“Oaks for the Plains:  Natives, Relicts and New Comers”

A Symposium at Bur Oak Canyon

McCook, Nebraska

September 8 - 9, 2008

 

 

Monday, September 8, 2008 – McCook Community College – 1205 East 3rd Street

 

Oak Dissection Lab, Mid-Plains Community College

 

7:30 am - 7:50           Registration for wood dissection lab

 

7:50 - 8:00                 Welcome by Mid-Plains Community College Administration

 

8:00 - 11:30 am        A Tree Anatomy Lab:  a Dissection Lab (partially held outdoors)

                                 This pre-workshop dissection lab will be led by Jack Phillips, close friend and understudy of the late Alex Shigo.  This session will take a much closer look at the tree as a system:  how it grows, how it defends itself and how it eventually dies.  With the help of microscopes and lab equipment participants will gain an appreciation and working knowledge of tree structure and function.

                                

                                 Jack Phillips, Consulting Arborist and student of the late Alex Shigo Eric Berg, U&CF Program Leader, Nebraska Forest Service.      (Limited to 24 participants and pre-registration required by August 22)

 

11:30 – 1:00 pm        Lunch on your own for lab participants

 

Bur Oak Canyon Seminar, Mid-Plains Community College       

 

12:30 - 1:00              Registration for afternoon classes

                                 (Preregistration is requested but walk-ins are welcome)

 

1:00 - 1:30                Welcome and ReTree Nebraska Initiative Overview

                                      Bruce Hoffman, Common Scents Nursery, Workshop Organizer and President of the Nebraska Arborists Association

 

                                 Dr. Scott Josiah, State Forester and Director, Nebraska Forest Service

 

1:30 - 2:30                The Majesty and Diversity of Quercus macrocarpa

                                      Guy Sternberg, landscape architect, arborist, tree consultant, writer and photographer

                                 Anyone who has spent much time in the Great Plains or visited an old county cemetery knows the importance and grandeur of the bur oak tree.  This session will cover the history, culture, biology and diversity of the bur oak tree.  Discussion will also cover some of the problems this tree faces as well as similar and related species observations and habit.

 

2:30 – 3:00                Break

 

3:00 – 3:30                The Majesty and Diversity of Quercus macrocarpa - continued 

 

3:30 – 4:15                Theories of Past Oak Migration and Hybridization in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain Region

                                 Tim Buchanan, City Forester, Fort Collins, CO

                                 This session will focus on the origin and range of oaks in the High Plains area and whether this unique resource was shaped by Native American use.  Discussion also on hybridization of oaks and common traits across the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain Region.

 

4:15 – 5:00                The Selection, Preservation and Growing of Oaks in the   High Plains

                                      Justin Evertson, Asst. Director for Community Programs, Nebraska Statewide Arboretum

                                      Oaks are some of the better adapted trees for planting in the Great Plains region.  As a group they are generally long-lived, tolerant of climatic extremes, adaptable to a wide range of soils and are resistant to most insects and diseases.  Learn about the some of the best species, hybrids and cultivars of oaks for growing in the High Plains and care requirements to help insure their long-term survival.

 

5:00 pm                     Workshop Summary and Barbeque / Field Trip Overview

                                      Bruce and Debbie Hoffman, Common Scents Nursery    

 

 

6:30 pm                     Barbecue hosted by Common Scents Nursery

                                      Enjoy a High Plains barbeque, beverage (or two) and the chance to catch up with old friends and make some new.  This will be a great opportunity to discuss the presentations of the day as well as the up coming tour of Bur Oak Canyon the following morning. Hosted by Bruce and Debbie Hoffman, Owner / Operator of Common Scents Nursery

                                      Meal ticket ($25.00) must be purchased through pre-registration
*You must sign up for the barbecue by September 1st!

 

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

 

8:00 – 9:00 am          Geology and Hydrology of the Bur Oak Canyon Area

                                 Jim Goeke, Hydro-geologist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln 

                                      Learn how the unique geology and hydrology of this area lends itself to one of the oldest native stands of oak in the Great Plains.  Insightful overview on the formation of the canyon lands, role of caliche and natural springs in this unique ecosystem.  

 

9:00 – 10:00                   Native American Use of the Bur Oak Canyon Area

                                 Nancy Carlson, Anthropologist/Archaeologist

                                 Discussion and overview of the Native American presence in the Bur Oak Canyon area.  For those interested and willing to share relics from the area, please consider bringing them for Nancy to view and provide discussion.

 

10:00 – 10:30            Break

 

10:30                        Assemble for field trip to Bur Oak Canyon

                                 The trip to the Canyon will wind along the Driftwood Creek, passing by Caliche out croppings that are millions of years old.  We will enjoy Vistas that most do not associate with the High Plains or Nebraska’s short grass prairie.  Bur Oak Canyon and this relict stand of oaks will seemingly appear out of nowhere.

*You must sign up for the field trip by September 1st!

 

11:00 a.m.                 Arrive at Bur Oak Canyon / Concurrent Sessions and Tours

                                 Once at the canyon, we will see this stand of relict Oaks which is believed to be at least a thousand years old.  Concurrent sessions will allow participants to have a “walking talking tour” with the presenters covering the unique aspects of the ecology and history of Bur Oak Canyon including:

                                 1)  Dendrochronology report from a canyon oak

                                 2)  Geology and hydrology site overview

                                 3) Archeology and Native American use of the site

 

12:00 - 1:00 pm        Lunch provided

                                 Enjoy a sack lunch with new friends.

 

1:00 – 3:00                Concurrent sessions continue

 

3:00 pm                     Travel back to McCook

 

 

A total of 11 CEUs have been assigned by ISA, NAA & SAF if attending all sessions