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- Written by: Tom Stapleton
Brad Buttram is an autodidactic tree enthusiast born and raised in northwest Oregon where he resides with his wife and kids. Brad's love and fascination for trees started as a child being in awe of the giant sequoias planted in and around Forest Grove and Hillsboro, Oregon. His fascination for trees grew after he discovered an ancient Oak tree in Washington state that he named ‘Goliath’ when he was only 6 years old. In October 2018 Brad was put in contact with Chimera Redwoods by Crowfoot Nursery after discovering the largest periclinal Grand Chimera known in Oregon. Since that discovery, he has been on a hunt for these strange mutations on planted redwoods throughout the state. Brad has discovered multiple albino redwood sites, including the first NCV known in Oregon. Aside from searching for albino redwoods, Brad is also collecting data on the naturalization of the redwood species in northern Oregon as it relates to climate change.
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- Written by: Tom Stapleton
Tom Stapleton is a certified arborist with a passion for researching and propagating very rare albino redwoods. He along with other albino redwood researchers have traveled hundreds of miles to search out and document the distribution of these very unique trees. Presently Tom knows of over 500+ albino redwood sites in and outside of the natural range. Some of his accomplishments include the successful campaign to save & relocate the world's tallest chimeric redwood known as the Cotati Tree in 2014. Tom also has been the first to successfully asexual propagate the first recognized naturally occurring albino redwood variant known as a chimera in 1997. Chimeric redwoods consisting of two different sets of DNA are extremely rare & only 100+/- are known to exist in the wild. In 2016 Tom and the Holderman family co-patented three chimeric albino redwoods originating from the first cross-pollination experiment with albino redwoods in 1976: ‘Mosaic Delight' (USPP26573P3), 'Grand Mosaic' (USPP29606P3), & 'Early Snow' (USPP29217P2).
Tom hopes by propagating these trees in a controlled environment will lead to more definitive causes of albinism in redwoods. His ongoing research in a greenhouse setting has less of an environmental impact than working with albinos in the forest; It also could lead to better interpretation and protection of redwoods in the natural range. Currently, Tom is working with dendrologists, horticulturists, and other tree experts to better understand the distribution and causes of albinism in redwoods.
In his personal life, Tom is a devout Christian who believes that working with these rare trees is a true blessing from our Creator. Tom gives all the credit of these amazing discoveries to God who lovingly bestows His gifts on those who place their trust in Him.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.