Granville Island Canada Day Celebration 2009

Granville Island is where locals and tourists go for food and entertainment in Vancouver. Granville Island hosts a very large public market, art college, various boat shops, fashion boutiques, gift shops, restaurants, theaters, galleries, and a hotel. Oh, did I mention the Old Granville Island brewery? You should try their Pale Ale when in town; it is very good and goes well with either seafood or Greek food. For the 2009 Canada Day Celebration they featured local jazz bands. The Island has its own amphitheater for entertainers and they setup up several other stages for featured jazz bands for the Canada Day Celebration. However, do not try to take a car there, even though there is parking on the island. Either walk, ride a bike, take a water ferry or public transportation to the Island because traffic is terrible and pedestrians have no consideration for people in cars. It can take hours to get on, around, or off the island by car.

Granville Island False Creek Yachts

Granville Island is on False Creek which is appropriately named because it is not a creek at all. It is a manmade water inlet intentionally made as a very large harbor. It is a very successful project and popular with yacht and condo owners. Property along False Creek is very expensive and difficult to obtain.

Granville Island False Creek Yachts

Granville Island has its own boat yard to service the thousands of yachts on False Creek. There are several stores on Granville Island dedicated to servicing the yacht owners and their maritime addiction. Not only are there equipment and hardware stores for the boaters but there are also nautical and maritime-themed art galleries.

Granville Island Public Market

The Granville Island Public Market is the centerpiece of the Island’s shopping experience. This public market is Vancouver’s hub of epicurean delight. The variety of produce, seafood, meat, herbs, and coffees are amazing.

Granville Island Public Market

This photo is a representation of a small corner of Granville Island Public Market. As you can see they also have baked goods. One trip to the market and you will see why locals make this their favorite hideaway. It is without a doubt a food lover’s delight. This place is so large that they actually offer guided tours.

Granville Island Sandbar Restaurant

The Sandbar Restaurant is a favorite of the locals. This is a nice high end restaurant on Granville Island. I could not resist a photo in front of the old fishing boat under Granville Bridge.

Granville Island Bridges Restaurant

Without a doubt this is the most popular restaurant on Granville Island. The restaurant is on False Creek and has a good view of evening sunsets and fireworks held over English Bay. Many party and dinner boats leave from adjacent docks. The fish & chips are the most popular entree on the menu.

Stanley Park English Bay Tulips

Stanley Park is on the west side of downtown Vancouver with Coal Harbor on the north, Georgia Straight on the west, English Bay on the south and downtown Vancouver on the east. Stanley Park has over 1000 acres with 5 miles of seawall and stunning sea to sky views. There are several bicycle and pedestrian trails that circle and dissect the park. Tulips are in full bloom in May and there are a variety of colors to enjoy. In the background of the above picture is English Bay. Unfortunately, the tide was out when this photo was taken.

Stanley Park English Bay Tulips

Tulips grow very well in the wet cool climate in Vancouver. The month of May is an excellent time to view the tulips in Stanley Park. In addition, there are rose bushes, rhododendrons and various community gardens in the park to view throughout the year. Vancouverites have proven that the Pacific Northwest can support the finer side of horticulture. I have spent several days exploring the park and its many varieties of plants and trees.

Vancouver Aquarium – Beluga Whales

The Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park is a superb place to view the Beluga Whales in captivity. You can also view the Beluga Whales from the north end of Stanley Park without paying to enter the aquarium. Belugas live in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic waters of the world. On June 7, 2009 one of the Beluga whales gave birth to a baby girl. Currently, she is a slate gray in color but will lighten as she ages. The aquarium has added a new 4D Theater that includes sensory effects such as wind, mist, scents and dramatic lighting. This is a nice tourist destination for families and seniors to visit when on holiday in Vancouver.

Salmon Spawning Creek in Stanley Park

This is a photo of a Salmon spawning creek within Stanley Park. Salmon is very popular in Vancouver and highly protected. This is a great pool of water in which to reflect upon (Ha ha).

Whistler Skiing

Whistler Village is about 70 miles north of Vancouver and takes about 2 hours to drive due to road construction on the Sea to Sky Highway. The Province of British Columbia is upgrading the Sea to Sky Highway for the 2010 Winter Olympics to reduce the travel time by car or bus. Be careful about purchasing tickets to Olympic events. The counterfeit tickets are very well distributed and it is doubtful if the ticket agents at the events will be able to distinguish between the original and the counterfeit tickets. Even if you have purchased a legitimate ticket luck will have to be on your side to actually be able to attend the popular events.

Whistler Mountain View

Photos of the views from the top of Whistler Mountain do not do the area justice. A photo just cannot capture the beauty and majesty of the area. This destination should definitely be on your bucket list. However, bring lots of money because Whistler Village is a world class destination and very expensive. The village retail area is well organized with lots of boutique shops and restaurants for your dining pleasures.

Whistler Olympic Station

This is one of the many stops down the mountain between Whistler Mountain peak and Blackcomb Mountain peaks. Whistler has now added a gondola between the two peaks so you no longer have to ski or hike between the peaks. However, either skiing or hiking between the peaks is awesome.

Rhododendron Walk - VanDusen Botanical Garden

Vancouver’s VanDusen Botanical Garden first opened to the public I 1975. This 55-acre garden has over 255,000 plants representing 7300 plant classifications. Specific garden areas are planted to illustrate botanical relationships such as the Rhododenron Walk or geographical origins as in Sino Himalayan Garden.

Himalayan Blue Poppy – Asian Poppy

Is an Asian plant mainly found in China at high altitudes.

