Saturday, January 25, 10:00 - noon

Tree Walk: Winter Tree ID

This is a second opportunity to join us at Cedar Mill's Merritt Woods Natural Area to search for clues that help identify trees in winter. This one-mile paved trail follows a section of North Johnson Creek and gives us a good view of a variety of native trees, We will make a short detour through the neighborhood to take in some common street trees and an overlook of a wetland where beavers are active. There are also some short extensions you might choose to take on your own.

Sunday, January 26, 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Tree Walk: Hyland Woods Natural Area

Take a nature break and join us as we walk through the Hyland Woods Natural area. We will be discussing how to identify trees in winter and noticing the changes the plants are already making as they prepare for spring. Hyland Woods Natural Area is a quiet 30-acre forested park near the intersection of SW Murray Blvd. and SW Hart Road. We'll be walking a one-mile loop on soft-surface trails that wind through a mature Douglas fir forest and an Oregon ash swale. We will also see alder, big-leaf maples, madrone, and an understory that includes beaked hazelnut, snowberries and ferns.

Saturday, February 15, 10:00 - noon

Tree Walk: Fernhill Wetlands

Fernhill Wetlands is a perfect place to enjoy both trees and birds. Bring your binoculars to this 1.1 mile walk, as the area is home to nearly 200 species of birds and is known as a premier bird-watching spot in Oregon. Transformed in 2006 from standard wastewater treatment ponds, it is now a welcoming habitat for wildlife that also filters wastewater. Designed by a renowned landscape architect, the native plantings create several habitats: marsh, forested wetland, riparian wetland, and scrub shrub.

Wednesday, February 19, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Webinar: Winter Pruning for Tree Health

Explore the art of winter pruning with Dustin Marchello from Tillis Tree Care, where 20+ years of arborist expertise meets community service. Learn how strategic pruning can enhance tree health and resilience, insights drawn from Dustin's work on landmarks like the Bellagio and post-Katrina recovery efforts.

Dustin Marchello, owner of Tillis Tree Care in Portland, OR, is a certified arborist with over two decades of experience, featured on "America Outdoors." Dedicated to community outreach, Tillis Tree Care offers free advice to promote tree health and sustainability in our neighborhoods.

October through March

Join Our On-call Ivy Crew

English ivy hangs on through winter at a time trees are particularly vulnerable — the invasive vines keep growing while trees are dormant, and the excess weight can increase risks for trees during winter storms. Help us save trees by removing ivy and other invasive plants that threaten them. Weather makes it hard to schedule events, so please, sign up and we'll notify you when there is a good weather window so we can schedule an ivy pulling event. And if you know of a location where trees are suffering from ivy, you can notify us on this form.

Sundays, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Help pull ivy at Golf Creek with Sylvan Heights neighbors

Help eliminate ivy and other invasive plants from this creek, which was formerly completely covered by ivy so only the sound gave away its presence. Sylvan Heights neighbors have secured a grant to acquire and install native plants to replace the ivy. But they are working against the clock: the planting date will be in mid-February, and the ivy needs to be completely pulled by then! To join them, meet at the Sylvan Heights clubhouse, 7600 SW Barnes Road, Portland. Wear old clothes and be prepared for blackberries. Bring water, and hand pruners if you have them.