Bee spring cover

Letters to the Editor Summer 2022

Professor Ponisio is the Bee’s Knees

Professor Ponisio—thank you for your great work in protecting our pollinators! In the spring 2022 issue of Oregon Quarterly, your reference to the western bumblebee really hit home with me. We have a property in residential Seaside, Oregon, [that] is an island of green amidst the cement, blacktop, and buildings. The ground is covered with huckleberry, salal, and ginger—sadly, ivy, as well. During our last visit, the huckleberry was busy with bumblebees. I do not remember this from previous years.

In the article you mention planting flowers in the burned-over areas to attract bees. From my experience this spring, it seems that restoring huckleberries would also be a good option. The plants are native to western Oregon and would coexist well with a reforestation of fir trees

Marshall Watkins, MS ’65 (interdisciplinary studies)

Lake Oswego, Oregon

 

I find your article by Tim Christie very, very, interesting not only because of biologist Lauren Ponisio (and her mention of the Fresno Bee) but mainly the importance of the honeybee and what it means to human beings and our survival, for mankind.

For me as a Fresno State alumnus—oh, and my son, who is a University of Oregon alumnus, class of 2013—and my grandsons, we are counting on these little guys!

Don Benton

McMinnville, Oregon


Tree-mendous Undertaking?

Thank you for the interesting article on Crabtree Valley, one of my favorite hikes (Spring 2022). Do you know that it is in the proposed Douglas-fir National Monument? We have been working for the last six years to have it established. Visit douglasfirnationalmonument.org to learn the whole story.

David Stone

Springfield, Oregon


Quarterly Kudos

Compliments on another fine Quarterly (Spring 2022). Particular praise for a couple of your well-penned pieces, “Pre and Me” and especially, “Changing Lives, Including Their Own.” The latter was particularly notable because so many Americans have forgotten about the Peace Corps and the great work accomplished by those who served. I also enjoyed (and learned a lot) from the “Queen of the Bees” story.

Craig Weckesser, BS ’64 (journalism)

Olympia, Washington

 

CORRECTION: The Center for Cyber Security and Privacy is housed within the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation. An article in the spring issue misstated the center’s affiliation.

We want to hear from you. Submit your letters by email to quarterly@uoregon.edu, at OregonQuarterly.com, or by mail to Editor, Oregon Quarterly, 5228 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-5228. Published letters may be edited for brevity, clarity, and style.