Tag: magnolia
New magnolia tree fits in any garden
With spring comes a reintroduction to blossoming gardens.
And occasionally, the flowers themselves are new.
From The Seattle Times this month comes a new list of trees and shrubs seen in the Pacific Northwest.
Included in the list is the Magnolia grandiflora var. ‘STRgra.’ A description from the story:
Magnolia grandiflora var. ‘STRgra,’ also called ‘Baby Grand,’ is a dwarf evergreen that has a rounded form and grows just eight to 10 feet high. But there’s nothing dwarf about its summer flowers, which are large and creamy-white with the characteristic lemony scent. On a large property, you could grow an entire hedge of these beauties.
Do we like this new variety? Friends of Trees sells five different varieties of magnolia trees—check out our online tree database.
–Toshio Suzuki
Elementary school grows global forest
By Kris Day
The Global Forest project at Harold Oliver Elementary School in East Portland has grown by three trees this year!
Jim Gersbach, project coordinator, and nine third grade students—along with Kate Farrington and Kris Day of Friends of Trees—planted a Japanese Umbrella Pine, a ‘Victoria’ Evergreen Magnolia, and a Swamp White Oak on the school grounds on Feb. 19.
This year’s additions complement over 30 other tree species from around the world, each with the potential to convey lessons not only about plants, but also about how people in other cultures use or relate to trees.
Gersbach’s vision is to help create a learning landscape that offers kids connections to their local environment, as well as offering living references to historical people and places.
While trees on school properties may seem obviously beneficial for a host of reasons, one of the biggest obstacles to their success is lack of watering during the summer months.
Neighborhood Trees Crew Leader Training in Sellwood – Westmoreland and Brooklyn
By Whitney Dorer
Each year, the Neighborhood Trees program starts the planting season off with a training for new crew leaders coupled with a planting in the neighborhoods of Sellwood-Westmoreland and Brooklyn. Last Saturday, it was a full house with over 50 volunteers learning what it means to be a crew leader. These individuals will teach homeowners and other volunteers how to plant trees, talk about the urban forest, all while building community in our neighborhoods.
The morning was filled with presentations from staff and partners such as the City of Portland’s Grey to Green Initiative, Bureau of Environmental Services, and long term volunteers. Volunteers filled up on soup and topped off their cups of coffee before heading out to plant 121 street and yard trees.
Among the large array of trees were the Cascara, Grace Smoketree, Magnolia ‘ Butterflies’ and the Fuyu Japanese Persimmon. Each tree is now happily planted and tagged – so take a trip down to Sellwood – Westmoreland and Brooklyn and check them out!
Whitney is the Neighborhood Trees Manager and can be reached at [email protected] or 503-282-8846 ext. 21.