Miyawaki forest

Midland Miyawaki Forest

A mini forest of thirty-three native species, planted on a public boulevard.

What this place is

A Miyawaki forest is a small patch of native trees and shrubs planted very densely, so they compete, grow fast, and close a canopy in years rather than decades. The first few years decide whether it takes.

The record here opened on 24 July 2026.

What is happening here

A plant written off as dead has begun sprouting new leaves, and deer have been at the red-osier dogwood.

Over 5 days, 6 people have added 37 entries to this record, 36 carrying photographs. The red-osier dogwood was noted for deer damage, then observed beginning to recover. A separate plant, previously thought completely dried out, also returned with new growth.

The record carries 15 questions, most asking what a given plant is. Invasive grasses and the condition of drying leaves were raised among 7 concerns. Gumweed and red-osier dogwood are the most named plants.

What the record has learned

gumweed Grindelia stricta Written down 6 times medium confidence

red-osier dogwood Cornus sericea Written down 4 times · fence around the patch has been reinforced to prevent deer from getting in the record follows this one

common yarrow Achillea millefolium Written down 2 times high confidence

Indian plum Oemleria cerasiformis Written down 2 times medium confidence

red-flowering currant Ribes sanguineum Written down 2 times medium confidence

tall Oregon grape Berberis aquifolium Written down 1 time medium confidence

Confidence is the record's own reading of a photograph. A subject the record follows is one an observation referred back to.

In their own words

“The red osier-dogwood, which had been grazed by deer, is beginning to grow new leaves.”

8 August 2026

The record answered

This is the red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) recorded 7 days ago as browsed and stripped by deer. The new leaf growth you are seeing is a direct recovery from that damage — the plant is resprouting from the stems that were grazed. Worth photographing again in the coming weeks to track whether the regrowth holds or gets browsed again.

“How is this plant doing. Leaves are drying”

3 August 2026 · Jo-Anne

“This plant, which was previously thought to be completely dried out, is sprouting new leaves.”

1 August 2026 · Noah

The record in numbers

37entries

15observations

15questions asked

7raised as concerns

36photographs

6people have written

5 days, from 24 July 2026 to 8 August 2026.