Hi Folks, Sorry for the long delay in posting. Between running a tractor, cutting up thousands of willows and cottonwood stakes and trying to sell a few plants, I’ve been busy. But I never stop thinking about this stuff, and I am grateful to have so many opportunities to see plant diversity and evolution in … Read more
Hi Folks I’ve made the case that we are, indeed, doing it right here at Scholls Valley, and this is as true of vine maple as anything else. We collect from hundreds of low-elevation vine maple, so our seedlings exhibit a wide range of characteristics and therefore are as adapted to the rigors of hot, … Read more
Walnut was one of the staples of the pioneer family, along with black locust and apples. Apples provided reliable food and beverage, while walnut and locust both served needs for durable fenceposts, tool handles and various wooden implements. You’ll find these old pioneer trees as evidence of abandoned homesteads all around the Willamette Valley, and … Read more
Hi Folks It’s been a busy time. We’ve been prepping fields, collecting acorns (and WALNUTS! – more on this soon), and generally trying to navigate the day-to-day at the farm. At the same time, we are also attempting to move the needle on big-picture issues that affect the long-term trajectory of this industry, which is … Read more
So as I mentioned earlier, ( https://schollsvalley.com/notes-from-the-farm-21-september-2025-climate-adapted-willows/ ), willows are absolutely essential to ecosystem functions in the Willamette Valley, and are especially vital for healthy wetlands and streams. They are also taxonomically and ecologically complex. The selective forces that maintain the identities of various willow populations (“species”) are subtle, and barriers to hybridization among them … Read more
Of all our current native Willamette Valley trees, Garry oak (Quercus garryana) is your best bet to thrive in today’s hotter, drier summers. Here is a comparison of tree conditions of eight important Willamette Valley tree species: The upper row of graphs shows the distribution of tree health scores by species of hundreds of trees … Read more
At this specific point in time, here in the Willamette valley, there is no more important group of plants than the willows. Here’s why: Beaver + willows + sad, warm little ditches = 1000 X more water + fish + better water quality It really is that simple. We will never achieve our water quality … Read more
Scholls Valley has been developing and producing climate-adapted plant materials for nearly a quarter century. We have focused our efforts on species that have demonstrated resilience to our increasingly hot, dry summers. The summer of 2025 was the fifth-hottest in the ~100-year climate record for the Tualatin Valley, and was also among the driest. The … Read more
Hi Folks I’ve had a number of people comment to me directly about the new blog. Almost all of the comments have been very positive, but some folks have asked why the focus on the big negatives? That’s not going to sell plants.. Well, maybe not. I think all of us need to keep an … Read more
Dear Friends I am joyful, truly joyful, to share with you a little about my good friend Leo Hernandez, who is leaving us after over 20 years of faithful, reliable service to this farm and our family. Leo is one of the best men I have ever met. He has stuck with us through thick … Read more