</p> While it may be hard to think about down parkas, hot chocolate, and twinkle lights in the heat of July, now is the perfect time to start planning your annual holiday party. We invite you to add even more sparkle to your event this year by hosting your party during Blossoms of Light™</a>, a dazzling display of light and color that becomes the hottest ticket in town during the holiday season.</p> With booking options available every night of the week from November 29 – December 21, we can accommodate parties large and small, modest and extravagant. Choose from our versatile and unique indoor spaces to offer your guests a warm retreat on a chilly winter night. Each of your guests will be able to wander our glittering winter wonderland the night of your booking, and tables and chairs are also included. </p> Guarantee your guests an evening they won’t forget, immersed in the stunning surroundings of one of the top holiday light shows in the country</a>. Popular dates are already selling fast, so contact us for more information today at private.events@botanicgardens.org</a> or 720-865-3551.</p> Thinking of popping the question this December? Ask us about our private engagement packages! </em></p>
Across the Front Range of Colorado (and the world writ large), ecosystems and the services they provide are giving way to subdivisions and housing developments. Pasturelands—which were native prairies not so long ago—are commonly converted into private subdivisions to accommodate a growing number of residents. In Douglas County, however, the newly acquired 2,038-acre Sandstone Ranch Open Space will protect in perpetuity an aesthetic landscape that was slated for luxury housing.</p>Emerging from the evergreen slopes of the Rampart Range, mottled hillsides of Gambel oak savanna give way to lush green meadows surrounding West Plum Creek. To the old pioneers who migrated westward by way of the Homestead Act, the precariously balanced sandstone spires conjured images of unevenly stacked bales of hay. Following a hundred-and-some years of ranching, Sandstone Ranch retains evidence of a significant cultural history. But what makes Sandstone Ranch the new crown jewel of Douglas County Open Spaces is its natural aesthetics and the diversity of organisms living on the property.</p>What does a floristic inventory provide?</strong></p>At the Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium, we focus on documenting the floristic biodiversity of the Southern Rocky Mountain Region. In keeping with the Gardens’ mission of connecting people with plants, our floristic team is working in collaboration with Douglas County Open Space to (1) capture a “snapshot” of the floristic richness (a list of the plant species present) at Sandstone Ranch, (2) deposit voucher specimens of each and every plant species observed in Sandstone Ranch into the herbarium—which may be accessed and used freely by the global community—and (3) provide land managers, stakeholders and citizens with a better understanding of the biological community within the Ranch.</p>While Sandstone Ranch is at this time closed to the public, a master plan is currently in the works and is expected to balance ecological conservation with public access. The work we are conducting at Sandstone Ranch will be used to inform management strategies that protect sensitive species from anthropogenic disturbances, while also providing a resource for the public to connect and interact with the flora of Colorado.</p>Plants Stories from the Ranch</strong></p>Viola selkirkii </em>(Selkirk’s violet): Once thought to have simply died out in Colorado, this violet is considered critically imperiled within the state. Yet within the appropriate habitat (cold mountain forests) it is widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Only two other occurrences are currently recorded within the state; one from Rocky Mountain National Park, and the other a few miles north of Sandstone Ranch near Devil’s Head. The distribution of this species may be best described by the Arcto-Tertiary Geoflora hypothesis.</li>Bromus inermis </em>(smooth brome): As a native to Eurasia, B. inermis </em>is a common forage crop that has aggressively escaped cultivation. If this grass is not properly managed, it outcompetes and displaces desirable native species. In Sandstone Ranch, smooth brome carpets the low valleys and meadows which would have historically been dominated by the now uncommon little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium</em>) and blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis</em>).</li>Corallorhiza wisteriana </em>(spring coralroot): This orchid species is an eastern relict whose distribution is largely relegated to regions south of Pleistocene glaciation areas. Instead of performing photosynthesis, this red stemmed orchid parasitizes mycorrhizal fungi from which it steals energy and nutrients (myco-heterotroph). This orchid and the Selkirk’s violet are indicator species for mesic-montane habitats which have high ecological value.</li></ul>This blog post was written by Richard A. Hum, M.S., Botany Field Assistant.</em></p>
