Growers and researchers seek short, tidy and tough trees that can coexist with utilities When the power goes out in a storm, daily life halts abruptly. Our TVs go dark; we can’t cook our food or keep it cold, much less brew coffee, charge our many electronic devices or turn up the heat. We are […]
About Elizabeth Petersen
An appetite for edibles
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When I grew up in southeast Portland in the 1950s and ’60s, my parents grew plenty of food in our yard. The parking strip in front of our house supported apple, peach, pear, plum and quince trees. The backyard held a full size cherry tree that boasted sweet fruit, provided comforting shade and supported both […]
The multiplicity of Japanese maples
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Oregon leads the way in production of this diverse family of beautiful landscape trees.
Next-level rain gardens
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Growers highlight native plants and underutilized selections for stormwater management systems.
The future of annuals
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With their eye-catching color and ease of care, annual flowers remain popular among all generations of gardeners.
Millennials in the garden
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People born around the turn of the 21st century are digitally obsessed and socially charged — and they’re the fastest growing group of garden consumers in the country.
The gilded garden
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Sun-dappled perennials, grasses, shrubs and conifers make green spaces sparkle.
Expanding the tree palette
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Experts from near and far recommend options for diversifying — and strengthening — the urban canopy.
Generations of red maples
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Oregon is a key player in the breeding and production of Acer rubrum, one of the country’s most successful shade trees.
Bringing native habitats back from the brink
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Initiatives such as the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
are spurring the movement to repair damaged ecosystems, one garden at a time.