Dangerous beauty: the battle against Scotch broom

July 16th, 2011 by admin No comments »

Cast against the abundant greenery of western Oregon, the splashes of yellow turn summer hillsides into an organic impression of fans packing Autzen Stadium in the fall.

Too bad it’s a non-native plant, otherwise known as a ”weed.”

The plant providing the yellow – Scotch broom – is an invasive species estimated to cost Oregon millions of dollars a year in lost timber production, according to the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

In Eugene, parks officials are waging a battle to beat back the Scotch broom and make room for native plants in the Delta Ponds area, along the Ridgeline Trail and elsewhere. Meanwhile, Florence residents say the plant is reaching epidemic proportions along the Oregon Coast.


Corvallis, Oregon is in the heart of the Willamette Valley

July 15th, 2011 by admin No comments »

Corvallis, Oregon is in the heart of the Willamette Valley. Home to Oregon State University, it is the quintessential college town. The wide streets, sheltered by ancient trees, red brick or white masonry buildings and its location along the Willamette River make Corvallis a handsome city. This central location makes Corvallis an ideal place to stay as you explore other areas such as the Coast Range, nearby towns and wildlife areas.

The 500 acre Oregon State University campus is the state’s oldest institution of higher education, and the center of much of the town’s activities. Activities on the park-like campus include theater productions, concerts, films, art exhibits, and all types of college sports. There are bookstores, restaurants, craft boutiques and other shops along the edge of campus.

Da Vinci Days is a three day festival held in Corvallis in July, celebrating arts, science and technology. Activities include a children’s village, kinetic sculpture races, and great musical performers.

Running and biking are favorite pastimes in Corvallis. Bike lanes are included on most streets, and there are routes along the Willamette and Mary’s rivers. Trails for hiking or biking are available in Avery Park (15th Street and US 20), or in OSU’s Peavy Arboretum (8 miles north on Hwy 99W). Corvallis is also close to the Siuslaw National Forest, a 630,000 acre forest that includes the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. There are campgrounds, hiking, picnic areas, fishing, hunting, and many more activities available in the national forest.