Volunteers and staff with the last load of debris from the Anderson Ranch cleanup; see November’s stewardship update for the story. Photography by Sean Burke.
Planting and Weeding and Watering, Oh My!
Story by Haley Sutton | Photo by Roxana Lucero
The December COVID restrictions that limited property visits to a single household inspired stewardship staff to divide and conquer between multiple tasks at a few different sites, while still connecting through radio and cell phones.
Before the first few bouts of rain at the beginning of the month, the young plantings at Ang needed watering, and a strong solo visit helped those plants along.
At Marsh Creek 4, a patch of Italian and milk thistle and mustard was removed behind the bench. This effort opened up the space for established blue elderberry (Sambucus cerulea) and wood rose (Rosa gymnocarpa) plants to grow.
Downstream at Big Bend, an additional 67 plants were purchased to join the 53 plantings from November. The new additions include California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), mugwort (Artemisia douglasiana), common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), blue wild rye (Elymus glaucus), and black sage (Salvia mellifera). Plantings were subsequently mulched and watered in, and the much-desired rain has definitely helped the process!
Looking to the Horizon in the New Year
Photo by Ted Clement
Despite the unpredictability of 2020, we want to thank you all for your resilience as we donned face coverings, worked physically distanced, and tuned in virtually throughout the year. We are incredibly grateful for your adaptability and endless support, and we can’t wait to work alongside you again in the future! We hope you have a safe and happy new year!
Sincerely,
The Stewardship Team
