Description:
Proper tree management starts with knowing the tree you’re managing. When trying to recommend an appropriate treatment, diagnosing an issue, or understanding how a tree will respond to a change in conditions, identifying the tree you’re dealing with is the first step.
This basic identification workshop serves as an introduction to common terms, concepts, and techniques in tree identification. The objective of the course is to get you familiar with how to identify a tree, covering leaves, fruit, bark, twigs, and form.
As there are well more species that can grow in our region than can be covered in a single basic workshop, focus will be on larger concepts that will lay the ground work for future identification. We will cover the use of dichotomous keys and get familiar with descriptive terminology to help narrow down unknown species.
The workshop will be inside for the first half and will go outside for the second half to get familiar with using the concepts and terminology in the real world. We’ll be in the University of Washington Arboretum, so we will have no shortage of species to find! The workshop will be hands on, and questions and interaction is encouraged. Please bring proper attire for standing and taking notes in inclement weather.
Schedule
Location: Washington Park Arboretum, Graham Visitor's Center, 2300 Arboretum Drive E
Seattle, WA 98112
8:30am: Arrival, coffee, and networking
9:00am – 11:30am: Review Basics of Tree ID (terminology, concepts, techniques) and focus on some specific trees
11:30am—12:00pm: Lunch
12:00pm – 3:00pm: Walk through the trees, hands-on ID focused on concepts and common species
What to Bring:
Notebook for sketches and notes
Favorite ID books
Clothing for all weather situations
Instructor
Bess Bronstein is a horticultural consultant, educator, ISA Certified Arborist® and Qualified Tree Risk Assessor based on the Kitsap Peninsula in Kingston, Washington. She has over 30 years experience in arboriculture, landscape management and garden design. Bess holds an A.T.A. degree in Ornamental Horticulture, and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree from the University of Washington. She was an instructor for the Edmonds Community College horticulture program for 28 years, with a focus on courses in pruning and tree care, plant identification, plant pests/diseases and diagnosis, and soils. Bess frequently teaches public and professional arboriculture and horticulture courses throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Registration:
www.pnwisa.org