New Activities! 2 Surveys: Your Opinion Needed!
New Activities! 2 Surveys: Your Opinion Needed!
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Tree Bark, News From Urban Forestry - All Trees, No Pulp
URBAN FORESTRY
July 2020, published twice a month
Visit a Pop-Up Arboretum and Take the Activity Challenge!
A young girl wraps her arms around a tree. A young girl sees the large size of a Coulter pine cone.
Download our new activities and go on a tree adventure!
Staying close to home this summer? Then now is the perfect time to travel to the trees!
Lindens are blooming, Douglas-fir cones are ripening, and Oregon white oaks are creating some amazing shade. Visit one of Portland’s Pop-Up Arboreta and connect with the trees in our city Parks.

Berrydale, Gabriel, Irving, and University Park are July’s Pop-Up Arboreta sites. Before you head out, check out the park’s Pop-Up Map to make sure you see them all!

NEW FOR SUMMER 2020


We have two great activities designed to get you out among the trees and having fun. These activities can be done anywhere you find trees — at a Pop-Up Arboreta, your local park, or along your street.

Download and print the activities, then go on a tree adventure!
  • Tree Journal – Seek out six common trees in Portland to learn about. Great for students in pre-school through elementary.
  • Tree Scavenger Hunt – Complete short challenges, activities, and trivia to get you interacting with our urban trees. Three levels are available for pre-school through adults.

PRIZES AVAILABLE


Submit a photo of your activity by September 30, 2020 HERE and you will receive a small prize in the mail!

APPRECIATION


Thank you to our wonderful volunteers, Lisa Wilke and Kevin Pozzi, of the Montavilla and Albina Tree Teams, for putting together these fun activities.

Upcoming Events

Opportunities to learn and volunteer!

www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/workshops

Heritage Tree 173
Heritage Tree # 173, a copper beech (Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea). Photo by Steve Terrill Photography. 

Heritage Trees of Portland
Tuesday, July 21, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Offered Online via Zoom

 

Heritage Trees are trees that have been formally recognized by City Council for their unique size, age, historical or horticultural significance.
Anyone can nominate a Heritage Tree! At this workshop we will learn more about what makes Heritage Trees so special, how you can nominate a tree, and where to find the Heritage Trees in your neighborhood.
The workshop will take place online from 10:00 am - 11:00 am. 
Please pre-register, Zoom details to participate will be sent by email.

Register here.

Youth help plant a native Douglas-fir tree.
The native Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
is often a great choice for large spaces.

Your Tree, Right Place
Tuesday, August 11, 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Offered Online via Zoom

 

Are you thinking about planting a tree? Learn more about what to consider before choosing your tree.
Choosing the right tree is a decision that lasts a lifetime. The time, cost, and care that you invest may be returned in the beauty and services your tree provides, but only if it lives!
Join Urban Forestry staff to discuss planting locations and species selection. We will demonstrate how to perform a site evaluation and may even introduce you to new tree species! 
The workshop will take place online from 9:00 am - 11:00 am. 
Please pre-register, Zoom details to participate will be sent by email.

Register here.

More Upcoming Events


Ongoing:
July Pop-Up Arboreta: Have you visited a Pop-Up Arboretum in a Portland park yet? Well, there are brand new trees to discover! Going on now, Berrydale Park, Gabriel Park, Irving Park, and University Park have interactive and informational signs installed on trees! If one of these is your local park, be sure to visit before the signs are gone. While you are out there, tag @portlandparks on Instagram or @Urban Forestry - Portland Parks & Recreation on Facebook and let us know which tree is your favorite park tree. To see the summer Pop-Up Arboreta schedule, click here.
Rigler Elementary School Pop-Up Arboretum: Pop-Ups are not just for parks anymore! We are excited to share that Bruce Nelson, a dedicated volunteer in the Cully neighborhood, has created a neighborhood Pop-Up Arboretum at Rigler Elementary School. You can visit the school grounds at 5401 NE Prescott Street to see 70 signs, translated into English and Spanish, with information about the trees on campus. 
Remember – do not go into parks or onto trails if you cannot stay at least 6 feet away from other people. Respect park facility closures, such as playgrounds and athletic fields. Current information is posted at PortlandParks.org.

