Abbott Botanical Assessments, LLC

Author: Morgan S. Abbott

  • Free ISA CEUs: Week of May 5, 2025

    Free ISA CEUs: Week of May 5, 2025

    The first full week of summer is finally here! Keep a look out for birds, Friday is World Migratory Bird Day. There are 3 free ISA CEU training opportunities available this week.

    Tuesday May 6, 2025

    TreeFund Webinar @ 12:00pm CST. 

    Enhancing collaboration amongst urban forest stakeholders – An assessment of natural hazard risk perceptions in relation to the services and disservices of city trees

    Register Here

    Wednesday May 7, 2025

    ITree Open Academy Spring 2025

    May 7th – Introduction to i-Tree. Understand the basic science of tree benefits and the USFS & cooperator research behind them. Explore the relationships between the i-Tree tools and the data they provide. Start to consider which i-Tree tools will be best for the project you have in mind.

    Wednesdays @ 1pm EST (May 7-June 11, 2025)

    Register Here

    Thursday May 8th, 2025

    UCFS Learning Series–The Future of Tree Inventories: AI, LiDAR, and Smart Urban Forest Management @ 11am MDT

    Tree inventories have come a long way from pen-and-paper surveys to cloud-based GIS systems—but the future is even smarter! Today, with cutting-edge technologies like AI, LiDAR, and machine learning, the way we assess, manage, and care for our urban forests is being completely transformed. These technologies enhance data accuracy, automate analysis, and provide real-time insights, empowering urban foresters to make more informed, efficient decisions. This exciting shift is not only about better managing our urban trees—it’s about shaping more resilient, sustainable communities.

    Register Here

    Remember, you can always ask your local ISA chapter if your event qualifies for CEUs.

    If your organization is hosting a free in-person or virtual ISA CEU opportunity, please reach out to us so we can get your event on this list.

    Subscribe to continue to receive free notifications for no-cost ISA CEU events.

  • Responsible Harvesting: A Botanist’s Perspective

    Responsible Harvesting: A Botanist’s Perspective

    Originally published in October 2019 and re-published on May 2, 2025.

    I’ve seen a number of posts on social media talking about wildcrafting and harvesting. I think it is an excellent opportunity to discuss this botanist’s perspective on ethical harvesting. My personal philosophy is simply this: don’t take more than you can use. However, this also means that you should be mindful of the ecosystem that you are harvesting from.

    Here are some key questions you should ask yourself: Does this population have more than 7-10 individuals? Is there another population of this plant nearby? Has this stand already been harvested from?

    When I explain this concept to children, I explain that you shouldn’t eat wild plants unless the following conditions have been met:

    1.) Has Morgan (or another trusted adult) said it is okay to eat this plant?

    2.) What are the ways you can tell this plant is safe to eat (ex. Serviceberry has leaves that look like cat paws, white flowers and/or fruit that looks like blueberries)?

    3.) Why do you want to eat/collect this plant?

    I ask these questions for a number of reasons. Primarily, it builds critical thinking skills while also building good habits about mindful collection and our role in our environment. When answering the third question, it brings to mind your motivations about why you are using this plant. If this is the only plant that you see and it has already been munched on by animals and you have snacks with you, why collect? Animals don’t have grocery stores or kitchens or appliances to store food, while we, as humans, have innumerable tools at our disposal to eat a relatively healthy diet.

    Take Home Points:

    1.) Be confident in your plant identification skills. If you aren’t 100% what this plant is, don’t eat it! Take a photo and post it on a plant ID page on social media (Make sure you include your location, photos of flowers, fruits, leaves and habit!).

    2.) Count out how many individual plants exist in this area. We are looking for at least 7.

    3.) Generally, we shouldn’t collect more than half of what a single plant is producing to make sure that there is enough for animals and the seed bank.

    4.) Consider recording GPS coordinates and collecting a specimen for your local herbarium and iNaturalist. This helps local plant enthusiasts understand the distribution of species in an area!