For most of us Tibet summons images of mystery, lofty mountains, monasteries on high perches and, of course, yaks. Tibet has been called the Rooftop of the World, just as Colorado could claim to be the “rooftop” of the Continental United States, although Tibet’s 4,500-meter mean elevation is more than double Colorado’s mere 2,000! For the last 10 years, touristic travel to Tibet has been restricted and at times brought to a standstill. I had little hope to ever have a chance to go there until Harry Jans (a passionate world traveler from the Netherlands with great savvy) invited me to join a group of 20 keen alpine gardeners on a botanical trek from Lijiang (in northernmost Yunnan) where we boarded a small bus that will bring us ultimately to Lhasa.</p> Although I’m in the last leg of the journey, I feel it safe to say that few of the trips I’ve been blessed to take have reached so many heights, both literally and figuratively. Most every day for more than two weeks now we have driven well above 4,000 meters (higher than the highest peaks in Colorado) and from the tops of many passes (some above 5,000 meters) we have climbed to 17,000 feet on occasion. It is astonishing that not one of a bus full of travelers seems to have experienced altitude sickness or other mishaps; but Harry has selected carefully, perhaps, picking seasoned travelers.</p> I have read many books by the early great explorers of this region, including Frank Kingdon Ward and Frank Smythe. They invariably describe a region of virtually non-existent roads, the most primitive accommodations and almost stone-age living conditions of peasantry. I can only imagine what they would think. The highways that we’ve sped along are smooth and beautifully maintained. The hotels we’ve stayed at, even in the most modest towns, are of a level of luxury that one rarely finds outside large cities in America – immense chandeliers, marble floors, walls, often beautifully and decoratively patterned. Spacious, comfortable rooms and bathrooms with gleaming fixtures you’d not likely find in many towns in America — or Europe for that matter.</p> The homes of the farmers in the countryside are likewise sturdy, often large and attractive with beautiful patterning of bricks and trim fields everywhere, typically within stone walls crowned with thick bundles of rose canes to discourage trespassing.</p> There is a fly in the ointment, perhaps. Or better put, a yak in the pasture. More accurately, thousands, likely millions of yaks that have mown the landscape down to the nubbins in many areas, leaving only the most toxic and unpalatable herbs to proliferate. Fortunately, these are some of the showiest wildflowers: primulas in many species forming vast throngs of yellow or red; giant rhubarbs of several kinds; the daphne cousin Stellera chamaejasme, forming domes of vivid yellow (in Yunnan) or pink and white (elsewhere). But once you venture far enough or high enough you find areas that are too far for yaks to venture from their nighttime corrals, and here a flora of breathtaking variety and beauty prevails.</p> Just as each “summit” across the Great Basin seems to have its own Penstemon, Phlox, Eriogonum or Astragalus, every “La” (Pass) in Tibet unfurls a tremendous variety of new Meconopsis (poppies), Primula or Androsace. I have already accumulated more than 3,000 images in my database, and we still have a pass or two before arriving in Lhasa!</p>
Summer has finally arrived and Denver Botanic Gardens is beaming with flowers, visitors and events! This is a peak time to visit and enjoy the wide variety of gardens and plants it has to offer. Climbing plants are a key part of the displays in virtually every garden as they provide vertical interest as well as serve an essential ecological role for wildlife by providing habitat and food for many birds and pollinators.</p> As soon as you arrive and begin your journey into the Gardens, you will be greeted by Lonicera sempervirens</em> ‘Blanche Sandman’ (trumpet honeysuckle) inside the parking structure growing along the north side of the entrance with bright red blooms with yellow centers. Showy red berries follow on this vine and provide food for songbirds.</p> As you make your way to the Bonfils-Stanton Visitor Center, you will come across several additional varieties of climbing plants including Aristolochia macrophylla</em> (Dutchman’s pipe), Vitis vinifera</em> ‘Purpurea’ (purple-leaf grape), Humulus lupulus</em> (hops) and Parthenocissis tricuspidata</em> ‘Green Showers’ (Boston ivy). These fine specimens are located along the East side of York Street growing along the Parking Garage trellis.</p> As you then enter the Gardens through the Visitor Center, make your way to the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory where you will find Ipomoea carnea,</em> a species of morning glory with stunning pink flowers that weave through the arbor located on the second floor on the northeast side of the Tropical Conservatory.</p> Continue meandering through the Gardens until you reach the Romantic Gardens, where you will find Wisteria</em> frutescens</em> var. macrostachya</em> ‘Aunt Dee’. This cold hardy climber thrives in full sun, has lilac blue flower clusters and is an ideal vine for covering trellises and fences.</p> Just a short distance from the Romantic Gardens is the Herb Garden, which has a large trellis covered in several varieties of seedless grape vines, including Vitis</em> ‘Reliance’, V.</em> labrusca</em> ‘Concord’, V. labrusca</em> ‘Canadice’, and V</em>. ‘Suffolk Red’. These incredibly delicious grape varieties will inspire you to grow your own grapes in your home garden.</p> As you continue your adventure through the many gardens of Denver Botanic Gardens, you will find other amazing climbing plants. Take note of these wonderful plants and set forth to create your own vertical garden!</p>
