Hitch 7

Monday, we planted in Cowles Bog (west), filling in an empty lane the team had accidentally missed. Our project coordinator, Mike, arrived just in time for lunch and brought the team delicious lime popsicles and a new game called Contact. The afternoon was filled with more planting of Carex stricta populations with words being thrown back and forth between players, the new game took over like wildfire. Also, the “heat dome” which had overtaken the Midwest on Saturday tried its best to fry and bake the team all week, but we still managed to get 2755 plants planted. While Mike visited, he also took us out to dinner (thanks, Liz!) at the Shoreline Brewery and restaurant on Monday night.

On Tuesday, it was our turn to treat him—he came over for Taco Tuesday at our apartment, bringing with him another game: Settlers of Catan, which lasted for over 2 hours, ending in Adam stealing a victory out from under Mike’s nose. Sadly, we had to bid Mike farewell on Wed and we were left to work in the heat without his uplifting presence.

Thursday, the park botanist, Dan, pitied us and decided to take us out of the direct sunlight by sending the team to collect seeds in the Great Marsh with the biotech, Molly. Walking in partial shade of the marsh was a welcome change to planting in the direct sunlight of the bog. While walking, Rose found a baby clam and the team saw evidence of turtles and beaver as well.

On Friday, David and Adam attempted to sit through the entire 3 hours of the pizza buffet at Gelsosomo’s Pizzeria. David ran into a wall around 12:30, due to having scarfed jalapenos before heading out to the buffet. Then Adam petered out by 2. The event was declared “a disappointing last-minute upset for pizza fans everywhere," by Adam Brown. Defeat was admitted and Gelsosomo’s Pizzeria was the victor in the end.