    Suggested Literature:

    Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants (Kimmerer, 2013)

    Guidelines for the Ethical and Sustainable Harvesting of Wild Plants (Forest Service, USDA)

    Are you interested in cultivating your botanizing skills, wanting to learn about local plants in your yard, or are wanting me to come assist you in a project?

    Book a free 15 minute consultation!

  • 5 C’s of Desert Field work

    5 C’s of Desert Field work

    Published in March 2021, re-published on May 2, 2025.

    Botanical field work in a harsh climate is an endurance sport. It is vitally important to prioritize the care of yourself, your team and your gear. You are a professional athlete existing in one of the world’s extreme environments. However, you aren’t just using your body, you’re also required to apply your education and skills with limited external support aside from your team. Use this guide to limit fatigue, increase preparedness and be mindful of you and your team needs.

    1. Cover

    Cover all of your limbs, especially if you are fair. Wear long sleeves, long pants, a wide brimmed hat, sunscreen on exposed skin and a bandana; your shoes also are included. If you are doing field work that is off the beaten path in rough terrain, do not wear lightweight trail runners. You will get cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) in them and will cut your feet. I recommend wearing hiking boots that have a higher ankle and have leather uppers. Socks are vital to keep your feet happy and wool has great moisture-wicking properties. Using the right kind of field gear on your body will prevent the formation of injuries and heat-related illnesses.

    To learn more about boots, check out ‘All About Boots: A Botanist’s Perspective’

    2. Cool

    Consider the kind of fabric you are using for your gear. I prefer to wear a cotton or linen ‘overshirt’ to protect my skin and keep cool. However, you need to be careful with chafing, so take frequent breaks and remove your pack to dry out. When I first started out, I would get my field clothes from the thrift store or use hand-me-downs from relatives. Now, I prefer light-colored shirts that have UV protection. Desert nights are very, very cold and the mornings are cool. Bring layers for day and night use. There’s a trend in the outdoor industry to be “ultralight”. You’re probably car camping, so weight isn’t as much of an issue. Bring what you think you will need. You will pare down your field work belongings as the weeks go on.

    3. Coarse

    The desert is a harsh environment, especially if you aren’t used to it. Your hair, skin, eyes, hands and lips will feel it the most because they are continually exposed to the dry air. I recommend finding a hydrating lotion and/or lip balm. If you have long hair, to prevent matting and painful tangles, try oiling your hair with jojoba, coconut oil or conditioner and braiding your hair in a protective style appropriate for your hair texture. Consider getting sunglasses that completely wrap around to protect your eyes from the dust and sunburn. I would skip wearing contacts and get prescription glasses and sunglasses. Getting sand in your contacts can cause corneal abrasion.

    4. Care

    Your physical, emotional and mental health are important to the success of field season. Physical health can include stretching in the morning and evening to avoid injury, inspecting your feet for blisters, splinters or other issues. Remove your boots when you’re able to and wear sandals to let your feet breathe. This includes grooming: if water for bathing isn’t available, use baby wipes, bandanas, drybrush to get all the soil and sweat off of your body.

    Bring food & drinks that you want to eat. This isn’t the time to try a new diet. Your body needs nutrients and you need to eat. Food needs to be shelf stable to avoid food-borne pathogens. Please drink electrolytes to avoid electrolyte depletion. I’m a blue-flavor gatorade gal. Let your crew members and/or crew lead know immediately if you are injured or aren’t feeling well.

    Emotional health can include many things, but we’re going to focus on setting boundaries. You will be working closely with your co-workers for 8-16 weeks. It is likely that you will have disagreements: collection methodology, where to camp, where to gas up, what to listen to in the car, etc. If you feel safe to do so, speak up and communicate your needs. Your employer wants you to complete difficult tasks in a challenging environment. It is more expensive to hire and train a new crew member than to hear your concerns.

    See our Bill of Rights for Natural Resource Professionals.

    Arguably, mental health is the most important factor to keeping your morale up during field season. My go-to for a quick pick-me up on a hard day are sweets. I’m a big fan ginger candies and fancy instant coffee for cold mornings. To build rapport with your crew, bring treats to share (barring food allergies or dietary restrictions). If you need to recharge after a long day, bring activities that you enjoy. I bring books (physical or electronic/audiobooks), a journal/notebook, travel-sized art supplies and my current knitting project.