Let’s pause for a moment and think—really think—about food. It punctuates and often defines important times in our lives, yet it is also an essential, daily element of our lives. </p> </p> It wasn’t always special. For millennia, food was a drudgery. Day in and day out, it was just a matter of finding, hunting and gathering whatever we could. Humanity’s relationship to food changed dramatically once we settled down, created cities after creating farms. For most in Colorado, and much of the developed world, the choices we have are now constant. Visit a local grocery and it’s hard to believe it if there is no star fruit or butter lettuce.</p> I am old enough to remember when many fresh fruits and vegetables appeared seasonally. While there is still an optimal time to buy Colorado peaches, some variety of the peach is always available.</p> There are too many people, however, who live in areas where the only choice for a fresh fruit or vegetable may be a banana at a convenience store. A lack of grocery stores and complicated public transportation leave many locked in a cycle of poor nutrition and ill health.</p> Several community organizations have rallied to alleviate the problem and we joined this righteous cause several years ago. The Gardens’ Community Supporting Agriculture program produced a super abundance of produce which created an opportunity to open markets in food deserts. Near that time, we teamed up with Veterans to Farmers, raising money for stipends to engage vets in our program, teaching them to farm and opening new doors to reach deep into underserved communities. More than 80 veterans have now graduated from the program and most have gone on to start their own farm operations. We call the entire enterprise Urban Food Initiatives.</p> Now we look to bolster our efforts locally and take the mission globally. With work on crop wild relatives, genetics, atmospheric water harvesting and soils management, we are poised more than ever before to help people all over the world have at least some opportunity to access healthy food.</p> Sadly, hunger and poor nutrition are problems unlikely to lessen with a growing global population. However, if we all do our part, if we stay determined to make a lasting difference, then maybe we can finally emerge into a more sensible and sustainable future for all people.</p>
If you think about hiking in the mountains of Colorado during different seasons of the year, you might recall seeing plants at different stages of their life. After the snow melts in the spring, greenery begins to emerge from the cold, solid ground. By June or July, many of the alpine plants are in full flower. And by August or September, you might notice that those flowers have turned to dried-out fruit capsules filled with hundreds to thousands of tiny seeds.</p> Those seeds are then released and fall to the ground, only to experience the harsh conditions of mountain life only a few weeks later. The tiny seeds get buried in multiple feet of snow for a few months before their life as a plant can begin in the spring. This period of snow burial and cold conditions has led seeds to evolve a type of dormancy called physiological dormancy, meaning that they need a period of cold before they can germinate in the spring. If you think about it, this makes a lot of sense, because if the seeds were to germinate in the fall immediately after they are dispersed, that tiny seedling would quickly die from the ensuing cold temperatures and snow.</p> We can use information such as habitat conditions of a plant to predict what requirements are needed for germination. For many plant species, particularly rare alpine species, there is little to no information about the requirements needed for germination.</p> For example, four rare alpine species from which seed was collected in 2018 – Castilleja puberula, Ipomopsis globularis, Physaria alpina</em> and Saussurea weberi</em> – have practically no information on what they require for germination. As such, I had to think about the environmental conditions of the habitats from where these seeds were sourced, as well as the likely dormancy classification of these species. The latter of which was done by looking at closely-related common species, as species within the same genus or family will often have the same type of dormancy.</p> Based on the knowledge of the environmental conditions of the source habitat, we can infer that freshly collected seeds likely need a period of cold in the lab setting before they will germinate. I subjected seeds to different lengths of cold stratification in a refrigerator at about 35°F, ranging from two weeks to 12 weeks, before placing them in an incubator at two different temperature regimes to mimic spring and summer conditions in the alpine environment. The experiment is still running, but from preliminary results it appears the species mostly prefer the warmer summer conditions.</p> With this baseline germination information, we can proceed with other questions and experiments that will tell us more about these little-studied species. As part of an Institute of Museum and Library Services grant, the Gardens is collaborating with other public gardens around the United States to research “exceptional” plant species, or those that cannot be stored in traditional ex situ seed bank conditions for conservation purposes. Studies in Italy and Australia have shown that alpine species in those countries are short-lived in seed banks compared to low elevation species.</p> The Research & Conservation Department at the Gardens will conduct similar ageing experiments to determine if these patterns are also present in North American alpine species. However, before these experiments can begin, we need to understand the basic germination requirements of the species to understand how viability and germination may be affected over time during long-term frozen storage in a seed bank. </p>
