and morning walks to my field office<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\nSolo walk on Mt. Graham at sunset<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Can we key in the shade?<\/p>Bees SOnday<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nbotanists working hard or hardly working<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.clminternship.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/mt-graham-scaled.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.clminternship.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/hannah-and-bees-scaled.jpg\")