The Garry oak trial was established by Colin Huebert. A range-wide collection of acorns (2007) was planted first in a greenhouse, then in a common garden in Totem field (2008).

Garry oak in 2008 (top) and 2010 (bottom). Bark chips and landscape cloth help control weed growth.

After a few years, with various people studying aspects of Garry oak, the planting density was  a bit tight. Some trees grew really well.

Garry Oak trial in March 2015

A decision was made to thin half of the 1900 trees. The better your trees grow, the more work they require! But, we are not dealing with poplars. Thinning required a chainsaw and a team of helpers. It was definitely a collaborative effort.

Thinning was a collaborative effort.

But we had fun nonetheless.

Hard work and fun, too.

This work party provides a good opportunity to single out some demonstration trees to illustrate provenance variation.

from top left, clockwise: thinned trees waiting to be chipped; provenance variation; discussing past and future research

Who knows which other studies will take place in this trial?