Summer in Portland, a yearly thing, usually hot and getting hotter with the constant pressure of climate change. As the heat rises and sun exposure increases, we are pushed to find solutions to keep the thousands of plants at Hoyt Arboretum alive.
These include many rare, threatened, and endangered species we work to protect, and currently one of their biggest threats is drought so providing extra help through watering is of utmost importance at this time of year. Read on to find out how we maintain the Arboretum and prevent heat stress, death, and wildfires.
To irrigate or not to irrigate?
Irrigation systems are not the most efficient solution when you’re located on a ridgetop: with elevation changes come problems with water pressure. Instead, the staff and volunteers at Hoyt (especially Tuesday crew) have picked up buckets and hoses to carry around water to the plants and routes that absolutely need it.
This keeps the plants consistently watered and inspected for overall health, especially during times when the temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) and the soil can become baked and dry.
The Water Wagon
You may also see a different setup driving along the trails, occasionally blocking the path or pulled off to the side of the road.
A wagon with a water tank attached to our off-road vehicle, hoses coiled around either side and the humming of the battery as we bring the water to the plants that live along our 12 miles of hiking trails.
Whether established for years or planted for only one day, the many sensitive plants at Hoyt require supplemental watering to ensure they survive through the heated summers that are becoming more and more prevalent.
So, the next time you see one of us walking around with a bucket, hose or driving around the water wagon, just know that we’re keeping the environment healthy so that you can continue to enjoy it!
About the Author
Shaueel Persadee is a Trinidadian wildlife conservationist with a double major in Biology and Environmental Sciences who has been studying at the New York Botanical Garden since 2023 adding plant knowledge and conservation to round out his skill set in planet-saving. It has been a lifelong dream to see the Pacific Northwest, growing up hearing about it and seeing films, which brings him to Portland and specifically to Hoyt Arboretum where he can be fully immersed in the diverse plant culture. His favorite place in the Arboretum is a bench along the Redwood Trail, the first place he stopped to rest when he came to the Arboretum.