Inspired by nature, 15 undergraduate students in the Environmental Design University of Colorado Boulder (CU-ENVD) designed and built an outdoor classroom in Mordecai Children’s Garden over the course of six months. The space was designed to be imaginative and flexible for a wide range of activities for young visitors. Special features include kneeling table legs that can be lowered and raised to accommodate varying ages, LED honeycomb panels that illuminate the space, integrated storage cubbies and living walls with plant boxes.</p> This is the third project we have completed with the CU-ENVD program. Last year, students designed and built two mobile ticket booths for special events at York Street and Chatfield Farms. The booths have LED illuminated exteriors and clean wood interiors. The booths are built on trailer beds, so they can be towed to different locations. The other project was two vertical veggie, herb and flower gardens that are watered by our atmospheric water harvesters.</p> We enjoyed the opportunity to provide hands-on learning for the students as they tackled non-traditional settings, input from many voices at the Gardens, budget and scheduling.</p> Mallisyn Bruce, an architecture major, says “Working on this design build project was such an amazing opportunity. Being able to see our designs come to life was an experience unlike any other we have had thus far in the program. It took months of hard work and dedication. This space will be enjoyed by people for years to come and I am so grateful to have placed my mark in a place I used to love visiting as a child with my own family.”</p> Ian Klene, a planning major, adds “Being able to create a space like this while a student is an absolutely incredible opportunity. We were lucky to work with such a great client that helped facilitate our creativity and with instructor Jeremy Ehly who was able to focus that energy into a space that we hope will be cherished by children and their families for years to come.”</p> The Gardens loves the addition of these creative, functional and sustainable design elements at York Street and Chatfield Farms. We look forward to seeing how these features enhance the visitor experience.</p>
</p> It’s peak wedding season here at our York Street location, and couples of all kinds are tying the knot surrounded by friends, family, flowers and foliage!</p> Today, we dig deeper into the story of one such couple, one that is particularly special to us since the bride is an employee at the Gardens! Enjoy Victoria’s story below (and don’t miss the surprise cameo by one of our most famous plants!)</p> Andrew and I had been together for many years and had talked about getting married, but we weren’t in a hurry to do so. However, when my parents decided to come visit us in Denver for the first time, it prompted us to say, “Everyone will be in town, so why not?” So, one day in early June, we decided to get married over Labor Day weekend of the same year. Craziness! Thankfully, my mother-in-law is a party-planning pro and helped us organize an amazing weekend of celebrations. </em></p> While my husband had always dreamed of getting married in the mountains, I had always wanted something small, more like a courthouse arrangement. It turns out we found the perfect compromise at the Gardens: we were surrounded by nature in an intimate setting that all of our guests, young and old, could easily access. </em></p> Woodland Mosaic was the perfect setting for our wedding. It seated our ~50 guests perfectly, it was secluded enough that we hardly noticed other visitors wandering the Gardens, and the acoustics of the metal and glass solarium were exceptional for the classical Mexican guitarist that underscored the ceremony. The space fit our traditional-Mexico-meets-Colorado theme perfectly!</em></p> We chose to host our ceremony in the morning, with a several-hour break before the reception that evening. We essentially had the Gardens all to ourselves at the beginning of the day before the Labor Day weekend crowds started arriving in droves. We got some beautiful photos during the dawn golden hour, and it also allowed Andrew and I to have some quiet, intimate moments before the craziness of the day got started. I highly recommend it! </em></p> </p> The next day, we hosted a traditional recalentado, a Mexican tradition where wedding guests come back the next day to eat leftovers and see the bride and groom off. This particular recalentado had a dual purpose: we also celebrated my 35th birthday! </em></p> Interestingly, it turned out that Stinky (our famous Amorphophallus titanium plant) also surprised the horticultural staff with a rare bloom that occurred just before our big day. Fortunately, we got married on the other side of the Gardens, so the bloom didn’t affect us much. But how many people can say they got married at the same place that a giant, smelly flower was also blooming? </em></p> </p> Our Private Events team would love to learn more about your wedding dreams to help you find a site in the Gardens that fits you perfectly. To learn more and to set up a tour appointment, contact us at private.events@botanicgardens.org</a> or call 720-865-3551.</p> </p> All photography by Sheena Shahangian Photography</em></p>
