For the past two weeks we have been calculating inventory down at the Intervale. We go out into the field with our marker sticks and count each and every tree within a five foot square and then skip down ten feet and repeat the measurements.
The first week we counted dogwoods. Lots of dogwoods. I can proudly point out the difference between Silky Dogwood and Red-Osier Dogwood. We counted one row of Silky's where we would yell which size the tree fell under. The next row I decided to take on the job of jotting down the dogwoods we found, and my what a task that was. First off, the second row was a mix between Red-O and Silky, and second we decided since it was a mixed row to count each and every tree. This was such a useful experience because now I know I can retain lots of numbers when their being yelled at me. After the total of 400+ trees was counted we went over to another bed to weed out the rye grass. Rye grass if left in the bed over winter will out shade the trees in the spring.
The second week we did inventory on Shrub Willow. There were many different species of willow mixed into the row. Luckily for this row we did not count every last tree, but we did have to get in the bramble of large weeds and large trees. Since willow grow relatively fast they were all taller than me and I nearly lost my group in the mix! Halfway through the counting I accidentally broke off a branch from one of the trees, and it was my buddy throughout the inventory. Driving back home I noticed him sticking out of my pocket, when I got home I stuck him in some planting soil so he could grow some roots.
Oh! one last thing, while doing inventory on the Willow, Seth was showing me the aphids on the willows. They don't harm the trees, but when you smush them or play around with them they leave a blood red stain on your fingers. Don't wipe them on your pants or a white shirt because its hard to get out, I should know that's what I spent my weekend doing. Whoops!
-Rachel