Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index
Previous Features | Send mail to The Voice


Hoyt Arboretum offers complete nature experience

I drove less than seven miles westward on Burnside to visit the Hoyt Arboretum, located in the west hills of Portland's Washington Park. An arboretum is a park where various trees, shrubs and plants are cultivated for observation and research.

I parked my truck and walked to the arboretum's main office building to inquire about guided tours. The clerk at the desk informed me that a hike would soon begin.

Few students realize that Portland has more continuous miles of parks and hiking trails than any other city in the United States.

Portland's Hoyt Arboretum provides locals and tourists with free, guided tours of the park's trails. A naturalist with expertise in flora guides the trail tours, which begin at 2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday until October.

Sue Thomas, director of the arboretum, greeted me with a smile and asked if I was ready to go for a walk. We were joined by an elderly woman and a biology student. Before our small group had gone far, Ms. Thomas told us that the arboretum, which opened in 1928, is in the process of growing Rue, a citrus plant related to the orange.

The four of us headed to the southwest trails leading into the woods first. The Beech Trail led us down a steep ledge. I took in the vast landscape bursting with trees and wildflowers, stretched out below a cloudless, pale blue sky. The sight of God's handiwork captivated me.

We passed hop trees and Indian plums on the first pathway before it twisted downward into a valley. Ms. Thomas asked us if we wanted to taste the leaves of the Indian plum, which taste like cucumbers although they smell bitter.

Many of the trees and plants are labeled, providing their common names, their botanical names and their family types.

As Ms. Thomas led our small group down the path, we entered a small clearing where maintenance trucks and private residence cars can pass through the arboretum.

We continued further into the woods. Once again, the trail stretched downhill into the depths of a tree-and shrubbery-covered ravine. As we trekked downward, we discovered plants such as Oriental beeches, weeping beeches and smooth violets.

We stopped frequently along the path to discuss the plant life. Soon, we were walking up out of the winding ravine.

As we approached the top, the trail became the Magnolia Trail. Asian magnolias imported from China and Japan, Sauser magnolias, sweet bays, California bays, a sassafras and Japanese Spice trees lined the path.

We ended up in a small, secluded neighborhood on Fairview Avenue. There, across the street, stood a white house that reminded me of a house on "The Jetsons" cartoon. The scene was disturbing; technology invaded the natural world. Ms. Thomas explained that due to natural preservation and protection laws, society could not come any closer to invading this natural beauty. Our group crossed the street and proceeded to the next trail.

By now, we were circling back to the arboretum's main office building. On the way, the group observed a species of little, black birds called Towhee fluttering in the bushes nearby.

The hike through the arboretum with the tour guide and the group lasted about an hour.

As we drew near to the main building, Ms. Thomas thanked each of us for joining the hike. Afterward, I asked her about the park's wildlife. She said park employees and visitors had seen salamanders, coyotes, deer, raccoons and a variety birds. She said that once two baby bear cubs accidentally ended up in the park after getting separated from their mother on the coastal range. And in the fall of 1997, there were two sightings of mountain lions: one on the Marquam Trail and one in Forest Park.

Forest Park maps can be obtained at the Hoyt Arboretum (4000 S.W. Fairview Blvd.), or you can call (503) 228-8733 and request that information be sent to you by mail or fax.