Meeting with OC Parks

Laura, Karl, Barbara, me, Jackie, Jennifer. We met to discuss ways OC Parks can help LCWP-Nursery and how our volunteer efforts can help get nurseries going in other OC parks. (Click any pic to enlarge)

Rabbit Fence

I added a fence to Tree structure to keep smaller animals out, notabley rabbits. We've been trying verious things to keep them out , but to no avail. They have been digging, cutting and bedding on the plants.

It's rattlesnake time again, and one was spotten on the path betweeen structures by Rick last week and today. Click here for snake relocation from trailer stairs.

Seed Collecting

Jason and I went collecting today at the south part of the park looking for plants in the maritime chaparral. We found 2 of the 3 I was looking for: red berry and bush rue. Lemonade berry was a brilliant orange, so we couldn’t pass that up. On the way back to Willow, Mr Rattlesnake, Southern Pacfic, was laying across Bommer. See video of snake: click here. (Click any pic to enlarge)

Seed Collecting

I went seed collecting today with Jason. We collected 1-2 years worth of purple needle grass, N. pulchra, at Big Bend and near entrance. We also scored Juncus Textiles, pictured; and Juncus acutus, which was a real find as the only other source was at the end of Emerald Canyon. This looks to be a good seed collecting year: variety and quantity. LOTS of ticks and poison ivy.

Work Day #12/13: bumping up

Drew and Kellan potted 40 plants on April 5. Weeded… this get out of hand under the benching… only to have Ceanothus eaten by slugs/snails. That problem is now resolved.
Beth bumped up Dudleya into 20 give-away pots. John and Drew bumped up 70 tree-shrubs into 5 gallon pots, with 9-month slow release fertilizer and mycorrhizae inoculated. David and I fixed the plumbing bib to accommodate a 2nd line for the irrigation system.
To make it all fun, it was very hot day. 101F in the Nursery shade structure. Bette, as she does many times, supplied tasty pastries.

Work Day, 2009#11 Final!!

Today was our final Nursery work day for the 2008-9 plant year. John helped Drew and Kellan pot up the big-pod Ceanothus into 5 gallon pots (hah! we ran out of soil..). Beth and Anne weeded and got pots and trays organized for next year. Nanci worked with Robert Hamersley and wife Tina weed and clean up. Also Robert fixed the little red wagon. David also weeded. So we got the place in great shape for our next plant year, which starts in July this year.
Good news is we now have city water in both structures. Thank you Ranger Barbara and plumber Bert

Work Day, 2009#10 Bumping Up

Stephanie, Beth, Drew and John. Finished regular seed flats. This will make total plants at about 1,800 (see inventory list).