    5. Chaos

    Something will go wrong during field season, it is just a matter of time. It could be multiple flat tires two hours away from the nearest tire shop, an allergic reaction or injury, or an acute safety incident.

    I’ve found the best way to prepare for these situations is to have a personal first aid kit that holds your medications (OTC and prescribed), eye drops, bandaids, tweezers & needles (for removing splinters), alcohol wipes and anti-bacterial ointment. If you have asthma or severe allergies, inform your team members where your emergency medication is in your pack. Know where the nearest hospital, grocery store (water source), gas station and repair shop are. Be prepared to bail out if you or your team’s safety is comprimised–few jobs are worth not coming home to your loved ones and this isn’t one of them.

    Some days are going to be awful and you will want to quit. If you do, that’s okay. It’s not for everyone and there are even more natural resource jobs in office environments than ever before.

    If you liked this article and want to learn more about Desert Field Skills Training Workshops, book a free 15 minute consultation with us to learn more.

  • Abbottanical Native Wildflower Seeds

    Abbottanical Native Wildflower Seeds

    Originally published in September 2021 and re-published on May 2, 2025.

    After starting this business in 2019, I desperately wanted to provide a product that was missing from the market in the Intermountain West: a locally-sourced, 100% native wildflower seed mix.

    Many of the wildflower seed mixes that are commercially available in nurseries and grocery stores are labeled as native, but have non-native or even invasive species to cut the mix to bring down costs. Cynoglossum amabile, Chinese forget-me-not, is a wildflower that is native to central Asia and is regularly used in pollinator mixes. While it is beautiful, it does tend to escape from gardens and becomes a persistent weed in the community. Additionally, pollinators visit this flower, but a native Utah bee wouldn’t have a symbiotic relationship to a flower that originates on the other side of the world. Consider an alternative: a native forget-me-not that has evolved within ecological communities within Utah, like Hackelia micanthra, meadow forget-me-not, or Eritrichium nanum, arctic alpine forget-me-not.

    Unfortunately, it is difficult to source native seeds, especially in Utah where wild native plants have a reputation of being “weeds” or are considered “ugly” in comparison to showy cultivars that are widely available in large nurseries. That being said, I was able to come up with a seed mix that features showy native wildflowers that are a proven hit with pollinators and “poor” soil that is prevalent in Utah.

    I feel that these wildflowers represent the best parts of Utah: resilience, beauty and hope for a brighter future. I consider all of them my friends that cheer me up during my long weeks in the field under the hot summer sun. As this mix has a variety of annuals and perennials, you will find that some of these friends won’t make a dramatic appearance for a couple of years. I have a 3 tips to help the wait feel a bit shorter:

    #1. Be patient: long-lasting relationships that are healing our environment takes time.

    #2. Be on the lookout for introduced species that can be used at home for food or herbal remedies. Finding plants that settler ancestors brought that have crowded out their neighbors, limited traditional food & medicine pathways and reduced pollinators is one way to support indigenous sovereignty within our communities. I always recommend utilizing safety protocols to eliminate spread.

    #3. Be Mindful: It is the perfect time to practice relationships (plant identification & learning plant ecology) with your annual wildflowers and other plants that already exist within your community.

    These are the 10 wildflowers that made the cut for “Abbottanical Native Wildflower Seeds” Mix:

    Penstemon palmeri (Palmer’s penstemon) is a perennial light-pink snapdragon look-alike that is widespread in Utah between 3,000 and 8,000 ft. Peak flowering times occur in late-April through mid-June. It is also one of the few penstemon that have a scent.

    Photo courtesy of Stan Shebs via Wikimedia Commons.

    Distribution Map

    Linium lewisii (Blue Flax) is a showy blue perennial that is native to North America and can be found along roadsides and washes. This plant can be used as fiber and is a popular favorite for pollinators. Peak flowering time is from early-May to mid-July between 2,000 and 10,000 feet. It loves full-sun and birds love to snack on its seeds through fall and winter.

