Time in: 10am
Time out: 11:35am
It's that time again to get ready for the spring and summer seasons. Today, I helped plant a large variety of tomatoes, from cherry orange ones to bi-color beefsteaks, all in flats that are labeled, dated and sent to the hothouse to germinate and sprout.
One interesting thing I didn't know about tomato seed coats: at least most of those I planted are hairy (or pubescent). This increases its surface to volume ratio for water imbibition and uptake.
Personally, I think tomato seeds are one of the most beautiful seeds I've ever seen!
On another note, I was offered an internship position at the Ranch! I will start this new position in a couple weeks. I will be working 2 full days a week until November (date is approximate). This will be a great and valuable experience, one that I'm very honored to have and very excited about.
More details to come! ...
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Week 7 - Chamaedorea tepejilote Liebm. ex Mart.
Time in: 8:45am
Time out: 10am
Location collected: Belize, Toledo District, Maya Mtns., Abraham Camp
Male; to 20'. Multiple stems, 3-6. Leaf rib with creamy stripe. 5 fronds. Male flowers musty green. Anthers cream.
Term of the Week
Anthers: The part of the flower, on the stamen, that contains pollen. (Source)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Week 5 - Food Forest
Time in: 10am
Time out: 11:15
Today I worked on adding a tray of Giant Goosefoot to the Food Forest in hopes that it will perpetually reseed itself for winter harvests to come. The Food Forest is the Ranch's large wild vegetable garden that stretches a number of acres. Patches of cleared and mulched land are dotted amidst sloping ground covered in oxalis. I planted them near the newly pruned fig trees, passed another large framed tree and stopped at a small grove of Guava trees, trying to be careful not to accidentally plant my foot or bucket of fertilizer down on a head of lettuce (believe me, its harder than it sounds)!
Week 5 - Chamaedorea Phochutlensis
Time in: 8:45am
Time out: 10am
Collectors: F. Boutin & M. Kimnach on 2/April/1970
Mexico, Jalisco: Sierra de Parnaso SW of La Cumbre. Elevation 5600'
To 8' tall, stoloniferous.
Terms:
Stoloniferous: Having stolons (source)
Stolon: A horizontal shoot that grows from the ground which creates roots at each node (source)
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Week 4 - Repotting Herbs
Time in: 10am
Time out: 1:15pm
Today we transplanted several types of herbs (thyme, oregano, lavender, etc) from their gallon containers to 5 gallon containers. This is to keep them from becoming root-bound. Once Spring has officially arrived, the herbs will then be transplanted into the ground at the Ranch. For now, they will stay protected in the Huntington's main greenhouse.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Week 3 - Planting Sunflowers
Time in: 10am
Time out: 11:40
Today we planted different kinds of sunflower seeds in various places at the Ranch. We embedded them among the wild-growing oxalis, fava bean and mustard plants, between a grove of guava trees, up a few sunny slopes and along the dirt road. I saw many interesting species of mushrooms, including this copper colored one.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Week 3 - Chamaedorea linearis
Time in: 8:30am
Time out: 10am
Collected in Peru, Jujin in the Satipo Province. 31 March 1984
"Tree, 3m tall, 5cm DBH; bark smooth; 5 extrafoliar, pendant inflorescences; fruit matures red with orange pulp; cs 30 cm, green, ca. 6 leaves, 1.7 m long and ca. 23 leaflets each side"
Terms of the week:
Decumbent: A trailing plant that has rising stems. (Source)
"Pendent infloresences": A budding of flowers that is hanging downward. (Source)
"Inflorescence infrafoliar": A budding of flowers that is positioned underneath the leaves. (Source)
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