Will Western Oregon eventually be a scrubland like eastern Oregon?

[Fiddlehead]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

When I moved to the Umpqua basin from the Willamette basin, I was interested in the number of broad leaf plants that put up shoots in the spring, flower, set seed and die. Grasses don't do so well because the drought kills them.

The Willamette Valley is actually a huge layer of silt washed in by the Missoula floods. The Willamette River bed used to be 30' to 100' below its current level. Of course, sea level was lower then too.

Interesting. My impression is that the Willamette is markedly more lush than down here at least (Rogue Valley). I would not be surprised if soils were part of it, as you suggest.

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

Interesting. My impression is that the Willamette is markedly more lush than down here at least (Rogue Valley). I would not be surprised if soils were part of it, as you suggest.

Yes, the Willamette Valley is a lot greener, but doesn't have the wide variety of plant species you find in southern Oregon.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by hamellr

MMm... but just think of the black berry jelly, black berry pies, black berry ice cream topping, black berry lemonade, black berries and cream, black berry BBQ sauce and black berry pies you'll be able to make this summer!

(Yes I said pies twice. I LOVE Black berry pie!)

I don't think the berries on the vines I speak of are edible.

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

I don't think the berries on the vines I speak of are edible.

If they're actually black berries, they are. There are several types of black berries in Oregon, not to mention their hybrid off shoots like Boysenberries and Marionberries.

The Himalayan Blackberry is the most common, and is an invasive non-native. There is also the Evergreen, another non-native, that is the second most commercially grown black berry. Other commercial varieties are on this list

Unless of course you're saying the berries are old and rotted

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by hamellr

If they're actually black berries, they are. There are several types of black berries in Oregon, not to mention their hybrid off shoots like Boysenberries and Marionberries.

The Himalayan Blackberry is the most common, and is an invasive non-native. There is also the Evergreen, another non-native, that is the second most commercially grown black berry. Other commercial varieties are on this list

Unless of course you're saying the berries are old and rotted

To make it a bit less cryptic, I was referring to English / Algerian (non native) ivy.