Oregon Field Guide — The Gorse Attack, Landscaping with Native Plants, Tula Hatti the Elephant

Episode 501

The Gorse Attack: The coast has been invaded by an ornamental shrub that's gone wild. Gorse, a non-native bush introduced from England, has taken over the dunes of the Oregon coast. The plant's aggressive growth, and seeds that can remain dormant for 30 years has allowed it to outlast all human efforts to control it's spread. Scientists have hope that a spider mite from New Zealand can finally provide a solution.; Read More and Watch this story

Landscaping with Native Plants: Salem resident Augusta Rockafeller loves ferns. She shows off her extensive garden planted with native flowers, shrubs and trees. Then it's on to other gardeners who have "gone native," including volunteers with the state's Naturescaping program to encourage native plantings.; Read More and Watch this story

Tula Hatti the Elephant: Peter Byrne, a resident of Parkdale, Oregon, was once a big game hunter in Nepal. Now dedicated to conservation, he returns to Nepal in search of an elephant he first encountered in the 1950s. The elephant, named Tula Hatti, is one of a dwindling herd of wild Asian elephants, and, measuring 11 feet at the shoulder, is probably the largest Asian elephant in the world.; Read More and Watch this story