B before he heads to the Environmental Education Research Center, Lynn Garrison packs his backpack camera, diameter tape, snacks, water, first aid kit, notepad, pen and pencils.
“Each day is exciting,” said Garrison, an Extension agent who has been working at the EERC since July 2019.
Garrison's list of tasks at the EERC is long—he monitors, maps, and creates inventory of the vascular flora, working with photographer Jonathan Palmer to digitally document every species; he makes recommendations for management of species; he monitors the status of any threats to the wildlife; he conducts hikes; and more. He said he averages walking 10 miles a day at the EERC.
In the last two years, Garrison has recorded 487 vascular plant species, which represent 108 families and 305 genera. “Knowing which species occur at the EERC will enhance the university’s capacity to sustain and restore ecological systems at the Center and to use them for educational, research, and outreach programs for staff, students and visitors,” Garrison said.
“Knowing which species occur at the EERC will enhance the university’s capacity to sustain and restore ecological systems at the Center and to use them for educational, research, and outreach programs for staff, students and visitors,” Garrison said.
He said it’s hard to choose what has been most exciting to find.
“To me, everything is exciting,” Garrison said. “All the beautiful wildflowers, the autumn foliage, the birds and other wildlife, butterflies on the pollinator plants, the sound of the breeze in the trees, and the flowing water in the streams.”
For more information, contact Lynn Garrison at lynn.garrison@kysu.edu.
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Hairy Buttercup
Common Blue Wood Aster
Glade Calamint
Goldenseal
American Ginseng
Witch-Hazel
Virginia Spiderwort
Milkweed
Star of Bethlehem
Wild Hyacinth
Fire Pink
Orange Jewelweed
Harbinger-of-Spring
Green Dragon
Hepatica
Wild Ginger
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