Portland Parks & Recreation has monitored the COVID-19 situation since it began. We continue to be in communication with and to follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Oregon Health Authority, Multnomah County Health Department, and the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management regarding the situation.

Event Highlights

See photos from recent events!

www.flickr.com/photos/urbanforestry

Western red cedars (Thuja plicata) are in decline in Oregon.

Threats to Urban Trees: Pests, Pathogens and Drought

 

What do you think is the most concerning threat to our urban forest?
Over 70% of the more than 50 attendees to last week's online webinar recognized that drought is the greatest threat to our trees.
Nik Desai of Urban Forestry introduced attendees to the common pests and pathogens you might see in Portland. He also discussed ways to respond to them.
Following the workshop, 80% of attendees said they would care for their tree, including summer watering. This is great news because, on an individual basis, drought stress is something we can have an impact on!
Looking for New Members: Urban Forestry Commission Seeks Your Voice
A 2019 group photo of some members of the Urban Forestry Commission.
The Urban Forestry Commission is made up of volunteers. They advocate for the urban forest by advising the City of Portland.
Even before we are born, trees may be making a difference in our lives. So, how do we make sure that everyone has access to them? Being involved before decisions are made is an important first step!

Until August 31, 2020, you can apply to join a group of volunteers known as the Urban Forestry Commission (UFC).

This group hears about laws and plans affecting trees, and how money is spent to make our urban forest the best that it can be. They get access to information that the rest of us may not have the time or energy to find ourselves.

Then, they have lively discussions and make thoughtful recommendations to: The City Forester, Parks Director, and City Council.
Do you feel like your neighborhood or community has a voice in Portland? If you had a chance to be involved in the decisions that impact the entire city, would you do it?
If you would, then now is the time!

Here is what we are looking for:

All ages and levels of experience
  • Never been on a committee before? No problem!
  • Tree knowledge not necessary, but really liking them is helpful
You are an advocate for equity
  • You can bring experience about communities that have long been left out of the decision-making process
  • Ideally, you can represent a neighborhood that is both low income and low canopy
You are available to attend meetings and participate in the discussions
  • Those lively discussions only happen if you are there!
  • Monthly meetings take place on the third Thursday of each month from 9:30 am to noon
  • Meeting location is usually Portland City Hall. Currently, meetings are online only.
This is an important decision, and we encourage you to learn more about it. We look forward to meeting you!

The City of Portland seeks to build diverse representation on advisory bodies in terms of race, ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion, and geographic identification, as well as advocacy experience, community involvement, volunteerism, occupation, and education.

We appreciate that so many of our loyal readers are opening Tree Bark regularly. We kindly request that you share this opening on the UFC with others who may not receive our newsletter. Thank you in advance!

In Other News


Tree Code Amendments to be Heard in October. Share Your Thoughts Today: The City of Portland wants to hear from you! You now have the opportunity to learn about important Tree Code Amendments that Council will consider in October. These amendments are an effort to increase tree preservation during development of industrial, commercial, and residential properties. A website has been set up to function as a virtual workshop where you can find more information about the process. Be sure to scroll to the end to take the survey. Visit the site here!
November Levy Proposed to Support Portland Parks: Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) has asked City Council to place a levy on the November ballot. This would be a critical first step in setting the bureau on the path for a Sustainable Future. To protect and restore recreation programs, parks services, and our natural areas, the levy is a crucial part of an effort to end PP&R's previous, mandated reliance on fees to fund its budget. Learn more about why we are asking for a parks levy by reading this newsletter. Please take our survey, and see how much PP&R means to Portlanders in this short and shareable video.
Watering Trees During Soak-It-Week Summer: Remember when we said how big of a problem drought is for trees? Trees for Life Oregon wants to help! They have declared the last week in July and the last week in August to be Soak-It-Weeks for watering yard and street trees. From their website, "Come get a free, pre-drilled bucket designed to water your trees this summer!" For more information, visit their website here.
Urban Forestry
1900 SW 4th Ave., Portland, OR 97201503-823-8733
Portland Parks & Recreationwww.PortlandParks.org
Mayor Ted Wheeler • Director Adena Long

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