Are you a landscape industry professional interested in teaching others about your line of work? If so, Portland Community College might be interested in talking to you.
The Landscape Technology Program (LAT) at the Rock Creek campus, on the west side of Portland, is looking for industry professionals interested in conducting workshops. Such an arrangement would help the college fill gaps in its offerings, while putting its top-notch equipment and facilities to better use.
"Our vision is to foster relationships amongst industry professionals, serve as a resource for training and information and to simply live up to the true meaning of a community college by serving our area landscape community better," said Dr. David Sandrock, LAT chairman at PCC.
Those interested may submit a proposal. Proposals should cover a topic of interest to industry professionals and those training to join the industry. Examples would include planting, safety, equipment, pruning, or irrigation troubleshooting, to name a few. Presenters will be able to set their own price and class size limit. They will be asked to do their own external marketing as well. The college would help market internally to students, and will provide facilities, classroom space and other needs. The college would receive a portion of proceeds to cover its expenses. Those interested should contact Dr. Sandrock at 971-722-7231 or david.sandrock@pcc.edu with their proposal.
Friday, February 21, 2014
Monday, February 17, 2014
House approves bill creating Pollinator Health Task Force
As reported recently in the Capital Press (Salem, Ore.), a proposal to reclassify neonicotinoids as "restricted use pesticides" has been removed from a bill currently before the Oregon Legislature. The classification would have meant that only licensed applicators could use the class of chemicals. Instead, the bill calls for creation of a Pollinator Health Task Force to address the issue.
The misuse of pesticides containing neonicotinoids last summer was blamed for a series of bee deaths in Wilsonville, Hillsboro and elsewhere. The compromise version of the bill has the support and participation of both the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, and the Oregon Association of Nurseries. “My goal all along has been to get a conversation started about how we’re going to address this,” bill sponsor Rep. Jeff Reardon (D-Happy Valley) told the newspaper.
The amended bill, House Bill 4139, was approved on a 54-4 vote in the House, with two excused. It was then referred to the Oregon Senate.
The misuse of pesticides containing neonicotinoids last summer was blamed for a series of bee deaths in Wilsonville, Hillsboro and elsewhere. The compromise version of the bill has the support and participation of both the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, and the Oregon Association of Nurseries. “My goal all along has been to get a conversation started about how we’re going to address this,” bill sponsor Rep. Jeff Reardon (D-Happy Valley) told the newspaper.
The amended bill, House Bill 4139, was approved on a 54-4 vote in the House, with two excused. It was then referred to the Oregon Senate.
Monday, February 3, 2014
OSU names new head of horticulture department
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| Bill Braunworth is the new head of the Department of Horticulture at OSU. (Photo courtesy of OSU.) |
Portland updates street tree planting lists, requests feedback
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) Urban Forestry has updated its approved street tree planting lists. The lists are for property owners, contractors and developers to use when planting trees in the City right-of-way, typically the planting strip between the sidewalk and the curb.
The lists are categorized by tree height, from short (2.5 foot sites with or without high voltage power lines) to tall (8.5 foot and greater sites without high voltage power lines), and heights in-between. Within each height division, the lists indicate whether the tree variety is evergreen or a native selection, and those that offer fall color, showy flowers, fruit/nuts for wildlife, or textured bark.
The selection of trees was greatly expanded from previous lists, with more than 150 tree species now approved. The lists were created through a collaborative process with input from PP&R and Bureau of Environmental Services staff, the Urban Forestry Commission, Friends of Trees, and residents.
Maples were not included on the new planting lists due to their overabundance in the city. Maples make up almost 28 percent of Portland’s street tree population, according to inventory data. This high percentage creates a risk that pests affecting maples will catastrophically reduce the city’s street tree canopy. The new street tree lists recommend diverse planting options in order to increase the resilience and health of Portland’s tree canopy now and in the future.
