Can "dead" stumps keep growing?

Have you ever come across a stump that grew a bulging cap on top of the cut surface? How and why does this happen?

How do trees avoid incest?

Aaa-choo! With all that pollen wafting around, how do trees minimize self-pollination? It’s not like a tree can choose its mate …

Douglas-fir dwarf mistletoe

Many Douglas-firs near Lake Chelan are deformed. What is causing this?

Forest economics: Why are fallen alder leaves still green?

Most of the leaves on the ground are brown, yellow, or other fall colors. Why are many alder leaves still green?

Do you plan to go "larching?"

It is almost October and time to go larching. Maybe you will find spectacular western larches at mid-elevation or subalpine larches near treeline.

Douglas squirrels are going nuts!

Do you hear frenzied scurrying in the conifers? What are the squirrels up to?

Snow after Memorial Day?

It’s the end of May. Have you noticed snow swirling in the air and starting to accumulate along the edges of roads?

Hooray, Douglas-fir cones are back!

Last year, did you notice an absence of new cones on Douglas-firs? The cones are back. Douglas squirrels can rejoice.

Billions of maple flowers are bursting open near you

Have you ever heard of maple flowers? Would it surprise you that billions are opening in your neighborhood right now?

How should we celebrate Arbor Day while in quarantine?

Today is Arbor Day in Washington state. What a great day to explore public parks and open spaces. But we’re subject to a stay-home order. What’s the best way to commemorate this day while staying at home?

Recognize these trees?

Here are buds of some of the most common trees of the PNW. These trees are probably your friends. Can you recognize them by the buds alone? Give it a try.

Have you ever done restoration work?

Try volunteering on a restoration project. You’ll have a fun and rewarding experience.

Why do leaves change color in the fall and drop off?

Let’s gain an understanding of what happens to deciduous trees in the fall.

Which one is native to the Pacific Northwest?

Three of these might be found on your dinner table. The other is a native tree of the Pacific Northwest. Which are which?

New Douglas-fir cones?

Are you seeing new green cones on Douglas-firs this year? I’m not.

What's a maple flower?

Do native maple trees bear flowers? If so, what do they look like? How can I recognize them?

Pussy willows are releasing pollen

What are pussy willows doing now? Stamens have emerged from the male catkins and are releasing pollen grains.

After Snowpocalypse, how are the trees doing?

Here in the Pacific NW, we had an uncommonly cold and snowy February. Did this affect the new buds on trees and shrubs?

Android version of "Trees PNW" reaches 5,000+ milestone

The Google play console now shows more than 10,000 downloads of the Android version of Trees PNW.

The Hidden Scourge of Pallets

Pallets travel around the globe literally supporting the world’s goods. Sometimes they contain unwanted stowaways—wood-boring beetles that can wreak havoc in a foreign environment.