Have you ever been out for a walk and come upon a shrub that you thought would be a great addition to your yard?
I have had that experience. I’ll be in a park or walking around town or at a friend’s home and see a shrub that has beautiful blossoms, leaf color, size, and/or shape. I can imagine it in my yard around some of my other plants. BUT, I don’t know the name of the shrub, and many times other people I talk to don’t know its name either.
I attended a training led by Grace Florjancic, our Master Gardener Coordinator, wherein she introduced us to the book “Shrubs to Know in Pacific Northwest Forests” by Edward C. Jensen. It is published by the Oregon State University Extension Service.
This book is a fantastic resource. The author leads you through the process of becoming a “shrub detective” in a step-by-step manner, such as what to look for in identifying a shrub and what shrubs to stay away from.
The book also contains detailed descriptions of 49 common species in the Pacific Northwest forests and has over 500 color photos.
If you are interested in adding this book to your personal library, it is available for purchase at the SOREC Extension office at 569 Hanley Road, Central Point.