Abbott Botanical Assessments, LLC

Tag: travel

  • Texas Sliding Scale Sale 2026

    Texas Sliding Scale Sale 2026

    We were awarded a full scholarship by the Women’s Tree Climbing Workshop and we are paying it forward to Texans along our route!

    We are driving to San Marcos area for this training from February 19-23rd.

    We are open to driving to other parts of Texas and honoring our sliding scale sale if you have 2 or more neighbors (within 1 mile) interested in booking with us from February 24th-February 28th by January 31, 2026.

    How the sale works

    During this sale, we are offering the choice to pay as low as $75/hr or up to $150/hr for our services, with a 15 minute minimum, billed in 15 minute increments, cash/credit/debit only.

    If you live outside a 5 mile range from the interstate/highway, a mileage rate of 72.5 cents/mile will be added to your invoice.

    Please review date-specific locations and limitations below.

    To book a sliding scale service:

    1. Send an email to abbottanical@gmail.com by January 31, 2026 or use our booking link.
    2. If using the booking link, click any available time for the day you’re interested in. We’ll discuss specific time frames in the follow up email. If there is no availability on the booking link, send an email.
    3. In the email (or booking link), describe the service you are interested in and the location you would like the service performed.
    4. We will respond with any questions or clarifications.
    5. Client will receive the contract and invoice.
    6. After the contract is signed and the non-refundable deposit is paid, then the service will be booked. We will be in contact with booked clients as we travel to give accurate arrival estimates.

    Service Offerings

    • tree, herbaceous or woody plant consultations
    • tree, plant or landscape health check
    • property consultations
    • pruning guidance/small tree pruning (contact for details)
    • site-specific species recommendations
    • plant identification
    • micro-plant walk
    • short guided hike
    • individual or group training
    • presentation/talk
    • relational services (micro-nature immersion walk, tarot, blessings, baptisms, weddings, etc)–donation based; contact for details

    If there’s something specific you are looking for that isn’t listed, please email us to discuss the details or mention it in the booking link.

    February 19th

    Santa Fe, NM to San Marcos, TX

    Accepting appointments along US-87.

    February 20th

    San Marcos, TX

    No availability

    February 21st

    San Marcos, TX

    No availability

    February 22nd

    San Marcos, TX

    No availability

    February 23th

    Central Texas

    Open availability.

    We are honoring our sliding scale sale if if you have 2 or more neighbors (within 1 mile) that book with us.

    February 24th

    Central Texas

    Open availability.

    We are honoring our sliding scale sale if if you have 2 or more neighbors (within 1 mile) that book with us.

    February 25th

    Bryan/College Station, TX

    Some availability, check the booking page for more information.

    February 26th

    TBD

    Open availability

    February 27th

    TBD

    Open availability

    February 28th

    TBD

    Open availability

    Thank you for your support!

    Please share this opportunity with your family, friends and plant enthusiasts in your life!

    Email us at abbottanical@gmail.com (or our booking link) to book your discounted services today.

    Contact Us
  • Five States Flash Sale 2026

    Five States Flash Sale 2026

    We are traveling through New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Colorado from February 5-13th, 2026 and offering discounted services along our route.

    How the sale works

    During this flash sale, our temporary rate is $75/hr, with a 15 minute minimum, billed in 15 minute increments, cash/credit/debit only.

    If you live outside a 5 mile range from the interstate/highway, a mileage rate of 72.5 cents/mile will be added to your invoice.

    Please review date-specific locations and limitations below.

    To book a discounted service:

    1. Send an email to abbottanical@gmail.com by January 31, 2026 or use our booking link.
    2. If using the booking link, click any available time for the day you’re interested in. We’ll discuss specific time frames in the follow up email. If there is no availability on the booking link, send an email.
    3. In the email (or booking link), describe the service you are interested in and the location you would like the service performed.
    4. We will respond with any questions or clarifications.
    5. Client will receive the contract and invoice.
    6. After the contract is signed and the non-refundable deposit is paid, then the service will be booked. We will be in contact with booked clients as we travel to give accurate arrival estimates.

    Service Offerings

    • tree, herbaceous or woody plant consultations
    • tree, plant or landscape health check
    • property consultations
    • pruning guidance/small tree pruning (contact for more details)
    • site-specific species recommendations
    • plant identification
    • micro-plant walk
    • short guided hike
    • individual or group training
    • presentation/talk
    • relational services (micro-nature immersion walk, tarot, blessings, baptisms, weddings, etc)–donation based; contact for details

    If there’s something specific you are looking for that isn’t listed, please email us to discuss the details or mention it in the booking link.

    February 5th

    Santa Fe, NM to Las Vegas, NV

    Accepting appointments along I-40.

    February 6th

    Las Vegas, NV

    No availability

    February 7th

    Las Vegas, NV to Spanish Fork, UT

    Accepting appointments along I-15.

    February 8th

    Spanish Fork, UT

    The 50% off sale is only valid in Utah County on this day.

    If traveling outside of Utah County in adjacent counties (Juab, Sanpete, Carbon, Wasatch, Summit, Salt Lake, Toolele) a 25% discount will apply.*

    If in other counties not adjacent to Utah County, clients will pay the regular rate, cash/credit/debit only. *

    *If you have 2 or more neighbors (within 1 mile) interested in booking, the 50% off sale is valid if appointment is scheduled outside of Utah County on this day.

    February 9th

    Spanish Fork, UT to Denver, CO

    Accepting appointments along HWY 6.

    February 10th

    Denver, CO

    No availability

    February 11th

    Denver, CO

    No availability

    February 12th

    Denver, CO

    Accepting appointments after 3:00pm.

    February 13th

    Denver, CO to Santa Fe, NM

    Accepting appointments along I-25.

    Thank you for your support!

    Please share this opportunity with your family, friends and plant enthusiasts in your life!

    Email us at abbottanical@gmail.com (or our booking link) to book your discounted services today.

    Contact Us
  • 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.