Log Entry 1/30/2014

This week I completed my Formal Update to Mentor. I plan to finish my Math and Science Report today or early next week. We will not be having class time to work on this because Midterms are starting at the end of this week and we will only have study periods. I plan to begin writing my Marking Period 2 Progress Update Presentation.

Formal Update to Mentor

Please Click Here To View Formal Update to Mentor

Marking Period 2 Mentor Contacts

Date: 7 January 2014

Contact: Ellen Bloche

Reference: Herbarium Mentorship Request

Questions:

• Would I be able to be in further contact with the two professional plant pressers we met in May 2013?
• Is there someone else to which I can be referred?

Discussion:

She told me she would be forwarding my email to Administrative Curator Nicole Tarnowsky at the Steere Herbarium. 

Conclusion: 

I am still awaiting a reply from Ms. Tarnowsky. 

Log Entry 1/28/2014

This week I have officially completed all my Developmental Work. I have written my Formal Update to Mentor, which includes an overview of all the work we have completed so far this year, and our plans to what to do in the future. I will send this to Alfonse and McD before forwarding it to my mentor. For the rest of the week, I plan to write and publish my Mentor Contacts.

Log Entry 1/23/2014

I have made changes to my Model post and included a picture of the actual riker box. Everything is available under the Developmental Work tag. Everything on my blog is final and I probably won't be needing any extra time to make up for the days I missed. Everything is up to date.

Log Entry 1/21/2013

This week I plan to finally finish my Developmental Work and finish my progress poster. I will create a final draft of my model. I am going to include my Bill of Materials, Model, Plan of Procedures and information about my Mentor to my progress poster.

AutoCAD Model

For my model, I am creating a 2D CAD representation of our American Pokeweed Riker box. I am displaying the specimen with front and back labels. This AutoCad drawing represents a completed specimen that is on display in the Sandy Hook Interactive Herbarium.

My model is a representation of
the American Pokeweed Riker Box

This plant was collected in the field and pressed in the plant press. I completed the labels with extensive research regarding General Characteristics and Interesting Facts. The labels are displayed here on the front top and bottom corners. The main informational label is displayed on the top left of the back of the Riker Box. The back label includes a visual representation and a QR code.

Log Entry 1/17/2013

I am now back at school after a one week absence. Since I have been back, I have completed my Bill of Materials and my model. My plan of procedures was done before I left. One mentor has come by to discuss ArcGIS with some of the other people of the Sandy Hook Interactive Herbarium team. I've been spending time trying to get back on track, although I am nearly caught up with my work.

Bill of Materials

The Bill of Materials is the list of every piece of equipment needed in order to carry out the Plan of Procedures. This list may need to be revised depending on which items we decide to purchase and use in our pressing process. We may also need to update quantities.

Plan of Prodecures

My role in the Sandy Hook Interactive Herbarium is to collect, press, research and label all the specimen. It is my responsibility to ensure the information presented is accurate and accessible. 

Collecting

1. Determine the zone or region on Sandy Hook from which the plants will be collected. The zones include primary dune, secondary dune, thicket, freshwater wetland, maritime forest, salt marsh and submerged aquatic vegetation.
2. Write a list of plants to look for. Look at map of Sandy Hook to determine specific collection site for your chosen plants.
3. Gather all equipment necessary for collecting and pressing. The equipment includes clippers, jars, collection basket, and proper clothing gear.
4. Travel to the site on marked roads or paths only, as there are many areas of limited public access on Sandy Hook.
5. Look for plants that are in bloom and are in good condition. Select specimens that exemplify the plant and include as many flowers, berries, buds and burrs as possible. Clip a large sample of the plant.

   

   Taking GPS coordinates of the plants in the field

6. Use the Garmin GPS to mark location of the specimen. Use the iPad to take a picture of the plant. Label the coordinate on the GPS with the name of the plant collected.
7. Return to the lab to press the plants as soon as possible.

The Herbarium team adding specimen to the plant press

Pressing

1. Place the plant into the plant press on top of one layer of paper and cardboard.  Arrange the leaves so they do not overlap or obscure any special features.
   
2. Cover the specimen with another sheet of drying paper and cardboard. Repeat until the plant press is full with about 40 specimens.

1. Tighten the plant press with nylon straps. The plant press must dry for about 10 days or two weeks.

Mounting

1. Put on safety goggles and open the Riker box.
2. Remove the specimen from the plant press and place on the cotton. Keep the leaves in the same position to avoid breakage. Leave space for the label.
3. Lift the specimen and spray the glue on the underside. Press into the Riker box cotton. Pat down the specimen to ensure it is attached.
4. Allow glue to dry for one day. 

Labeling

1. Open the Riker box. Have laminated and trimmed labels ready.
2. Spray glue to the informative label and attach to the top corner of the front of the box, in the space allowed by the specimen. Repeat the process for the Common Name label on bottom corner of the front of the box.
3. Seal and replace the pins in the Riker box. Turn it over and glue the laminated label to the top left corner of the box. Ensuring this label is secure is important because it is not protected by plastic.
4. Allow glue to dry for one day. 

Log Entry 1/7/2013

We are back from Winter Break this week. I have contacted Ellen Bloch from the Steere Herbarium at the New York Botanical Gardens for information regarding mentor-ship from the two professional plant pressers there. She has decided to forward my email to Nicole Tarnowsky, who is the Administrative Curator of the Herbarium.