Gather Scions for prunus only fruits when collecting them in the Pacific North West -right now. (but protect the donor tree cuts with a dressing such as wax from a toilet ring or something because it's already starting to rain)

This may seem odd to gather scions for your favorite cherry so soon when leaves are hanging on. Today I am picking my sweetheart cherry scions to donate for the scion exchange next spring. On average it is usually rain which normally would cause bacterial infection for cherry, apricot or peach. This year it is lucky to be dry. (there are no plant patents to cover our problems grafting and growing hard fruits in the PNW because we are already doing well for berries)

Portland locality weather and rain pattern: link
(if any pattern of rain starts to repeat the amounts of between Nov 1st and 2nd I would start to be worried)

I have covered a bit as to bacteria as a specific PNW problem and next for but just a few Specific examples from people:

Older topic by JoeReal who lives in California and started grafting cherry with great results;
Grafting on to a cherry tree see 6 steps of disease prevention dated Fri Jun 29, 2007 11:54 am

Email correspondence from experts;
"prunus is best stored between 28-30F" credit: Dan Whitney, Mike Argo
"bacteria pressure is at it's lowest ebb in August and September" credit: Ken Johnson plant pathologist

Grafting is fun but when it comes to cherry choose scionwood from the eastern side of the state or California or choose it from here NOW before it rains. If you choose apricot (if your lucky to find one that lives here) "especially" do it NOW.