Century Tree Project

The Peg Tree

(located at 141 Leonard Street)

Peg-Tree

Some very old trees around the City will be wrapped in silk beginning January 22. This art installation initiates the Century Tree Project.

The Century Tree Project highlights some of the City’s oldest living “residents” and celebrates their contributions to the City: visual beauty, a living connection to our past and to enduring natural landscapes, and environmental service such as storm water interception and CO2 absorption.

Residents of Lake Oswego are invited to nominate trees they believe may be one hundred years or older. So far, more than 20 trees have been identified by arborist Morgan Holen as having achieved century tree status, either through core sampling or historic photos. Several trees designated are more than 150 years old and one is estimated to be at least 300 years old.

Twelve Century trees will be wrapped in golden silk from January 22 — April 7. Every tree has a slightly different design. One tree wears a silk scarf, another has an array of gold plated and coconut buttons and a pocket and kerchief, and another wears a corset tied with silk ribbon. Original commemorative medallions by Ostrom Glass and Metal Works hang on all century trees and will be given to this first group of century tree nominators as mementos. On a sunny day, the silk and the medallions reflect the light beautifully.

Silk distinguishes this art installation from other fabric installations, such as the noted artist Christo who has used petroleum based fabrics such as nylon. Silk resonates not only for its stunning aesthetic beauty, a deep sensual texture rich with light, it is also biodegradable and recyclable, amenable to the plight of the forests. Additionally, after the installation Roskos will sew the fabric into century tree scarves to benefit community forestry. Silk also conveys the high status of the trees, which are the largest and oldest living beings in the City, in their “golden years” so to speak. Some of these grand old trees are a direct link back to the time when Native Americans primarily lived in the Northwest 175 or more years ago.

Although the first 20 trees will only be decorated for the first month, residents can nominate trees until July 1, 2010. Every Century Tree with public access will be included on a Century Tree map produced in August, and the first 40 to be identified will be marked with a plaque.

About the artist: Dr. Nicole Roskos is currently serving a one-year term as the City’s Community Forestry Coordinator through the NWSA/AmeriCorps national service program.

She is also a landscape painter.

To view photos of other Century Trees, click here.

To view photos of the "Making of the Century Trees," click here.

To view a map of Century Tree locations, click here.

To print out the Century Tree Nomination form, click here.

To view the insert in Hello LO, click here.

Century Tree Project Sponsors:




For additional information on the Centennial Tree Project, please contact: Nicole Roskos, Community Forestry Coordinator, at 503-675-2543 or e-mail: nroskos@ci.oswego.or.us