by Abbie Leland
Recently, members of the grounds crew with OSU’s Landscape Shop teamed up with researchers from the College of Forestry to plant a small plot of aspens on the northwest side of George W. Peavy Forest Science Center. These aren’t just any aspens, however.
These trees, collected by Distinguished Professor of Forest Biotechnology Steve Strauss and his team, are being monitored and tested for release as a native variety, according to the College of Forestry. The Strauss team has also collaborated with the wholesale tree nursery, J Frank Schmidt & Son for the project.
The College of Forestry reports that Strauss and others “used DNA sequencing to show that the aspens in the Willamette Valley, and nearby Washington and British Columbia, belong to a distinctive variety that grows in wet areas in the lowland Pacific. These types of areas were likely to be more abundant prior to the draining and leveling of the Willamette Valley for agriculture.”
Landscape Supervisor Bill Coslow is excited to collaborate with the College of Forestry, and to observe the progress with the test planting.
“What thrills me is that we’re using the campus as a lab,” Coslow said. “In general, when you look at the Oregon Forest Science Complex, the function of the landscape is different.”
Strauss also expressed his enthusiasm about the project and the opportunity to team up with the Landscape Shop.
“The Landscape Shop has been so great with making sure this comes out. They’ve been wonderful in seeing the value of this project for OSU, and collaborating every step of the way. I really appreciate that,” he said.
As the aspens grow, they will be studied to see if they are better adapted to local conditions than the mountain aspens that are now commonly planted, according to the College of Forestry.
“I think the trees will be a beautiful addition. They will turn beautiful colors in the fall,” Strauss said.