Beginning the series after all seven seasons had been released, I arrived late to the “Game of Thrones” party. I plowed through all seven seasons within three months and was left to pine away for the release of the eighth and final season in April. I had months to think about the future of the realm and what would happen when the White Walkers battle the united Houses and the Free Folk; winter was coming.</p> I designed the 2019 Annuals Garden and Pavilion beds while binge-watching “Games of Thrones” and named each bed design after my new favorite television show. As I pored over my plans, I found it somewhat difficult to name such bright and happy designs in honor of a TV series that can be so dark and grim. I began to ask myself if the garden would seem gimmicky or it would offend visitors. After naming half of the designs, I abandoned the plan.</p> Then something unexpected happened and inspiration knocked me over the head when I saw Dior: From Paris to the World </em>at Denver Art Museum. I was struck that Christian Dior and his succeeding creative directors named each dress. The meanings of some dress names are obvious while others are more of a mystery. The names provided something additional to ponder and more significance to each design. I decided right then and there that I will always name my garden designs as they, too, are pieces of art. It no longer mattered what others thought because it is an important and fun part of my creative process.</p> I pulled parallels of the plant colors, textures and moods from settings, objects, language, battles and characters of the “Game of Thrones” world:</p> Fire and Ice </strong>is the name for the design on the west berm in the Annuals Garden. This is homage to George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Fire and Ice” novels from which “Game of Thrones” is adapted. The plant and flower colors are rich with warm burgundy contrasted with frosty whites and silvers. This bed is the backdrop for two houses that merge together in wedding ceremonies. Look for cascading, burgundy Amaranthus caudatus</em> ‘Dreadlocks’ spilling over the wall and bluish-silvery cardoon to be standouts in this bed.</li> Khaleesie </strong>graces the name of the garden bed across from Fire and Ice. it is a raised planter in the center of the garden. The color palate is similar but has more of a tonal array of burgundy, pink and silver. Lime green is added to enhance this design. It is a beautiful composition in color and many of the blossoms are exquisite—fit for Khaleesie. Towering cactus formed Nuit d’ Ete dahlias are a companion to the lime green Abutilon</em>, also known as flowering maple.</li> Drakarys</strong>, the Dragon Queen’s command for her dragons to breathe fire, inspired the bold, bright and warm colors of the two beds to the north along the water’s edge. Bright salvia called Love and Wishes and orange, tasseled Irish Poet are two new favorite annual flowers of mine.</li> Milk of the Poppy</strong> is a garden bed designed with all white and cream flowers, mixed with green. If one lingers too long here, one might fall into eternal sleep. Spiked Rocket White snapdragons pierce through mounds of Vanilla marigolds.</li> The Rains of Castamere</strong> is adjacent to Milk of the Poppy, </em>featuring soft pink, coral and peach floral tones. Dark foliage plants and grasses are mixed in with the sweet hues. I chose this design name after the song of the same name written in the “A Song of Fire and Ice” novels, because it is performed at the end of the episode “Blackwater” by one of my favorite bands, The National. I selected plants with dark gray and black hues that remind me of rain and the battle of Blackwater that took place in the episode. This bed features two types of ornamental millets: Purple Majesty and Copper Prince.</li> The Wall </strong>is the long bed to the south where upright columnar basil (Ocimum </em>‘Lesbos’) will create a hedge-like wall when fully grown. The plants in between the basil have dark hues and silvery whites. This wall planting represents The Night’s Watchmen in their back clothing keeping a watchful eye for the icy Night King and his army of the dead.</li> Weirwood </strong>is the name of the bed to the east. This bed has a very large Quercus shumardii, </em>or Shumard oak. The leaves turn scarlet red in fall. In “Game of Thrones,” Weirwood is a tree considered sacred to characters who worship the Old Gods. Weirwood trees have red leaves just like the Shumard Oak in the bed.