The Lilium Species Foundation is honored to be collaborating with the Wind River Trust in developing a lily species display garden at the histroic Wind River Experiental Forest and Research Center in Hemlock, Washington.
Wind River Experimental Forest and Research Center
The Wind River Experimental Forest in Skamania County, Washington, is one of the oldest and most historically significant field research sites in the Pacific Northwest. Established formally in the early 20th century, it grew out of U.S. Forest Service efforts beginning around 1908 to study forest regeneration, silviculture, and ecology in the Douglas-fir and western hemlock forests of the Cascade Range. Early work included establishing nurseries to grow seedlings for reforestation following wildfires, establishing an arboretum to compare tree species, and long-term studies of tree growth and forest dynamics. Over decades, research at Wind River contributed foundational knowledge about forest structure, regeneration, and ecosystem function and attracted scientists from across the nation for extended studies of ecology, fire effects, wildlife habitat, and old-growth dynamics.
The Forest Service’s experimental operations historically included a large tree nursery and, later, advanced field facilities such as the Wind River Canopy Crane Research Facility, which operated into the early 2010s and provided unprecedented access to forest canopies for long-term ecological research. However, changing federal research priorities, budget constraints, and a decline in nursery operations led to the closure of many active facilities in the late 1990s, including the nursery, and to reduced on-site staffing. Without a central mission and with limited Forest Service resources available for maintenance, much of the historic station infrastructure fell into disrepair.
Recognizing both the scientific and cultural value of the historic Wind River site, local partners have initiated efforts to preserve and revitalize it. In 2020, a nonprofit organization called the Wind River Trust was formed to work with Skamania County and the U.S. Forest Service on restoration and adaptive reuse of the historic facilities. The Trust’s mission focuses on conserving the legacy of forest research at Wind River, stabilizing and repurposing historic buildings, and fostering community engagement with the site’s natural and scientific heritage.
LSF, Wind River, and the Model of Collaborative Living Botanical Landscapes
The history of the Wind River Experimental Forest demonstrates the long-term value of dedicated research landscapes and living collections as centers for scientific study, conservation, and public education. Its revival through the efforts of the Wind River Trust further illustrates how historic research sites can be thoughtfully adapted to serve new conservation and educational purposes while retaining their scientific and cultural significance.
For the Lilium Species Foundation, Wind River represents not the permanent location of its future Botanical Research and Experimental Garden, but the first opportunity to demonstrate how LSF can collaborate with local organizations, public agencies, and conservation partners to develop meaningful living botanical landscapes centered on Lilium species. Through this partnership, LSF seeks to contribute scientific expertise, species knowledge, historical context, and conservation planning to the creation of a public-facing lily species display that integrates both native and ecologically relevant non-native species in a manner appropriate to the region and its history.
LSF is excited to work alongside the Wind River Trust in developing a plan for a botanical lily garden where the public can encounter wild and cultivated Lilium species, learn about their ecological roles, historical distributions, and cultural significance, and understand how lilies coexist with other plants and pollinators within functioning ecosystems. This collaborative project is envisioned as a model for future partnerships, demonstrating how botanical gardens and research landscapes can incorporate species-level conservation, ecological education, and long-term stewardship into accessible public spaces.