I know, trees aren’t people. But, the Douglas Fir is about as close to human as a tree can get, I mean, being named Doug and all. I bet you didn’t know that the name comes from David Douglas, a Scottish botanist who traveled through Oregon in...
Some of us aren’t lucky enough to have been girl scouts, boy scouts, or park rangers and the plethora of different trees here in Portland and throughout the Pacific Northwest can be overwhelming. If you are like most, identifying trees is a...
Mulch is not the latest dance craze, a super fruit from the Amazon or a new men’s hairstyle rivaling the man bun. Rather, mulch is material that is used to protect the roots of trees and shrubs from harsh elements and the risk of damage. And...
After a series of harsh winter storms in Portland, the ground is littered with branches and pine needles. There are so many needles it is like the whole city has been mulched over. Because it’s Portland tradition to re-use anything and...
As children, we were taught to respect authority and ask permission when we wanted or needed something. At home, we had to ask permission to invite a friend over to play. In school, we had to ask for permission to use the restroom or get up to...
‘Tis the season of giving! The holidays tend to evoke a desire to be charitable. Not only with our loved ones but also toward people and organizations that can truly benefit from a gift. Probably not on the forefront of your mind is...
First, it was avocados. Then, it was tequila…er, more specifically, agave. But Christmas trees? The past few months have been challenging for all types of agriculture. Shortages are showing up in the produce section at the grocery store where...
Need someone to walk your dog? There’s an app for that! Want to learn how to meditate? Yep. There’s an app for that! Trying to decide how to pick out a tree and plant it? Guess what? There’s an app for that too! Imagine you’re scouring the...
In a matter of days, vacant urban spaces and corners of parking lots will soon come to life. Beneath a garland of glowing lights, a mixed variety of little green trees will be waiting to be purchased by a loving family and taken home to be...
Adam and Eve did. So did Buddha. In fact, there are numerous references in history ranging from Greek mythology to biblical scriptures that suggest that figs and fig trees are sacred. They symbolize abundance, fertility, and modesty which is...
So, a biologist, an ecologist, and an epidemiologist walked into a forest… sure, a bar would have been fun but in this case, their mission is a bit different. All bad jokes aside, the scientists make up a cooperative team to address growing...
Saving money is a priority for most people who value their hard-earned dollars. Couponing, bundling services, customer reward programs and comparison shopping have become the new norm. For the most part, these are sensible strategies to help...
