News.
Cherry blossom abounds
Latest - April 2013
It's that time again - next month sees the continuation of the annual, brilliant, Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival. Become an expert in cherry tree identification or just relax and enjoy the wonder of nature at its pinkest. You will find a plethora of maps, guides and event listings at www.vcbf.ca.
The event runs from March 4th to April 30th 2013.
Venatian pattern on underside of Tree 3
Latest - Jan 2012
Good time of year to focus on evergreen tree identification and winter buds.
Check out this excellent winter bud identification sheet by a very dedicated tree lover.
Cedar at Kits Beach.
Latest - Dec 2011
Experts say that Cedar trees in the wild
are impossible to tell apart because of their varied growth forms. Others use the following prompt:
Atlas Cedar or Cedrus atlantica = Leaves Ascending
Deodar Cedar or Cedrus deodar = Leaves Descending
Lebanon Cedar Cedrus libani = Leaves Level
Anyone like to hazard a guess at this one on Kits Beach? Whatever one it is, we think it is a spectacular tree.
Happy Christmas 2011 from KitsTreeMap!
Maple tree outside Kits House at 7th and Vine.
Latest - Oct 2011
Kitsilano Neighbourhood House is entering 18-24 months of redevelopment: To mark the event they are preparing an eco-arts nest installation on the beautiful mossy maple tree outside their building.
Over the coming weeks they hope to install 10-12 nests filled with messages written on leaves about memories and dreams of Kits House. For more info go to www.kitshouse.org or Kitsilano Eco-Art's Page
Copper beech in park at Trafalgar and
Point Grey Rd.
Latest - Sept 2011
Proper Name: Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea'
Common Name: Copper Beech or Purple Beech
Have you ever been aware of the 'vibrational consciousness of plants' (Jo Price, 2011)?. If you have a knowing and want to share, please email: info@kitstreemap.com.
Weeping Beech trees (middle and right) in Vanier Park by the pond.
Latest - July 2011
Proper Name: Fagus sylvatica "pendula"
Common Name: Weeping Beech
'As the poet said, "only God can make a tree" - probably because it's so hard to figure out how to get the bark on.' ~ Woody Allen
Old magnolias in bloom either side of the entrance to
the MacMilan Space Centre.
Latest - May 2011
Proper Name: Magnolia X soulangeana
Common Name: Saucer Magnolia, Soulange Magnolia
This type of magnolia with its beautiful whitey pinkey purpley flowers, is one of the most commonly cultivated in the world and you can see them in gardens all around the city. A small hardy tree, it flowers profusely just before the leaves appear in Spring and, as shown in the picture, often continues to bloom afterwards too. The pair that sit either side of the entrance to the MacMillan Space Centre have a special history as recorded by the BC Heritage Trust Tree Inventory of 1983. They say - these two trees were planted in 1912 in front of the newly built Court House along Georgia Street. But in 1966 plans for a govenment fountain meant that they were to be removed. Public and media outcry made little difference but in the end the landscape contractors due to give them the chop didn't have the stomach for it - so aquired them a great relocation to their current spot.
Take a close-up look at spring trees during the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival.
Latest - April 2011
It's that time again - this month sees the continuation of the annual, brilliant, Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival. Become an expert in Cherry tree identification or just relax and enjoy the wonder of nature at its pinkest. You will find a plethora of maps, guides and event listings at www.vcbf.ca.
The event runs from March 26th to April 22nd 2011.
Birch with a view. West of the
planetarium not far from Tree 1.
Latest - March 2011
"The beauty of the trees
The softness of the air
The fragrence of the grass
speaks to me
And my heart soars"
Chief Dan George (1899-1981)
Tsleil-Waututh Nation
Buds are your best friend when it comes to winter
identification!
Latest - Feb 2011
This is the time of year to hone your winter tree identification skills. Not such a problem with the evergreens, but for the broad-leaved (or deciduous) trees some extra investigative powers are needed. To assist you in this admirable pursuit, over the next few weeks kitsTREEmap will be posting some pointers on our Twigs page. With a brief description of the vitals and a closeup picture in hand, we will send you off to an exact Kitstilano location where you can visit it live. Once seen, feel free to memorise it and move on to the next one. Soon trees that all once looked alike in winter will come alive with individuality and familiarity.
Beautiful boughs and twigs of Catalpa on 12th Ave
Latest - Jan 2011
Happy New Year from KitsTREEMap!
As the new year is a good time for growth we are branching out and very soon in 2011 will be launching a second walk: driveTREEmap. Set around the vibrant Commercial Drive area this route will take you on a fascinating and green meander through the East Side. So please watch this space it's coming soon.
Big thank you to Vancouver Parks Board for all the dedicated work they have done in 2010 continuing to make Vancouver the greatest tree city in the world. As voted by us.
