“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower” – Albert Camus When the air turns cold and sunlight wanes in the Portland area around the end of September and early October, our hillsides and neighborhoods turn a fiery gold, red and orange as the deciduous trees prepare for the dormant season. As the green chlorophyll fades, the... Read More
From the Portland area, a one hour drive will deliver you to the cool green oasis of the Oregon Garden. The Oregon Garden boasts 80 acres of meticulously planted themed botanical gardens connected by a series of meandering walking paths that invite visitors to stroll among the trees and plants that thrive here. On summer weekends, a narrated tram ride... Read More
Summer is fruit season in the Willamette Valley. We are known around the world for the variety and quality of the tree fruits that are grown here. What makes our tree fruit so spectacular? The winters are cold enough to ensure fruit set, the summers are warm enough to sweeten our fruits, and the long growing season extends the harvest.... Read More
Summers in the Portland area are dry with periods of soaring temperatures. Your carefully planted trees need a little extra care in summer as they become established. Newly planted trees require extra water for the first couple of summers in their new location to prevent drought stress and promote development of a healthy root system. We recommend twice weekly deep... Read More
Warm summer weather draws us outside for a stroll under the cool, shaded canopy of trees. The forested acres of Tryon Creek State Natural Area provide the perfect nearby respite from the heat. Once you enter the 658 forested, serene acres in southwest Portland, it is hard to believe that you are in the middle of a large city, mere... Read More
National Arbor Day is celebrated throughout the country on the last Friday in April as a way to recognize the beauty and benefits of trees in our communities. In Oregon, we love trees so much, that we have committed the entire first week of April to tree celebration! From art contests to nature walks to nature crafting, local communities engage... Read More
On a recent rare sunny winter day, For The Love Of Trees teamed up with Friends of Trees to plant native trees and shrubs along the Tualatin river. This project was designed to improve water quality and habitat. Dozens of community members turned out to plant several species under the guidance of the volunteer crew leaders. After breakfast treats and... Read More
After a long, dark winter, the swelling buds on bare branches foretell the coming of an eagerly anticipated spring for many Portland area residents. A bud is an undeveloped part of the plant. Flower buds become blossoms, whereas growth buds develop into shoots. Growth buds are the teardrop-shaped parts of the tree where new growth occurs. A branch grows longer... Read More
January 25, 2018
By Sarah Fry
Tree Anatomy
Now that the leaves have fallen from deciduous trees, this is a great time to admire an often-overlooked part of tree anatomy: the bark. Bark Function Bark serves several crucial functions for the tree. Inner bark transports nutrients throughout the tree. Unintentional girdling of a tree with staking materials or ropes causes severe damage to the tree by preventing this... Read More
Portland-area winter storms can bring strong winds, ice and wet snow that take a heavy toll on our urban forest. Strong winds uproot entire trees from rain-saturated soils. Large branches, weighed down by heavy, wet snow break and either fall or are hung up in the canopy. More pliant trees and shrubs bend low to the ground under the weight... Read More
