Today promises to be a busy final day at the Reserve. After joining our neighbors in Idyllwild for a community pancake breakfast to benefit the Mountain Emergency Preparedness Team, we'll be back at Trailfinders Lodge trying to pack two weeks' worth of dirty clothes, adventures, discoveries, and new friendships into our bags, and trying to leave the Lodge in better shape than we found it. (Don't worry: yesterday we shipped off all the dried plant specimen collections to the Smithsonian.)
It's a challenging and emotional day, so we may not have time for much more than some quick thoughts about what we've learned, which we'll post, with some pictures, as we go along.
Some Lessons Learned:
Plants have artistry.--Evan N.
Dehydration can hit before you realize it.--Evan S.
Plants are amazing. Dodder is "wireless" and flies over other plants like Batman flying over Gotham City rooftops.--Erin
It's better not to judge things before trying them.--Evan S.
Jimson weed is tricky because it smells like peanut butter, but could blind you if you get it in your eyes.--Alex
It's easy to make friends but hard to let them go.--Rachel
Invasive species are threats to an entire ecosystem.--Nick
It's important to use the right end of the coffee cup, especially when talking about how important it is to use the right end of the coffee cup.--Rusty
Appreciation for the natural world grows exponentially with understanding.--Boone
Wherever you go you can, and will, gather friends and even new family.--Evan N.
Saprophytes (like some of the orchids growing on the Reserve) were once thought to live only on decomposing matter (not photosynthesis), but now there's a debate about whether some are parasites living off fungi.--George
It doesn't take long to grow close to good people.--Boone
Nature will never cease to amaze me, from gorgeous plants in the desert to glow worms in the mountains.--Katie
Only plants in flower are considered good collection specimens.--David
People can come together quickly through a mutual hatred for generic-brand Wal-Mart food.--Nick
The desert isn't as barren as it looks.--Anna
Friendships blossom under the influence of shared interests, and I'm always excited to be there when it happens.--Katie
Columbine and the Fendler Meadow-rue are both in the
Ranunculaceae family. Columbine is in the
Aquilegia genus and the rue is in the
Thalictrum genus (
Thalictrum fendleri). The similar leaf-shape made me think they were related. Also,
Ranunculaceae is a ridiculous-sounding word, like a spell Ron Weasley would cast to make slugs come out of somebody's nose. --Julie.
Despite coming from different backgrounds, we all had a lot in common.--Alex
All green things are not the same. All life is unique.--Erin
Always call back the obstacles on the trail for those who follow. And bring pudding.--George
"Wiper blades" is a spiritual philosophy.--Julie
Peanut M&Ms disappear with astonishing speed.--Anna
Some creeks probably shouldn't be forded.--Julie
If it doesn't have a wick, it probably isn't a candle.--Erin
Dust is no fun to breathe on the trail.--David
In diversity lies strength.--Rusty