So here we are at day 4 of our virtual explorations of plants and adventurers.
Being a like minded adventurous spirit, I am always eager to learn a little behind the scenes – just what goes into planning an expedition… so I was delighted when ‘The Mark of Adventure‘, Mark Weathington, stepped in at a recent event -Volunteer Appreciation Day – for J .C. Raulston, Sarah B. Duke Gardens, North Carolina Botanical Garden, and Juniper Level Botanic Garden – to share what was in his suitcase.
Even though Mark was leaving in 2 days to give a talk at a prestigious event: 5th Global Botanic Gardens Congress and hunt plants in New Zealand, he took the time out to delight his audience with his always packed and ready to go roller bag for plant collecting.
This bag gets checked, let’s see what’s inside:
Notebooks for documenting & sketching, multiple pencils for writing & marking.
- Business cards printed in English and the language of the visiting country… plenty of them!
All collected plants must be meticulously cleaned, packed and labeled. No traces of soil can be left on a cutting or on seeds… so each night plant hunters can be found in their lodging with sinks or trash cans filled with water for cleaning… a soft brush is handy.
- Hefty Zipper Bags – Mark prefers those with the actual plastic zippers.
- Scissors and knife.
- A spray bottle for a little moisture. Plastic Plant markers.
Mark showed the size of the specimens collected (held in right hand), which after cleaning get wrapped in foil. Paper towels, some moss which also acts as packing material.
- Little sieves from the Dollar Store help when cleaning and sifting seed.
- Small muslin bags for storing seed in a variety of sizes.
- A loop or magnifying glass to insure correct ID and check for tiny insects or minute traces of soil. It is not uncommon for Customs agents to dump the whole lot!
Then there’s the tech equipment…
- GPS, to mark location of collected specimens.
- Chargers for phones, that is if there is any reception!
- Laptops, etc. which must also be compatible with the country’s power.
- Charging for same in vehicles, Mark brings a charger that accommodates multiple gadgets simultaneously.
- Duct Tape – Of Course!!!
- A re-engineered fishing rod, when coupled with a cutting implement, PVC pipe and wire…
An invention of Mark’s to give him extra reach up in a tree or down a ravine to get that plant of desire just out of reach. Can’t you tell he loves his work!
Books to research and ID in the country visiting….
- Passports, Visas,
- Collecting permits…
- Folders,
- Padded envelopes,
- Flattened fed Ex boxes
- Labels.
Research lists of plants – those that can not be collected in particular country and- A wish list for the expedition!
All collected material gets dropped at inspection center usually near an airport and the plant hunter holds their breathe hoping the documented specimens make it out of customs of the visited country.
Then more waiting as the specimens are sent on through to the US Department of Agriculture for another round of inspections… the waiting begins…
While Mark was still out in the hinterlands of New Zealand… this was posted by Lizzi Lathers of JCRA…
Luck!!! Some of the plants already arrived at the JCRA!
Stay Tuned! I’ll be following up with a behind the scenes look at what happens next…. as we follow the journey of the collected plants!
Thanks again Mark for the interesting and creative presentation… It was a huge hit!
Enjoy – living the EntwinedLife
Jayme B
NC Certified Environmental Educator
EntwinedLife 