Ride Report: Heritage Trees of Portland

[Submitted by Emily Wilson]

Yesterday evening, just over 40 people gathered for a tour of Portland Heritage Trees in the SE (we counted off at our first tree, but for the life of me I can’t remember the number – 43? – help me out here folks…)

our first stop was a Ponticum Rhododron – bees feeding on the nectar of this plant can produce honey with a mild hallucinogenic and
laxative effect, 11 cases being documented in Istanbul in the 80’s, as the plant is native to Asia Minor – (thank you Wikipedia!) http://www.springerlink.com/content/w322484735r06208/

The rest of the tour being far more pedestrian in nature, we visited:

a Big Leaf Linden
Oregon Myrtle
Tartan Elm
European Beech and Spanish Chestnut (edible) – on the same lot

We skipped the Scarlet Oak – as it is hard to see from the street and we were a large group

Oregon White Oak – a particular native of this area

Tulip Tree – the owner came out and asked us to lobby the city to put Agnes (his name for the tree – did I remember it right folks?) on the
Heritage Tree list – I told him I found her as #280 on the list – so I thought she already was.

then on to Black Walnut – a favorite of mine as there was a huge one outside my freshman dorm widow and they turn a brilliant yellow in the
fall – my birthday season.

A big Western White Pine that was shorter than its house in pictures from the 1930’s

A stand of Northern Red Oaks around a colonial style house, built by a
very early owner of the PGE and from which Colonial Heights takes its
name

and last but certainly not least – a huge London Planetree

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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