Last week, Hoyt Arboretum’s Curator, Martin Nicholson took a rare Friday off. Naturally, that was when a package containing live animals arrived at the Visitor Center. It had been hand-delivered to the front desk, labeled “PERISHABLE”. Luckily, PP&R Horticulturist Vinny was around the corner to recognize the situation for what it was: not a surprise … Read more
You know the drill for a classic summer day: towel, sunscreen, head to the beach. At the Arboretum, we do things a little differently — swap the sand for shade and spend your day at the beech instead. No waves, but plenty of cool, leafy canopy and a breeze rustling through the branches. Meet the … Read more
Follow the birdsong far enough down a trail at Hoyt Arboretum and you might stumble onto something unexpected: a musician at a picnic table, headphones on, surrounded by a small synthesizer, a tangle of colorful cables, a tree guide, and a book of Buddhist teachings. He isn’t performing. He’s listening—to the wind, the light, the … Read more
Summer, especially for children, is a season of making new friends — and at Hoyt, those friends can be tree friends too. It’s the perfect time to slow down, look closely, and learn to recognize your new green companions by the shapes and textures of their leaves. Focusing tree identification around leaf morphology helps young … Read more
If you’ve strolled through Hoyt Arboretum lately, you might have spotted something odd hanging from a few of the trees: clusters of green buckets stacked like a tower, or strange purple boxes suspended from branches. These aren’t art installations. They’re traps, quietly watching for an unwelcome guest. Portland Parks & Recreation, working with universities and … Read more