The collecting team
Rachel suggested that instead we use Idaho fescue Festuca idahoensis and Columbia Needlegrass Achnatherum nelsonii. since these grasses are more common in Western Wyoming and at the elevation suggested in our diorama. I decided that we would go with Rachel’s suggestions and use grasses that are more accurate. We’ll change the label later. The boxes were sent express overnight to keep the grass as fresh as possible.
Grass specimens wrapped in wet paper towel in preparation for shipping.
| Rachel Renne |
| Sam Maher |
| Jesse Bryant |
| Elle Brunsdale |
| Jaclyn Kachelmeyer |
| Natalie Irwin |
| Selia De Leon |
| Michelle Downey |
| Sabrina Szeto |
| Jeff Goodwin |
| Fidel Hernandez |
| Rachel Mealor |
| Brian Mealor |
| Mark Bradford and family |
| Emily Oldfield |
When I received the boxes, I removed the plastic bags, each containing 10-15 clumps of grass wrapped in paper towels. I unwrapped each clump of grass one-by-one. Since I can’t add too much depth to the surface of the diorama, I removed as much of the roots and dirt as I could without them falling apart. I must say, I felt transported to Wyoming with the smell of the earth! I then pushed a sharp wire through the root clump and hung the grass upside down from lines snaked across my lab. I will let the grass dry-I’m expecting two to three weeks-before I use my airbrush to spray them with green acrylic paint since they will turn brown naturally as they dry. There should be no other preparation needed before I install them in the diorama. The long stemmed grasses with seed heads may need to be strengthened with piano wire as the weight of the seed heads cause the grass to droop over time
The first grass clumps in my lab. Beautiful!
The first line of grass hanging to dry. My lab is now filled with clotheslines of grass!
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