The NMVFO‘s first project of 2020 was planting saltgrass at Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, with refuge staff and a couple of other groups.
![](https://sagebrush-trails.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/wp-15814522479271399184132-500x375.jpg)
Unlike last year’s project that harvested native inland saltgrass from Bernardo, plantings this year were started at a nursery and shipped in long narrow conical plastic containers. Refuge staff will compare the growth of native versus nursery plantings.
![saltgrass from nursery](https://sagebrush-trails.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/wp-1581452219054914072743-500x375.jpg)
![](https://sagebrush-trails.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/wp-15814522837261995548428-500x667.jpg)
The plugs of grass were planted about two or three feet apart. This species is rhizomatic, and will spread. Here was my first planting, named Albert:
![](https://sagebrush-trails.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/wp-158145226677241498917-500x667.jpg)
By noon we had planted over a thousand plugs of grass, helped by warm weather, low wind, good company, and nature vistas.
![](https://sagebrush-trails.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/wp-15816927155691534788761-e1581692806634-500x211.jpg)