PP&R Urban Forestry encourages feedback from local nurseries on what species options they can provide contractors and property owners for planting in the City right-of-way. PP&R Urban Forestry also invites Oregon nurseries to communicate with them about ways they can work together in the future to support diverse tree planting and other forest management goals within the City of Portland.
To give feedback, contact Danielle Bohannan, botanic specialist at Portland Parks & Recreation, at Danielle.Bohannan@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-6333. For general information on street trees, the approved street tree planting lists, and urban forest management in Portland, visit the Urban Forestry website at www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/trees or call PP&R Urban Forestry at 503-823-4489.
Black tupelo (Nyssa Sylvatica)
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The selection of trees was greatly expanded from previous lists, with more than 150 tree species now approved. The lists were created through a collaborative process with input from PP&R and Bureau of Environmental Services staff, the Urban Forestry Commission, Friends of Trees, and residents.
Maples were not included on the new planting lists due to their overabundance in the city. Maples make up almost 28 percent of Portland’s street tree population, according to inventory data. This high percentage creates a risk that pests affecting maples will catastrophically reduce the city’s street tree canopy. The new street tree lists recommend diverse planting options in order to increase the resilience and health of Portland’s tree canopy now and in the future.
PP&R Urban Forestry encourages feedback from local nurseries on what species options they can provide contractors and property owners for planting in the City right-of-way. PP&R Urban Forestry also invites Oregon nurseries to communicate with them about ways they can work together in the future to support diverse tree planting and other forest management goals within the City of Portland.
To give feedback, contact Danielle Bohannan, botanic specialist at Portland Parks & Recreation, at Danielle.Bohannan@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-6333. For general information on street trees, the approved street tree planting lists, and urban forest management in Portland, visit the Urban Forestry website at www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/trees or call PP&R Urban Forestry at 503-823-4489.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
February Digger busts myths about crape myrtles
Other articles in the new issue include:
• “To garden is to care” (PDF) — Columnist Mike Darcy praises the examples of gardeners who have come to the aid of others in times of need.
• “Meet the Leader: Mike Coleman” (PDF) — OAN’s president-elect says labor and immigration are the industry’s most challenging issues.
• “Container management” (PDF) — Growers can choose from a variety of supplies and methods that help stabilize stock against wind and other factors.
• “Demystifying Rhodococcus fascians” (PDF) — Prevention is the grower’s best defense against this tenacious pathogen.
You can also read this month's flipbook edition of Digger (Flash required; fast connection recommended). Please send your comments on the issue to editor Curt Kipp at ckipp@oan.org.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
City of Salem pays for tree-related damage
Street trees have numerous, well-documented benefits, but some misbehaving maples have ended up costing the city government in Salem, Ore. some money. According to a report in the Statesman-Journal newspaper, the Salem City Council there has authorized officials to pay up to $95,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by resident Brian Cooksey.
Cooksey alleged that the city's Norway maples stunted the growth of his arborvitaes and damaged some of his other shrubs, and that the roots penetrated his property and caused problems. His lawsuit accused the city of negligence in not trimming or removing the maples when he requested it. A Marion County jury agreed late last year, finding the city at fault. The city now has opted to pay a settlement rather than waiting for the court to issue a final judgment. The city has also removed the trees in question and installed a root barrier.
City officials in Salem told the newspaper that problems with trees sometimes occur, but they are usually settled by a review board. Litigation is seldom involved.
Cornell University has published an urban tree guide that recommends which trees to use and where to use them, so as to maximize benefits and minimize problems.
Tree growers, landscape architects, arborists — what's your take on this? Is it common to run into problems from street trees, and what should be done to prevent them?
Cooksey alleged that the city's Norway maples stunted the growth of his arborvitaes and damaged some of his other shrubs, and that the roots penetrated his property and caused problems. His lawsuit accused the city of negligence in not trimming or removing the maples when he requested it. A Marion County jury agreed late last year, finding the city at fault. The city now has opted to pay a settlement rather than waiting for the court to issue a final judgment. The city has also removed the trees in question and installed a root barrier.