    Photo courtesy of Skoch3 via Wikimedia Commons.

    Distribution Map

    Cleome serrulata (Rocky Mountain Beeplant, waa’, tumi, a’pilalu & ado:we) is a prolific native wildflower in North America. An annual with vivid pink or creamy white blossoms, it has numerous ethnobotanical uses and attracts innumerable pollinators. It flowers between late-July and early-September at elevations between 2,000 and 8,000 feet.

    Photo courtesy of Clarence A. Rechenthin via Wikimedia Commons.

    Distribution Map

    Balsamorhiza sagittata (Arrowleaf Balsamroot) is a large yellow flower and a member of the sunflower family found in western North America. Perennial and full of ethnobotanical uses, it attracts native pollinators to your garden. Flowering between mid-May through June and thrives in elevations up to 8,000 feet.

    Photo courtesy of Extemporalist via Wikimedia Commons.

    Distribution Map

    Gaillardia aristata (Common Blanketflower), a perennial native wildflower that has multiple ethnobotanical uses. Usually found in seed mixes as a cultivar, but is locally-sourced seed in our mix that grows wild in fields and meadows within the Intermountain West. Flowers from June to July up to 8,000 feet.

    Photo courtesy of Walter Sigmund via Wikimedia Commons.

    Distribution Map

    Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower), this is a popular perennial medicinal wildflower that is native to the central United States and is found within Colorado’s native range. As it isn’t strictly a Utah native plant, I debated adding it to the seed mix. However, its popularity and showiness as a native North American plant is tremendous. It is easily recognizable and heavily attracts native pollinators. I’m in the works on sourcing seeds from it’s closely-related cousin Rudbeckia occidentalis (western coneflower) that is a native Utah wildflower for next season’s seed mix.

    Photo courtesy of Eric Hunt via Wikimedia Commons.

    Distribution Map

    Lupinus argenteus (Silvery Lupine) is a stunning perennial wildflower that grows across North America, including Utah. Despite its beauty, it is the only plant in this mix that isn’t safe for consumption. It is safe to touch, but don’t let children, livestock or pets consume it. If you don’t want it in your garden, it is very easy to identify and remove before it becomes established. Flowering occurs during the summer (June through August) and thrives at elevations between 4,000 and 10,000 feet.

    Photo courtesy of Morgan S. Abbott, Abbott Botanical Assessments.

    Distribution Map

    Achillea millefollium (Yarrow) is a common wildflower that is extremely prevalent throughout North America and is starting to be incorporated into lawns and neighborhood gardens. Yarrow blooms from late-March into early-August, especially at lower elevations (0-2,000 feet). At higher elevations (4,000-10,000 ft), yarrow has a shorter blooming period, from mid-June to the end of August. This wildflower is considered native, but has been hybridizing with European cultivars for hundreds of years, blurring the line between native and naturalized.

    Photo courtesy of Morgan S. Abbott, Abbott Botanical Assessments.

    Distribution Map

    Sphaeralcea coccinea (Scarlet Globemallow), an ethnobotanical staple in the West, is a personal favorite of mine. It loves to grow in hot, dry places that have high rates of disturbance. Its red-orange blossoms can be found during May and June from 4,000 to 8,000 feet. A perfect wildflower for a south-facing side yard in Utah Valley.

    Photo courtesy of Morgan S. Abbott, Abbott Botanical Assessments

    Distribution Map

    Sphaeralcea parviflora (Smallflower Globemallow) was chosen for this mix because it is so prevalent in the Colorado Plateau and the Mojave Desert ecosystems. I wanted to include a plant that is quintessential to desert life and red rock. Also a dedication to people and places that are dear to me. The bloom time for this wildflower can be seen from late-April to early-July from 4,000 to 8,000 feet in elevation.

    Photo courtesy of Max Licher via SEINet Portal Network.

    Distribution Map

    Propagation of “Abbottanical Native Wildflower Seeds”

    These 5 steps are sourced from this website!

    #1: Planting Time: This means plant right after the first hard frost. The recommended date would be on Halloween (October 31, 2021) if you’re sowing around 4,800 feet.

