Plants on steroids

Even though my parents lived in B.C. for several decades after moving here from the prairies, they never became blase about the size and lusciousness of the plant life here. My father would look up at the old apple tree in our back yard with awe and marvel at the quantity and softball size of the fruit it produced.

It's the height of summer now, so a good time to see many plants at their peak. During recent walks, I have seen grass grown well above my head; a row of beans turned into a thick high hedge, and dahlias that form a virtual hedge themselves. Then there are the giant plants on display in Stanley Park, including the big trees, both alive and dead. Here are some photos from recent excursions:

Yes, it's a hedge of beans soaring higher than the more usual hedge beside it.

The beans had been well picked, but a few remained on the hedge.

This is a long row of red dahlias that viewed from a certain angle, look more like a hedge of roses.

A closer look at the dahlias.

This beautifully landscaped yard features grasses taller than John. They are so lush that they grow over the walkway into the house, making entry difficult.

My friend Ros in Stanley Park, pointing at a giant thistle. To her left are rhubarb-like gunnera leaves.

Ros says her husband George always suggests adding something like a hat to show proportions. So these gunnera leaves are wearing a hat from Mexico.

This is a lush stand of butterfly, bee and bird-friendly plants in Stanley Park. There are lavender and verbena in the lower levels, with butterfly-attracting buddleia at the next level, and bird-friendly mountain ash above. The lavender was alive with bees and we spotted several Monarch butterflies.

A good old fir towers above other trees in Stanley Park.

This dead tree stretches far out into the luxuriant growth on the surface of  Beaver Lake in Stanley Park. 

This tree trunk and its branches make both a sculpture and a piece of play equipment at the entrance to Stanley Park. Children swarm all over it. 

Abandon a little house and garden long enough while you wait to rebuild, and you end up with lush grasses that no landscape architect ever planned.