It must be mid August, because the great golden digger wasps have shown up, as usual. They are especially fond of Asclepias fascicularis, the narrow-leaf milkweed, and together the milkweed and wasp make a striking display. There are more of them this year than I have ever seen, probably because we have milkweeds naturalizing all … Read more
In some plant groups, actually, seed dispersal may be secondary in facilitating migration to the other major mode of gene flow, which is pollen. Pollen is by far more buoyant and dispersible than seed, with an ability to travel thousands of miles in a few days. So if a long-distance pollen grain encounters a compatible … Read more
Penstemon hesperius is our endemic beard-tongue here in the Tualatin Valley. Described by Peck in 1932, tall beard-tongue or tall western penstemon was presumed extinct for many decades until former Scholls employee Rachael Roberts found this unusual plant in 2008 growing adjacent to an abandoned farm field at the Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge. Since then, … Read more
Written 17 July 2025 The Vultures Today, I think most of the turkey vultures in the lower Gales Creek valley must have been congregated here at the farm, circling in the air and roosting in the maples and alders along the creek at the northeast corner of the property. I thought I should go see … Read more
8 August 2025 Plant Ranges Ranges are among the most diagnostic and ecologically salient features of plants. Frequently, the easiest way to establish the identity of a plant belonging to one of several closely related taxa is where you found it. Which species exists in this location? This may seem like cheating, but it’s not, … Read more
Welcome to the Scholls Valley blog! I will be using this space to convey news about the farm, observations of nature and suggestions for land managers. We have an enormous and diverse inventory of native trees, shrubs and herbs, mostly as bare-root material and bulbs, but also containers and seed of some key items. This … Read more
We’re excited to announce that our nursery now has a blog! This will be the place where we share updates from the farm, behind-the-scenes photos, planting tips, and anything else we think you’ll enjoy. Whether you’re a long-time customer or just curious about what we do, we hope you’ll check back often. Keep an eye … Read more