    #2: Prepare your site. Look for an area that has at least 6 hours of sun per day. Remove weeds and other unwanted materials. Wildflowers need room to grow!

    #3: Sow. You can mix your seeds with sand for even distribution. Make sure to spread the seeds out so that they can thrive and not compete with each other for nutrients.

    #4: Step on the seeds. Gently walk on the area that you sowed seeds. They need sun and will not germinate if they aren’t stratified by cold weather.

    #5: Hurry up and wait. You don’t need to water seeds as they should receive enough precipitation in the winter. Blooms for annuals will appear in spring or early summer.

    Where can I buy your seeds?

    I am no longer carrying or selling this product. If you are interested in sourcing 100% native wildflower seeds please contact your local Utah Native Plant Society chapter, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management field office, University with a field botany course (Southern Utah University, Utah Valley University, Weber State, Brigham Young University, Utah State University, etc), or relevant community partners.

  • All About Boots: A Botanist’s Perspective

    Previously published on 03/07/2021. Revised and updated on 5/2/2025. This post is not sponsored content.

    It is cold and rainy today in Utah. If I have a choice in hiking weather, rainy isn’t usually my favorite. I don’t have a lot of rain gear because we generally don’t get rain. I have exactly one raincoat and no umbrellas. So I feel like today is a great day to talk about a hiker’s most important gear: footwear. I have very strong opinions about footwear because I like having comfortable feet, and I’m really picky. I expect my boots to hold up in dense patches of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), hiking up shale, or wading through cow pies and dodging prickly pear cactus (Opuntia polycantha). I also need to be able to use a manual transmission while in the boots.

    Trail Runners vs Hiking/Work Boots

    This is pretty divisive among myself and my colleagues. I think the main differences can be boiled down to what you need. If you need a shoe that is light and breathable trail runners are great for that. Especially if you’re planning on staying on a trail and avoiding pokey plants and cheatgrass. I’m in the camp that prefers boots because I need the support. I have strong ankles, but I like the extra protection, grip and durability of boots. I wore trail runners in the field and was seriously injured because I wasn’t wearing my normal footwear. My foot slipped off a rock and I fell about 8-10 feet on a talus slope. I was fine, just had a concussion and a neck sprain, but if I had my regular boots I wouldn’t have been injured.

    Cost

    To start off with, I think it is worth spending money on your footwear. It is the only thing that protects you from the ground. If you screw up your feet, you won’t be able to hike easily. Don’t be afraid to spend over $100 on boots if you can afford it. I am frugal and I don’t spend money on much besides good boots once a year and knitting materials. I usually spend between $200-300 on boots.

    You can find boots at Walmart for $50-75 that have glued soles and synthetic materials. If you don’t hike for your job and only go hiking a couple of times per year, that’s fine. When you start hitting the $100-150 range, you’re getting into boots that are made to be hiked in regularly. This price range isn’t unreasonable if you’re getting mens’ boots. In my experience, women usually have to spend more to get the same quality of materials as a mens boot. I can’t tell you the amount of times I was really excited to find a really awesome boot for $150, but then saw that it had plastic eyelets that were glued to the leather, whereas the mens boots had metal d-rings that were secured to the uppers with rivets. To get the same quality, I would have had to spend an extra $40 because the mens boots didn’t go down to a small enough size.

    Experience

    Go to a place that does good boot sizing for women with quality shoes. I’ve been to many stores in my area that had a terrible women’s selection and terrible customer service. I’d recommend going to stores that don’t require you to be a walking Patagonia or North Face ad to shop there. Despite women’s sizing issues at Red Wings outlets, I really love the quality of their boots and their customer service. They usually can find small men’s boots to fit women’s feet. I’d also try going to your local gear store. Here where I live, we have Out N Back, who I LOVE. They didn’t have the boots I wanted to try on, but were happy to send me to a store that did.

    How to look for a quality boot

    I prefer boots that are leather. I like the main body of the boot to be leather with a little bit of padding around the ankle for comfort. I like a flexible, but grippy sole.

