3rd Planting & Seeding

Nanci, Sara, Emily, Katie, Julie and myself planted 170 plants: Phacelia ramosissima. 4 days of consecutive frost and no rain. We managed a respectable 10 plants/person/hour rate. Later Ranger Barbara, Sara, Emily and myself seeded a 200sy plot cleared earlier. The seed mix we collected last year and included Mycorrhizl Inoculum AM120. Each plot had about the same square yard footage, with the planting taking 3 hours and seeding about 15 minutes. See slideshow for more pictures. (Click any pic to enlarge)

Willow-stick planting

Drainage channel was dug by Francisco, and the willow will help make this permanent. Rained a bit today and forecast has more tonight. Scott explains to group how to plant the willow-sticks with the flow of water, kinda laying down rather than just straight up. Ranger Larry and I collected these cutting from down in Emerald Canyon in November. After about 1.5 months, they began to root, click picture to enlarge to see roots. The expectation is to use willow cutting from regular trail clearing next time. See slideshow for more pictures. (Click any pic to enlarge)

1st planting

Ranger Barbara asked for a plot showing CA native grasses. So Nanci, Sara, Emily, David and Robert planted the 100 sy plot. We were also working out details effective with groups.
We planted Giant needle grass, Achnatherum coronatum, Purple needle grass, Nassella pulchra, and Juncus pantens. 188 plants, 1.75hrs, 5 people = 22 plants/person/hour.
The technique we used: water plants, dig hole, fill hole with water and allow drain, place plant in hole and fill with dirt. Plants are placed roughly 1 yard apart. Its important to keep the flow of people with plants and water going so as not to trample the work you’ve done. See slideshow for more pictures. (Click any pic to enlarge)

Nursery 2006 plant inventory

What a great volunteer effort this planting year: nearly 1,500 plants. Three times the number of plants promised! Granted we still need to get the plants in the ground, but we have bountiful progress so far. Might I remind the reader that all seeds for these plants were collected by the same volunteers. See slideshow for more pictures. (Click any pic to enlarge)