Diana and company cut brush at McClaughrey - due to another commitment I was not able to work this one and the Cap Sauers session that followed. My team of roving correspondents was apparently on assignment on the Korean peninsula covering geopolitical drama so I don't have any pictures and only brief accounts of the workdays.
Cap Sauers August 6
Bob collected seed on this day, primarily bottlebrush grass but a couple other woodland grasses as well. Our thanks to first-time Palos volunteer Robert for his help.
If you've never collected seed, I suggest you give it a whirl. It's a different kind of day than invasives removal, with the chance to put your hands on something good, something we want to propagate. The next logical step after getting rid of the bad guys. It's also the ideal setting for contemplation.
Paddock August 9
Hey, no contemplative, navel-gazing here on this day. All bowsaws and loppers and brush hitting the ground. Huge thanks to Jim Foreman for handling the herbiciding task for a crew of 10 - that's a challenge and he was up to it!
Next week at Paddock we hope to do some brush pile burns, unless the temp goes back up.
I posted two pictures of a walking stick below, seen at Paddock. Their camouflage is terrific - hard to tell what is insect and what is surroundings. A very cool bug: one South American species grows to 14" long, and measures over 20" with legs extended. Females can reproduce without the assistance of a male, which I find troubling on some level. More info on walking sticks right here: https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Invertebrates/Walking-Sticks.aspx