Here's looking forward to loving and protecting our urban trees in 2011.
Three Hollies in a row by Kits Community Centre on 12th Avenue (between Trees 9 and 10 on the walk).
Latest - Dec 2010
A little bit of poetry and a trio of Hollies for our last entry of the year. Happy Christmas from kitsTREEmap!
"Freeze, freeze thou bitter sky,
That does not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As a friend remembered not.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship if feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly."
Shakespeare 1564 - 1616
As You LIke It Act 2, Scene 7, Page 8
Common name: Holly Tree or English Holly
Proper name: Ilex aquifolium
Fall colour on Cypress and 12th
Latest - Nov 2010
Last chance to make the most of the Fall colour before the leaves all drop. Although, they look pretty lovely carpeting the avenues of Kits too. Maples, Cherries, Catalpas, Oaks, Sumacs and Sweet Gums (pictured here) plus others make this a very special time of year.
Common name: Sweet Gum
Proper name: Liquidambar styraciflua
A tree growing out of a tree on 10th Ave.
Latest - Oct 2010
Thanks to Patrick McGuire for this month's photo and entry. "Growing OUT OF a big old healthy Catalpa on the Park (south) side of 10th, just a few steps west of Vine is a very healthy Mountain Ash. The Catalpa must be over 20 meters, but the MA is also well over four. Note, MA are the tree plantings running along Vine between 10th and Broadway - evidently a seed got deposited/ transferred by you know who and how."
Patrick goes on to say..."I've lived all over North America and Asia and no city can compare with Vancouver for number, health and variety of street plantings."
Incense Cedar near Maritime Museum.
Latest - Sept 2010
If you feel you are not getting enough trees on the walk, how about checking out this columnar one just a few metres past Tree 1 on the left hand side of the footpath. Not actually a cedar but from the cypress family, its name arose from the cedar-like smell of the wood when crushed. Its leaves smell quite nice too.
Common name: Incense Cedar
Proper name: Calocedrus decurrens
Propping up the building on the corner of 1st and Vine.
Latest - August 2010
There are some fabulous trees in private gardens around Kitsilano and a few that look like they are at one with the buildings they juxtapose. You'd be hard pressed not to notice this beauty at the corner of 1st and Vine.
Common name: Lawson Cypress
Proper name: Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
'Stewartii'
Looking past the Black Locusts to the Weeping Willows in Kits Beach Park.
Latest - July 2010
When you arrive at the Weeping Willows on this urban nature walk (Tree 3): stand with your back to the water and look past the Willows to a row of Black Locusts on the West Side of Arbutus St at Creelman Ave In Kitsilano Beach Park.
Common name: Black Locust or AcaciaProper name: Robinia pseudoacacia
Quote
"I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree."
"Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree."
Joyce KILMER 1886-1918. American Poet
"Trees" (1914)
Rising up from the corner of 3rd Ave and Trutch.
Latest - June 2010
There are some really unique trees growing in private gardens all over Kits. We think this cedar (picture) looks rather prehistoric.
Lots of flowers to see this month, don't miss them. Tulip Trees are in bloom (Tree 6 on the walk), Red Horse-Chestnut, Laburnum and Dogwoods to name but a few.
Flowering Horse Chestnut in Vanier Park.
Latest - May 2010
Beautiful Horse Chestnut trees are flowering all over Vancouver now and you'll find quite a few in Kits. Easily recognisable from their tall, upright clusters of white flowers and big palm-like leaves (see inset). What a great tree: it produces showy flowers in spring and if that were not enough, beautiful shiny conkers in the fall. It works hard to keep us interested, so be sure to give it some appreciation if you get the chance.
Proper name: Aesculus Hippocastanum
Three blossoming trees at Kits Beach Parking Area
Latest - April 2010
"...Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide....."
Loveliest of trees, the cherry now by A E Houseman
Enjoy them while they last!
Cherry blossoms on Whyte Ave, off Chestnut St at
start of walk
Latest - March 2010
The Cherry blossoms have definitely arrived! Make the most of Vancouver during its famous pink period. There are lots of other things to see around Kits too, like the budding Red Maples and flowering Magnolias. A great time to do the walk!
Kitsilano Beach Park
Latest - Feb 10
Are you coming for the Winter Olympics and have a day to spare between events? Why not check out Kitsilano: it's beautiful all year round. Spring feels like it is on its way early this year, so look out for sprouting blossoms on your walk!
Tulip Trees line 10th Ave from Blenheim to Dunbar
Latest - Jan 10
kitsTREEmap shows the best of Kitsilano at all times of the year. The trees look magnificent in winter. Some of the tree-lined streets offer intricate black webbed canopies that will take your breath away as you walk beneath them.