"February is the middle of planting season for lands at elevations less than about 1,000 feet, which includes most of Metro’s urban and rural natural areas."
Read Metro scientist Kate Holleran's latest reflections on conservation.
"Heavy rains falling on snow can create havoc or heaven, depending on your perspective."
Read Metro scientist Kate Holleran's latest reflections on wetlands conservation.
"In Pacific Northwest forests, more than 100 species of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals use snags to feed, rest, roost, breed and find shelter."
Read Metro scientist Kate Holleran's latest reflections on restoring the land protected by Metro's voter-approved Natural Areas Program.
"With a little bit of chainsaw work, we can give our oak trees more sunlight, which helps them thrive."
Read Metro scientist Kate Holleran's latest reflections on restoring the land protected by Metro's voter-approved Natural Areas Program.
"Take a field, subtract the horse and what do you have? Tall weed, compacted trails and a reforestation challenge. Metro recently purchased a new natural area along North Abbey Creek on the west slopes of the Tualatin Mountains, outside of Portland."
Read Metro scientist Kate Holleran's latest reflections on restoring the land protected by Metro's voter-approved Natural Areas Program.
"Veils of invasive vines hang from the canopy. The hundreds of pounds the vines add to the crowns of the trees have caused some to break and fall. Most of the ground on the property is thickly blanketed with English ivy, creating a mat that is virtually impossible for native shrubs to grow through."
Read Metro scientist Kate Holleran's latest reflections on restoring the land protected by Metro's voter-approved Natural Areas Program.
"I've learned through the 'school of muddy office clothes' that if I don't come to work prepared for the field, I can guarantee I will need to go into the field."
Read Metro scientist Kate Holleran's latest reflections on restoring the land protected by Metro's voter-approved Natural Areas Program.
"I was walking along the southern boundary of Metro's Chehalem Ridge property near Forest Grove when I saw something completely unexpected: a turtle. Is that really a turtle, are there others? And, is it a native turtle? Finding turtles unexpectedly in the wild is so uncommon that I can count on my thumbs the number of times I've done it."
Read Metro scientist Kate Holleran's latest reflections on restoring the land protected by Metro's voter-approved Natural Areas Program.
"Unauthorized vehicle access onto Metro natural areas is uncommon, but where it does occur, it is destructive and often challenging to control. An obvious property boundary becomes a target instead of a sign of information, and a wet riparian seep becomes a mud bath instead of a bird bath."
Read Metro scientist Kate Holleran's latest reflections on restoring the land protected by Metro's voter-approved Natural Areas Program.
"A colleague and I walked through several planting sites last week and took the pulse of the growing season. We found a bright green flush of new needles on the conifers, shrubs popping with tender leaves, and some baldhip roses that were actually blooming – in their first season!"
Read Metro scientist Kate Holleran's latest reflections on restoring the land protected by Metro's voter-approved Natural Areas Program.
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