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, dry Valley living as they can be. We collect nearly all of the seed we grow at Scholls, and I personally curate the collection areas and targets of these collections. It is important to avoid parks and urban areas for vine maple collection due to the likelihood of hybridization with Acer palmatum (Japanese maple) and other non-native maples in section Palmata with which our vine maple appears broadly intercompatible. We pay attention to this sort of thing so you can be certain what you are getting when you buy one of our vine maple seedlings.
Once we get the seed here, we do it right by using truly sustainable growing methods. We have phased out all plastic-coated fertilizers and inorganic pesticides. We use organic mulches and compost to manage growing environments and improve soil tilth. We foster the growth of native (and non-native!) flowering plants and groundcovers, even within our production blocks. As a result, our production fields are brimming with birds, bees and other wildlife, from early spring all the way through harvest. This is great for pollinators and other insects, insectivorous and seminiferous passerine birds, voles, deermice, owls, hawks and herons, all of which frequent our growing beds of native plants.
Which, by the way, look phenomenal. here is what the vine maple look like now:
You will not see this kind of landscape in any other large-scale bare-root nursery anywhere in the Northwest. We allow and even promote multiple species of wildflowers, like the Douglas aster growing among the vine maple seedlings above, to co-habit with our crops. Others in the nursery business said we couldn’t do this – that it wouldn’t be possible to grow plants from seed without methyl bromide and an arsenal of other highly toxic chemicals. But we have proven otherwise, to the benefit of bees, beetles, birds and literally thousands of other species that exist in our production fields. Our farm is alive, and it’s a good living for all of the creatures and plants that exist here.
The barren landscape that is modern ag is not the answer. Life, with all its complexity, is what offers the best hope for our children’s future. We grow life here – as much as possible. And we appreciate your support by buying our plants.
-George and Sara