photograph of a table with a plaque reading: ALL-MYRTLE WOOD TABLE MADE BY MARTIN PARELIUS, A MASTER CRAFTSMAN, WON BLUE RIBBON AT 1905 LEWIS & CLARK EXHIBITION. DONATED TO CENTER BY PORTLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS.
Myrtle Wood
photograph of a printing block with an illustration of people driving a car and putting their cigarette out in the car ashtray with text reading: USE YOUR ASHTRAY and KEEP OREGON GREEN 11-22-48 H. Hayes
Today's vintage find -- a Hugh J. Hayes printing block from 1948 (image flipped horizontally for your benefit):
illustration of a Pacific Madrone tree shedding bark and saying: "I'M TIRED OF THIS BARK"
Pacific Madrone
"This tree is most interesting for its handsome appearance. It is often transplanted to gardens and parks."
illustration of a tree and the Eiffel Tower with text reading: COMES TO FRAGILE POINT LIKE EIFFEL TOWER
Subalpine Fir
"Subalpine is the only one of the true firs having tiny pockets of clear resin well within the thick bark."
illustration of a rider on a horse looking out at tree-covered hills captioned MAKES THE PRAIRIE HILLS LOOK LIKE POLKA DOT
Western Juniper
"It touches endless miles of dry hills with a bit of color and life. The juniper polka-dots the landscape of eastern Oregon."
illustration of a tree and branch with flowerpots balanced on it with rocks handing from strings beneath with text reading: DENSIFLORUS: DENSELY FLOWERED LITHOCARPUS: ROCK FRUIT THE 'ACORN' IS VERY HARD
Tanoak
"The Oregon Forest Research Laboratory says the wood is fine for hardwood plywood, flooring, furniture, and other products."
illustration of three olympic champions with D. FIR in first place, P. PINE in second, and W. HEM in third with the caption THIRD IN OREGON TIMBER SUPPLY
Western Hemlock
"Hemlock has a Cinderella story because as late as 1930 lumbermen did not want it."
photograph of green lodgepole pine cones in a needle cluster
One from the real world -- Lodgepole Pine
"Extensive lodgepole stands are seen at middle and higher elevations throughout eastern Oregon, including the upper Cascades."
illustration of trees being paint-sprayed by a person wearing a scarf, pointy hat, and curled-toe shoes
Western Larch
"No other western conifer is such a pale green; you can pick out larch as far away as colors can be told."
an illustration of many people bending a log with the caption STRONG
Oregon White Oak
"A heartwood post near Eugene lasted for 100 years, showing how durable the heart is. As a fuel, white oak is unsurpassed ; it burns clean and makes a lasting fire."
illustration of branch with four pinecones and caption CONES ATTACHED LIKE BANANAS
Knobcone Pine
“You never saw such a cone-covered pine.”
an illustration depicting trees and shrubs with a broken knife blade between them captioned THE DIVISION BETWEEN TREES AND SHRUBS IS NOT SHARP
Shrubs
“A plant that is usually a shrub may become a small tree under especially favorable conditions.”
image of an illustration depicting a Toad, Rat, and Mole captioned "THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS" CLASSIC CHILDREN'S BOOK
The Willows
“To know that a tree is a willow is easy; to identify a particular willow species is very, very difficult.”
image of an illustration depicting a plate, bowl, and candle holder with text which reads MYRTLEWOOD PRODUCTS ARE FAMOUS
Oregon-myrtle
“On the north side of the Oregon-California state line this tree is always called Oregon-myrtle. On the south side of the line no one would think of calling it anything but California-laurel.
Actually the tree is not a myrtle... Nor is it a true laurel...”
Wild Cherries
“You find bitter cherry throughout Oregon, but more commonly west of the Cascades. In our rain forests it may grow to small log size.”
Guest post! From Reg Manning's classic "What Kinda Cactus Izzat?"
Mesquite
Giant Sequoia
"The great age and size of both species place them in a lofty world of their own, as the Greek gods dwelt on Mount Olympus apart from men."
Red Alder
"Its wonderful machinability makes it an ideal material for toys and hundreds of novelties."
Sitka Spruce
"The Sitka spruce is a favorite of campers in the wild. Tips of small limbs cut about 18 inches long, then piled evenly on the ground and covered with canvas, make the best bough beds."
Oregon White Oak
"When winter bares their craggy crowns, many are seen to be inhabited by mistletoe. ... A heartwood post near Eugene lasted for 100 years, showing how durable the heart is."
Bonus content on maples, from Tom Watts' "Pacific Coast Tree Finder" (Nature Study Guild, 1973)
Bigleaf Maple
"Bigleaf maple gets its name from the size of its leaves. They are usually 6 to 12 inches in diameter but can stretch to 15 inches on occasion. Of all the world’s numerous maples, this one has the largest leaf."
