Decoding Plants: Conifers (February 2019)
Decoding Plants: Conifers (February 2019)
Deepen Your Roots with Local Trees
Have you ever walked around your neighborhood, or gone on a hike, and wished you knew the names of the trees you saw? Have you ever wondered how they fit into the ecosystem and what uses they have? In this class, you’ll learn to recognize our local conifer trees by close-up details and from a distance.
Date: Saturdays, February 16th and 23rd
Time: 10 am - 3 pm
Location: Overlook Neighborhood
Tier A Pricing: $199 ($30/hr or above wage earners)
Tier B Pricing: $149 ($16-29/hr wage earners)
Tier C Pricing: $99 ($15/hr or below wage earners)
See our Pricing + Generosity Policy for more information on tiered pricing.
PUGS is about both learning and community. Register with a friend and get 25% off with the code YOUVEGOTAFRIEND
Expand your connection with the place we live by tuning in to the world of trees and learning how the flora of our bioregion is in flux. Understanding the species we share our home with positions us to be advocates for conservation and offers tools for reimagining our personal and collective relationships to nature.
Conifers are cone bearing trees that are usually evergreen and are some of the most iconic trees in the PNW. Conifer identification can be daunting, but we'll use the plant family method and pattern recognition tools, along with a simple botany key, to make the subject approachable.
What to bring:
Notebook, pencil/pen
Optional texts: Botany in a Day by Thomas Elpel, Pacific Coast Tree Finder by Tom Watts
Drinking water and a bag lunch, or plan on buying lunch at one of several nearby cafes
Sun/rain protection and whatever else you need to be comfortable walking outdoors
Day 1: Tree Patterns
Explore the taxonomy (how plants are classified according to their relationships) and morphology (the form and parts of a plant) of trees and meet members of the pine family, including native and introduced species. Practice using a key to identify tree species.
Day 2: Tree Communication
Learn how trees interact with each other and other species in the ecosystem. We’ll discuss the ethnobotany of trees in the Willamette Valley including edible, medicinal, and culturally significant species. Then, we'll take a walk to practice identifying four more tree families including those in the cypress family.
Mulysa Melco is an ecological landscape designer, horticulturist, and artist with a lifelong passion for plants and exploring our connection with the land.