Nix Center Planting 1

Nanci, Julie, Edinam, Anne, Anna and Eric all helped make 556 of the 2,000 seeded pots of Purple Needle grass, Nassella pulchra – 28%. We had many challenges, the biggest was running out of seed! But Trish came through with enough to finish out the planting. We also collected some more within the park, which is hopefully ripe for use. Hard working group of folks! See slideshow for more pictures. (Click any pic to enlarge)

Nix Center Planning

Ranger Larry, Ranger Barbara and I met with the Nix Center project manager, Ernie Seidel to review initial planting and commitment Nursery could make. The Nursery group will deliver 2,000 Purple Needle grass, Nassella pulchra, in 2½” tall containers, grown from seed collected from seed we collected within the park. The plants will be ready August 1, and will be used at the Center's entrace area, called the "Stipa Meadow".
Since the area around the Nix Center is landscaped and about an acre, we agreed the area should have irrigation. It is unlikely volunteers can get this many plants in the group quickly (minimally 10 hours for group of 10 people). Also the plants will need to be fenced against rabbits until the plants are at least 6 months old. See slideshow for more pictures. (Click any pic to enlarge)

Help with Soka Ecology Class

We helped Chie and Sabrina with their Ecology Class final project. March 19 we planted 40 plants and on April 7 they did seed flat and bumping up. Both days we did general Nursery clean up: clear plants, weed and stack flats and pots. Other good news: 400 gallon rain collection is finally full! See slideshow for more pictures. (Click any pic to enlarge)

4th Planting

Another planting day with Edinam, Chie, Greg, Francisco and myself. Nanci is “bumping up”, but not pictured. We planted 288 plants, in 244 square yards, at a planting rate of a whopping 25plants/hour. It helped that we did not have to water, and the soil was already saturated. See slideshow for more pictures. (Click any pic to enlarge)

Soka Planting

Soka Ecology Class, instructor Anthony Mazerol, came to help Nanci and myself, along with Ranger Barbara. One half the group planted 144 plants, White Sage and CA Sagebrush, at 12 plants/person rate... very well done. The other half bumbed up 9 flats, 144 plants, of Monkey Flower, Goldenbush and CA Sagebrush. Great day to be working at Nursery between rain days. About 1" and we got 50+gallons in rain water. See slideshow for more pictures. (Click any pic to enlarge)

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)