Downed trees have been a common sight this winter, thanks to all our heavy snow. In this front garden, a tree slants almost into the home's front porch. |
A laurel tree snapped partway off by our second bout of snow this winter, in early February. |
Evergreen magnolias have had a rough time of it, as the heavy wet snow collects on their broad green leaves. Here a broken branch of magnolia leans against a fence. |
This has been a hard winter on trees, with two bouts of heavy snow finishing off what a severe drought two years ago began. On my walks, I've been noticing an unusual amount of tree detritus on the boulevards, and sometimes whole trees toppled to the ground. During a recent trip to VanDusen Botanical Garden, I saw the wood-chipper hard at work chopping up branches and trees finished off by the last snowfall.
But along with all the damage, I am still struck by the beauty of the many majestic trees that have survived. And recently, I've noticed a couple of "fairy doors" -- fanciful little doors added to the base of trees -- something I'd only seen before on Saltspring Island. A whimsical touch highlighting one of the best things about Vancouver -- our trees.
I spotted this fairy door on the base of a tree in Kitsilano on Tuesday. The snowdrops add a nice touch to the "entrance." |
Another fairy door I noticed a couple of weeks ago, with the addition of a window. |
I don't know what this tree is, but it stands in a residential yard in the Point Grey area, and its size and dignity amaze me every time I pass it. |
The sun shining on this tree in Dunbar turned it into a thing of beauty, even without its leaves. |
The same tree in closeup. Ominously, it's in the front yard of a house that is to be torn down. I don't know whether the tree will survive or not. |
The outline of this beautiful tree against the snow of VanDusen Garden required a photograph. |
But, along a pathway in the garden, a chipping machine is hard at work, getting rid of all the trees and branches felled by the harsh winter. |
At VanDusen, a fallen tree blocks a pathway. |
A substantial tree branch lies along the sidewalk in Point Grey. |
Nearby is the tree it appears to have fallen from, judging from the broken spots in the branches. |
And, one of the most common sights this winter -- a snapped-off evergreen branch on a snowy boulevard. |
I love the "fairy doors"! I am determined to learn the names of trees this summer and have my Vancouver Tree Book at the ready.
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