    1. GLUE: When I’m looking for a new boot, I make sure that there isn’t any glue leaking where the uppers meet the sole. You also don’t want any gaps. It should be pretty smooth. I feel that it shows that the manufacturer is detail-oriented. If there is glue all over, then what other defects exist?
    2. LONGEVITY: I like boots that can be resoled–I don’t own a pair like that right now, but if you don’t wear out uppers before your sole wears out, you are a good candidate for resoling. It saves you money, saves it from landfills and saves you time breaking in new boots.
    3. EYELETS/GROMMETS: Make sure the eyelets (where the laces go through) are metal and are securely attached to the boot. If you have plastic eyelets they will fall off and this can put you at risk for injury. You don’t want to trip on a bootlace while you’re rock scrambling.
    4. SOLES: Do the soles fall apart if you aggressively rub them in your hands? If they do, don’t buy them.
    5. INSERTS: Can you put in an insert? They can help with supporting your arches and encouraging proper spine alignment, while increasing the longevity of your boot. Very important if you have high/low arches and are on your feet all day.

    Trying them on

    Wear or bring socks that you are planning on using with these boots. When you put on your boots, notice where it is rubbing. If it’s an all-leather boot like the Red Wing 606 you can expect to be a little tight for the first two weeks or so. It’s because you have to break them in so the leather can form to your feet. It should be a little tight, but it will stretch out the more you wear them, especially if you regularly oil them. Walk in the boots you’re trying on. Run, squat, twist, go on your tiptoes. Do normal movements that you do every day at work. If they hurt your feet, talk to the salesperson. They’re there to help you find the perfect boot for your needs. If you know the kind of boots you want, try and find last seasons colors and styles for a discounted price. Usually there aren’t any defects and you can get a quality women’s boot at a very affordable price.

    What I Wear

    I’ve owned many pairs of boots in my life and my favorite boots so far are Vasque St. Elias Women’s Boot . I was boot-hunting for a few weeks in March 2019 and I was getting really frustrated trying to find a boot that fit my feet and would at least last me through the field season (Mid April-September). I wanted something that had metal eyelets that were secured to the uppers. Since March 2019, I’d estimate that I’ve put over 200 miles on this pair. I spent the spring and summer on the border between Nevada and Utah with highs ranging from 32F to 110F. They have survived a very unusual wet spring and summer. Post-field season uses, I have used them as regular cold weather boots while shoveling snow and going on walks in the park. I’ve also gone snow-shoeing in them and I was pleasantly surprised that they held up and kept my feet warm.

    Keeping your boots in tip-top shape

    1. Moisturize the leather on your boots, especially if you live in a dry climate like I do. It keeps the leather from cracking and breaking and increases the life of your boot.
    2. Don’t wear them constantly. Your feet need to air out at the end of the day. Make sure to bring camping shoes with you like a pair of old slippers or sandals. It gives the leather time to breathe and let your boot (and feet) air out. If you’re traveling between areas, take off your shoes and socks and let them breathe.
    3. Clean your boots after each use. I wipe my boots down with a damp bandana if there is a fine layer of dust. If they’re damp from scat or mud, I wipe off as much as I can from the uppers and the soles and use a dry brush to finish cleaning the dried dirt until I get back home. I don’t soak my boots to wash them as that can damage the leather, glue and metal.
    4. Clean your feet! If you’re out in the field, make sure to wipe down your feet with a wet cloth or baby wipes. This helps prevent your feet from getting cuts, heat rashes blisters and body odor.
    5. Always bring more socks. On my 8-day trips last season, I brought twice as many socks than I needed. Wear wool socks if you aren’t allergic. It wicks away moisture and keeps foot-funk down because of antimicrobial properties. This also helps you avoid sweat buildup in your boots.
    6. Consider using a wool insole. If you’re needing extra support a wool insole is a good option. They help your feet stay dry, don’t contribute to microplastic pollution and are biodegradable even after years of wear.

    Are you looking for field gear recommendations for your needs? Are you interested in a career in natural resources? Need someone to come take a look at your trees?

    Book a free 15-minute consultation with me!

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