Few have given back to their hometowns the way that Ed Kushner has. “20 years is a long time to stick with something.” Ed says, “I never worked for the same employer for that amount of time, and the only outdoor activities that I did for more than 20 years were gardening and bicycling.” And … Read more
Blackberry thickets are a prominent (and prickly) feature of many Pacific Northwest natural areas including at Hoyt Arboretum and many other Portland Parks. The most common species of exotic blackberry in our region is widely accepted as Rubus armeniacus (AKA Himalayan or Armenian blackberry), but there are a couple of other exotic Rubus spp. that … Read more
The air is cool, but there is a hint of Spring to it. The sky is overcast, but the expected rain holds off. A dozen volunteers gather around Hoyt Arboretum Plant Taxonomist and Herbarium Curator Mandy Tu on a gray Monday morning. Best Tree Forever! Most of the volunteers present are there for Nature Educator … Read more
Why I Volunteer During the pandemic, I turned to the solace of nature. Socially distanced walks in parks were a regular thing. The misty trails and mystical wonder of Hoyt Arboretum were a source of escape and inspiration, but by the Fall of 2021, as far as I was concerned, the pandemic had been going … Read more
Here’s Looking at Crew, Kid Volunteering on a stewardship crew is a fun way to engage with the Arboretum, make new friends, and strengthen existing relationships. Such is the case for Saturday Crew member Brittany Hassell who learned about stewardship crews at Hoyt Arboretum on Facebook. “It sounded like exactly what I needed! I had … Read more