City officials in Salem told the newspaper that problems with trees sometimes occur, but they are usually settled by a review board. Litigation is seldom involved.
Cornell University has published an urban tree guide that recommends which trees to use and where to use them, so as to maximize benefits and minimize problems.
Tree growers, landscape architects, arborists — what's your take on this? Is it common to run into problems from street trees, and what should be done to prevent them?
Friday, January 17, 2014
Plant Select issues 10 Rocky Mountain recommendations
In the Pacific Northwest, we have the Great Plant Picks program to help gardeners (and the retailers and growers serving them) identify outstanding plants that perform well and are ideally suited for the region. This program is operated by the Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden, located in the Seattle area, and every year, fresh new picks are added to the program.
In the Rocky Mountain region, they have something similar. It's called Plant Select®, and it is a cooperative program of Colorado State University and the Denver Botanic Garden. Its purpose is to identify outstanding selections for the Rocky Mountain region.
With that in mind, Plant Select recently announced 10 new recommended perennials, grasses and shrubs for 2014, including three Plant Select Petites — small stature plants that haven't yet gained wide exposure, but are well suited for rock gardens and other tight and rugged spaces. All 10 selections are suitably hardy for the region. Click through to check 'em out.
In the Rocky Mountain region, they have something similar. It's called Plant Select®, and it is a cooperative program of Colorado State University and the Denver Botanic Garden. Its purpose is to identify outstanding selections for the Rocky Mountain region.
With that in mind, Plant Select recently announced 10 new recommended perennials, grasses and shrubs for 2014, including three Plant Select Petites — small stature plants that haven't yet gained wide exposure, but are well suited for rock gardens and other tight and rugged spaces. All 10 selections are suitably hardy for the region. Click through to check 'em out.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Oregon gets a B- in invasive species management
Oregon, as a whole, could be doing better in its fight against invasive species. That's the verdict from the Oregon Invasive Species Council (OISC), which gave the state a B-minus on its annual Invasive Species Report Card (PDF).
That's down a full letter grade from 2012, when the state received an A-minus. The main difference? Cuts in state funding, and downtime as the council made the transition to a new coordinator. The coordinator serves on a contract basis, and the contract expired in 2013. A new coordinator, Carolyn Devine, has been brought on board. The report card also talks about other factors in the lower grade, including the need for more outreach to build public awareness of invasive species and the dangers they pose.
“There are many individuals and groups who are working together to prevent new introductions of damaging, non-native species and to manage invasive species that are already here. This report card describes how we are doing collectively and provides suggestions for what we can do better in 2014,” council chairman Mark Sytsma said. “Unfortunately, our overall grade is down a bit from last year. We hope that with the rebound of the economy that the state can reinvest in the fight against invasive species.”
The 15-member council is comprised of representatives from government agencies, nonprofit organizations, industry, academia, and other stakeholder groups. The council's mission is to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species in Oregon, which include harmful and non-native plants, animals and pathogens.
Several invasive insects, pathogens and plants are of great concern to the nursery industry due to their potential to cause economic and environmental damage. These include the emerald ash borer, the spotted wing drosophila, the Asian longhorned beetle, and many others.
That's down a full letter grade from 2012, when the state received an A-minus. The main difference? Cuts in state funding, and downtime as the council made the transition to a new coordinator. The coordinator serves on a contract basis, and the contract expired in 2013. A new coordinator, Carolyn Devine, has been brought on board. The report card also talks about other factors in the lower grade, including the need for more outreach to build public awareness of invasive species and the dangers they pose.
“There are many individuals and groups who are working together to prevent new introductions of damaging, non-native species and to manage invasive species that are already here. This report card describes how we are doing collectively and provides suggestions for what we can do better in 2014,” council chairman Mark Sytsma said. “Unfortunately, our overall grade is down a bit from last year. We hope that with the rebound of the economy that the state can reinvest in the fight against invasive species.”
