Campus THEN and NOW Series - Part 1: Plants

Caitlin H.

October 1, 2009 - 4:31 PM

I'm about to undertake a series of installments relating my campus life as I know it today to what I can learn about UO's past. During my time as an undergraduate I have picked up some fun facts from those who walked through Deady Hall before me, but I'd love to make this an opportunity for myself to engage with Alumni as well. It will be my goal to share with you what my life is like as a student on campus by focusing on a specific place. One location at a time I hope to unveil to you how I navigate my way across campus and what my experiences are like, and weave my story with the journey of students before me.

Part 1: Campus Vegetation

I think it goes without saying one of the first things visitors notice when arriving at the UO main campus is just how beautiful it looks. Today was a particularly breathtaking day while passing from class to class - the first great day of weather we have had this week. For me it is finally starting to look like fall term. I've lived in the Pacific Northwest my whole life, and I can't imagine a more beautiful location. Nestled in the Willamette Valley, Eugene is about an hour from the coast and about an hour from the mountains. We have rivers, we have wildlife, and my personal favorite: we have trees. When I picture the UO in my mind, one of the most prominent features on the landscape are my favorite trees.

Maybe it sounds a bit nutty that I could have such a passion for trees on campus, but I'm not alone. There is a self guided tree tour that you can take, and last spring I took a geography class focused on trees, forests and the human experience  with Shaul Cohen where I learned even more about the history of trees on campus. The UO is an arboretum with well over 3,000 trees! I would guess that most students on campus today have a personal favorite tree. These are a few of mine:

The Dollar Tree: The Dollar Tree is one of the most glamorous trees on campus, more commonly known to students as the Big Leaf Maple behind Deady Hall. This tree is also special to me for the story behind it, in addition to how wonderful it looks. It is believed that this tree is the sole survivor of the first successful planting effort. In 1883 a team of students attempted to plant a number of trees on campus. They all died. In 1884 they paid the janitor a dollar for every tree he planted and one more dollar for every tree that lived. Hence, we call it the Dollar Tree. For me this tree is a campus icon. It helps being in such a beautiful atmosphere to pursue a degree.

The Moon Tree: I like this tree for two reasons: First, it is a Douglas Fir, which is the state tree of Oregon, and second, it has fulfilled a childhood dream of mine - this tree has been to the moon. The seeds of the tree actually travelled on the Apollo 14 mission and were then planted on our campus. Call me crazy, but every time I see the tree I just think that's cool.

Class of 1897 Tree: I believe this white oak is the oldest tree on campus. When the University was founded in 1876 there were only two trees in the vicinity, and this was one of them. It is my understanding there was a period of time after the University was founded where it was common for the graduating class to donate a tree to the University as a gift. The class of 1897 got resourceful - they adopted a tree that was already there. That story always makes me chuckle, but for me this tree serves as a reminder of a goal I have for this academic year. I'd like for my graduating class to donate a native-to-Oregon tree as a class gift.

It would be imprudent of me to fail to mention all of the other beautiful life we have on our campus besides trees. The hanging baskets down 13th Avenue are lovely every year in addition to other flowers. I'm sure you get it by now: campus is ‘pretty.' However...there are the others. There is one vandal that remains to be identified that invades my nostrils from time to time with the most foul smelling odor I have ever had the misfortune of stumbling upon. I would avoid it if I only knew what I was avoiding, and it seems to haunt me at random from different areas of campus. I'm sure it's a flower, and I'm hoping it's the most beautiful specimen on campus... because it does Not. Smell. Good.

There is one flower that really has piqued my curiosity. I sat down next to them and heard an alarming amount of chatter in relation to these plants. I would estimate in 20 minutes I heard at least five different discussions about these plants today. They're located along 13th Avenue just before the Lillis Business Complex and therefore in plain sight for most who pass through campus. They don't seem particularly fragrant, and fail to be what I would call ‘traditionally' aesthetically pleasing. "The purple lobe-like plants." Seriously: What are they? And how long have they been here? All I have are questions and absolutely NO answers. Have you seen these things? Are they for real?

I encourage you to leave your thoughts of what campus was like when you last visited. The University of Oregon has one of the most beautiful campuses I've ever travelled to. Today, I'm thankful for that.

Coming Next: Autzen Stadium