</li> Wildling, Dorne and Highgarden</strong> are the three rectangle beds to the south. The bed named for the Wildlings is bright and features plants that attract pollinators. I thought Wildling was a great name for this design because the naturalistic and free form design reminds me of what the Free Folk live for. Bright violet cleome and tricolored ornamental peppers make a statement in this wild design. The middle Dorne bed is long with yellow and purple flowers, fit for Dornish highborns to roam. Little Gem marigold has a lemony fragrance in this Dornish bed. The Highgarden bed to the west is lush, showing fleshy hues and romantic blossoms of Versailles Flush cosmos and CHANTILLY ™ Light Salmon snapdragons. This bed is named for the prosperous city of Tyrell. It boasts billowing flowers that are pure and innocent, just like Margaery Tyrell!</li> To the south, a long planter rests underneath a gray pergola. This design has many layers of flowers and foliage plants. Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus </em>‘Nigrescens’) and dark hues of petunias contrast with the red foliage of coleus and impatiens. This was the first bed I named; can you guess what I called it? The name of this design is Red Wedding</strong>. </em></li> </ul>
In April, staff from the Research & Conservation Department closed the office for two days and embarked on an intensive wilderness first aid course. As collectors of plant and fungal specimens, seeds, and other types of ecological data, we frequently find ourselves working in the wilderness.</p> Typically lacking clean work spaces, safe drinking water and access to emergency services, the wilderness can be an unpredictable environment to work in. To become better equipped to work in such an environment, we invited Ben and Caitlin from Longleaf Wilderness Medicine</a> to guide us through their 16-hour WFA course. Read on to learn our main takeaways from this training.</p> Know who you are exploring with</strong></p> Before heading out on a trip, it is important to take note of each team member’s allergies, regular medications, pertinent medical history and emergency contact information.</p> </p> Let’s say Margo is on your seed scouting team and, in the middle of a scouting trip, you find she has passed out behind the tree. Did she pass out because she ran into the tree? Maybe she passed out as a negative reaction to her new, regular medication. Did she fall and hit her head on a rock because of her recovering knee replacement? Maybe she’s slipping into anaphylactic shock because she is allergic to bees and was stung moments before.</p> Knowing that Margo has not had any joints replaced, takes no regular medication and is not allergic to bees helps us eliminate three of these options, better preparing us to inform medical personnel of Margo’s state when they arrive. If we are unsure of Margo’s allergies, regular medication or pertinent medical history, access to her emergency contact information points us towards someone who knows more and can help medical personnel establish a treatment plan for Margo.</p> Act within your scope</strong></p> If your medical expertise is limited to washing and dressing a scrape, drinking water when feeling dehydrated or taking an ibuprofen or two after a minor injury, those services are the best (and only) services you can offer to someone in an emergency.</p> </p> Let’s say Jenny and Andy are collecting mushroom specimens from Mount Evans and Andy trips and falls over a rock, fracturing his forearm. Jenny has recently completed her wilderness first aid certification and, in doing so, learned a variety of emergency medical skills including scanning for bleeding and bodily injuries, casting and splinting.</p> Having just witnessed the accident, Jenny uses her new skills to locate Andy’s injury and check for other signs of bodily trauma. When Andy is ready, Jenny casts and splints his fractured forearm, making it easier for him to hike down Mount Evans towards safety.</p> Would Andy be smiling if an untrained person attempted to examine, cast and splint him? Probably not, as taking those actions without sufficient training could potentially worsen his injury. Act within your scope to avoid making a bad situation worse.</p> Keep a stocked first aid kit</strong></p> A good first aid kit will include antiseptic prep pads, band aids, gauze pads, medical tape and ibuprofen. A great first aid kit will include a few more supplies, some which might not be so obvious.</p> </p> Let’s say you and Chrissy are collecting plant specimens when she accidently cuts her forehead with a hori hori Japanese gardening knife. You want to clean and dress Chrissy’s wound, but your hands are dirty from collecting and the hand sanitizer you have probably won’t take care of the dirt and grime in between your fingers and underneath your nails.</p> Gloves are an excellent first aid tool that you can use to make this next step safe for both you and Chrissy. Wearing gloves not only allows you to avoid contaminating Chrissy’s wound – it also prevents you from coming in contact with her blood or other bodily fluids.</p> Other non-obvious supplies to include in your first aid kit include tweezers for removing splinters, stingers and other debris; scissors for cutting tough gauze and bandages; a safety whistle for signaling distress; and a pen or pencil for taking notes on a person’s condition after an accident. Keeping a well-stocked aid kit will can reduce the severity of most emergency situations.</p> These are far from the only lessons learned from our 16-hour wilderness first aid training. Having undergone this training, the Research & Conservation Department has increased senses of skill and security going into the 2019 field season. Learn more about our training and others</a> offered by Longleaf Wilderness Medicine.</p> </p>
