05-24-16 Field Note

05-24-16 Field Note

May 25, 2016

Jeff Clarke's field note details diversity islands, balsamroot, willow and aspen transplants, and a spring bounty of flowers.

Diversity islands, balsamroot, basin wild rye, willow transplants, flowers

Two months ago the field crew stuck several thousand willow stems in the ground. I had high hopes for the leafless sticks, but I began to grow impatient. I returned today and found green leaves everywhere!

The 8”-12” standing water didn’t seem to bother the willows, though several aspens suffered.

Prairie grew several native forbs from seed collected on the ranch. Last week we planted 1,600 of her plants into 14 diversity islands (10’x15’). We used black mat to reduce weed competition and a topped-exclosure to eliminate herbivory. The diversity islands break up areas of low diversity, offer native seed source for adjacent colonization, and give a burst of color.

We always wondered how long it would take for the black weed fabric to break down. After five years in the direct sunlight, the process has begun. The crew replaced desired fabric in the experimental plots this week.

The Top House parking area has been under construction for a few months. Workers smoothed the soil and installed an underground sprinkler. This week, the crew seeded the area next to the lot and covered it with coconut mat and hay. Then we put our signature touch on it- basin wild rye! We

We transplanted an old rough fescue study into the south-facing hill on the other side of the parking lot. Next week we will fill the gaps with potted forbs.

Houndstongue started to flower last week. The crew, with a few new faces, started another year of battle. We beat it back a little more each season.

We planted basin wild rye and arrowleaf balsamroot along the road near the entrance. Plant establishment and beautification were our main objectives. We placed large rocks on both sides of the road to protect plantings.

The patch of basin wild rye that we planted near the corral last spring has grown to shoulder height. It created a dense jungle-like stand that excludes weeds. It seems as though ground squirrels don’t dare visit the dark abyss either.

The basin grass that we planted this spring has not yet reached the size of last year’s plantings. Ground squirrels continue to use this area to graze on the shorter statured grasses.

Transplanted aspens from last spring are starting to spread and become more forest-like.

Larger planted aspens sent suckers far beyond their exclosures.

Elk and deer stripped the needles from several ponderosa pines last winter. I figured that they were dead. This spring, several of the limbs put on new growth.