Plant Propagation: Vegetative #1

Sarah, John, David, Beth, Kristen, Noelia, Nanci all came out after our 1st day was cancelled due to rain. This was our first go at vegetative propagation: rose, buckwheat, bush sunflower and black sage.
Our medium is 80% perlite, 20% coconut coir. DipNGrow rooting hormone, auxin. Disinfectant cuttings with diluted hydrogen peroxide. 8x8 cuttings/flat.
Overcast day. The rain collection barrels have been full for over a month: 400 gallons. It is also tick season… did not check while getting cuttings, and got one on my leg. (Click any pic to enlarge)

2009-10 Work Day #17: Last official day for plant year

Drew, John, Kristen, Noelia and Sarah came out to go seed collecting along Laurel trail. We had hoped to get scrub oak, but we were about a month late. However we did collect Brikel bush and golden bush. Anyway it was a nice day to be out.
This is the end of the plant season which started in July this year. 1/2 the plants were put in the ground yesterday with Keep It Wild work day around the Nix Center.
The weather has been cooling off even more with moist AM's. PM's still get into the mid-70's. So where's that rain? (Click any pic to enlarge)

2009-10 Work Day #16: Bumping, new shade structure, and rain collection

David, Beth, Steve, John, Sarah, Noelia and Drew helped today on a very productive work day. Drew and David finished getting the new shade structure up and assembled: a 200 square feet of additional work space. John, Sarah, Noelia and Beth bumped up the remaining plants. David and Drew got the rain collection gutter square and finished the feeder to the cisterns.
The weather appears to be cooling off, and we're getting AM moisture. However today was a nice 72F. (Click any pic to enlarge)

2009-10 Work Day #15: Raising new shade structure

David, Beth, Steve (yes, he’s back) and Kristen joined in to help assemble the shade structure for our new work area. I bought the 10’ model to clear the door, which is much heavier than the smaller gauge pipe model.
The weather has been up and down, and no rain. Foggy mornings. I turned the irrigation back on and we’ll monitor a bit closer as we’re back to weekly work days. Beth took the propagation class at Theodore Payne Nursery yesterday… this will help us a lot when we start vegetative propagation.

The snake visitor to the tree house appears to be a striped racer. Cute little guy. (Click any pic to enlarge)

2009-10 Work Day #14: Bumping Up

Drew headed up the work day with Noelia, Beth and Sarah. They focused on getting purple needle grass bumped up. Also they removed siding on both structures to let in more light and allow better circulation. (Click any pic to enlarge)

Nursery Irrigation Covers

The county built covers for the irrigation valves and main line. Very robust to protect against the elements and prevent accidental breakage. There’s top access, the whole assembly can be move up. Thanks! (click any pic to enlarge)

2009-10 Work Day #13: Bumping Up & WOW

Drew, John and Noelia helped bump up and repair pots. Turned off irrigation to allow pots and especially seed flats to dry out. Also removed caging from most to allow better air circulation. PUt out 1st treatment of pre-emergent WOW on 1,000 square foot test area. (Click any pic to enlarge)
Goings on: weather has cooled down, and it rained about 1" this past week.