The 15-member council is comprised of representatives from government agencies, nonprofit organizations, industry, academia, and other stakeholder groups. The council's mission is to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species in Oregon, which include harmful and non-native plants, animals and pathogens.
Several invasive insects, pathogens and plants are of great concern to the nursery industry due to their potential to cause economic and environmental damage. These include the emerald ash borer, the spotted wing drosophila, the Asian longhorned beetle, and many others.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
USDA revises Phytophthora regulations
Update, Jan. 15: The Capital Press agricultural newspaper (Salem, Ore.) has published a news story about the change in rules and what it means, including more in-depth comments from OAN Executive Director Jeff Stone.
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The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that it has revised regulations (PDF) that are intended to prevent the spread of Phytophthora ramorum in nursery production. The pathogen is the cause of sudden oak death.
Effective March 31, 2014, nurseries producing known host plant species in regulated areas (California, Oregon and Washington) will no longer be required to be inspected, sampled and certified — unless the disease has actually been detected at that nursery on or after March 31, 2011. Any nurseries that have tested positive will remain subject to regulation until they remain clean for three years.
"Oregon nurseries have unmatched quality, and ship clean plants," said Jeff Stone, executive director of the Oregon Association of Nurseries. "Any regulatory scheme should reward good behavior, work with those who have a problem to fix it, allow states and the federal government to manage their inspection resources in a cost effective manner.
"The USDA deserves a lot of credit for getting this right," he added. "They worked with OAN, AmericanHort and our federal lobbying team to create a fair system that protects everyone."
Nurseries located in counties that are quarantined — not just regulated — will remain under more stringent regulations. There are 14 such counties in California, plus one in Oregon that is located hundreds of miles away from Oregon's main nursery production areas. In the quarantined areas, the pathogen exists in the natural environment, and thus there is a greater risk of disease spreading.
The OAN published the Safe Procurement and Production Manual, which outlines production methods that prevent the spread of plant pathogens including P. ramorum. This 106-page manual can be downloaded here.
———————————
The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that it has revised regulations (PDF) that are intended to prevent the spread of Phytophthora ramorum in nursery production. The pathogen is the cause of sudden oak death.
Effective March 31, 2014, nurseries producing known host plant species in regulated areas (California, Oregon and Washington) will no longer be required to be inspected, sampled and certified — unless the disease has actually been detected at that nursery on or after March 31, 2011. Any nurseries that have tested positive will remain subject to regulation until they remain clean for three years.
"Oregon nurseries have unmatched quality, and ship clean plants," said Jeff Stone, executive director of the Oregon Association of Nurseries. "Any regulatory scheme should reward good behavior, work with those who have a problem to fix it, allow states and the federal government to manage their inspection resources in a cost effective manner.
"The USDA deserves a lot of credit for getting this right," he added. "They worked with OAN, AmericanHort and our federal lobbying team to create a fair system that protects everyone."
Nurseries located in counties that are quarantined — not just regulated — will remain under more stringent regulations. There are 14 such counties in California, plus one in Oregon that is located hundreds of miles away from Oregon's main nursery production areas. In the quarantined areas, the pathogen exists in the natural environment, and thus there is a greater risk of disease spreading.
The OAN published the Safe Procurement and Production Manual, which outlines production methods that prevent the spread of plant pathogens including P. ramorum. This 106-page manual can be downloaded here.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Nursery Country stars in January Digger
- J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. (PDF)
- Hochstein Nursery (PDF)
- Countryside & Fairdale Nurseries (PDF)
- Rickel's Tree Farm (PDF)
- Native Grounds Nursery (PDF)
The issue was distributed to its 8,000 regular subscribers, plus attendees at this year's MANTS.
You can also read this month's flipbook edition of Digger (Flash required; fast connection recommended). Please send your comments on the issue to editor Curt Kipp at ckipp@oan.org. In addition, videos of the featured nurseries are available for online viewing at www.oan.org/digger.
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