Orange Rhododendrons

Blooms in April to early June.

Lulu Island Bog

This bog is located on Lulu Island at 11851 Westminster Hwy, Richmond, BC. They claim that within this bog resides over 200 species of plants, 135 species of birds, mammals and invertebrates. Many of the plant you see in this bog are similar to the plants in vast muskeg of Canada’s northern region. Many of the plant species found here today are remnants of plants from the ice age when arctic conditions existed in the Vancouver area.

The Bog

Bogs have been used as sources of fuel, as sources of peat to improve the soil in our gardens, and as suitable sites for growing blueberries and cranberries. This bog is similar to Canada’s northern muskeg region with wet acidic waters and peaty soils. This is how the Fraser River Delta area looked 1000 years ago.

Foxglove or Fairy Bell, Wildflower

Grows wild in the western BC area. While the Foxglove flower is very beautiful it is also very poisonous. Do not let small children play with this plant. Drugs are made from this plant are used to strengthen the heart and regulate heartbeats.

Purple Iris – Water Iris

Nearly one thousand Pacific Coast Iris varieties have been named, introduced and registered during the past few decades. Colors are extremely variable, including reds, yellows, browns, grey, blues, purples, pinks and cream. The falls and standards are sometimes different colors, or are streaked and veined in a darker shade. Individual plants bloom for three or four weeks. The bloom period for irises lasts from the last week of April to the first week of July.

Black bear trail in the Bog

From the size of this trail I assume it was used by black bears, deer and other large animals that came to eat the berries. The bog has an abundance of wild blueberries, cranberries, elder berries for these animals.

Red Elderberry

Even though animals and birds may eat the fruit humans should not eat the fruit. Fruit not palatable to humans and may be slightly poisonous, although it is harmless when cooked. The red elderberry contains a cyanogenetic glycoside and an alkaloid that can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal pain. The berries contain very little of these substances, the stems contain moderate amounts, and the roots contain enough to cause death to hogs. Medical uses have been made of all parts. Do not eat the fruit of this plant.

Purple Fireweed or Evening Primrose

A native of North America fireweed is used medicinally as an antispasmodic: its roots and leaves were made into an infusion to treat asthma, whooping-cough, and hiccups. The dried leaves were also used as a demulcent (soothing to the mucous membranes) and an astringent. Fireweed's greatest benefit to man, however, is as a food. Many Indian tribes ate the young shoots or cooked the pith of the stems as soup, and they and others used the leaves as a potherb. French Canadians esteem fireweed so highly they call it asperge, or asparagus. Both the young flower stalks and the leaves can serve as salad ingredients.

Pacific Crabapple

The apples were an important fruit for all coastal people, who harvested them in the late summer and early fall and either ate them fresh or stored them under water. Because of their acidity, the apples did not require further preservation. The deeply colored wood is hard and somewhat flexible. Coastal people used it to make tool handles, bows, wedges, and digging sticks.

Hardhack shrub

Sometimes used medicinally, this plant can be poisonous in high quantities. Sensitivity to a toxin varies with a person’s age, weight, physical condition, and individual susceptibility. Children are most vulnerable because of their curiosity and small size. Toxicity can vary in a plant according to season, the plant’s different parts, and its stage of growth; and plants can absorb toxic substances, such as herbicides, pesticides, and pollutants from the water, air, and soil.

Oso Berry, Indian Plum, Bird Cherry

The fruits are rarely harvested for human use because it is terribly bitter (& potentially toxic) until fully ripe, and a little bitter even when ripe. They were a common harvest for Native Americans, eaten fresh or preserved in bear fat. The bark was used by Native Americans to make a tonic tea & laxative. For today's palates they certainly can be tasty if prepared as cooked, sieved, & sweetened jelly. Birds, squirrels, bears, coyotes, foxes, raccoons & deer all eat these fruits. Because birds like them a great deal they don't remain long on the branches, & bird-netting might be required in order to harvest the fruits to make jelly.

Pansy

The pansy is a delicate looking flower often with a "face." The fragrant and edible blooms are desirable in gardens. The hardy but delicate pansy was cultivated by the Greeks for herbal medicine.

Richmond Olympic Oval

Richmond Olympic Oval where the 2010 speed skating competition will be held. This is one massive building covering 512,000 sqft. The Speed skating Canada World Cup Qualifier 1-October and Canadian Single Distance Championships 1-October will be held there this year. You can find more information at the following website http://richmondoval.ca/

Richmond Olympic Oval Lagoon & Artwork 1

This is the manmade lagoon and art work in front of the Richmond Olympic Oval. I call this Art studying art. Still do not understand it.

Richmond Olympic Oval Lagoon & Artwork 2

This is another view of the lagoon and artwork in front of the Richmond Oval. You can get an idea of how massive this building is by comparing the size of the people on the steps.

Yellow Barn Country Produce

This is a nice place to for lunch and purchase local farm fresh products. The farmers’ wives bakes fresh breads, pies, and cinnamon buns to sell in the store. The store also carries farm fresh eggs, sausage, jelly, and honey. I purchased pumpkin loaf, garlic & cheese bread, red pepper jelly, brown eggs. This is a nice country store and I would stop when I am in the neighborhood.

KBF Nursery & Farm Market

This is an 800 acre family owned farm in Abbotsford selling fruits and vegetables picked daily. They also have a nursery specializing in flowering trees, fruit trees, and Japanese maple trees. Located at 40040 No. 3 Rd, Abbotsford, BC.

Country Bumpkins Berry Farm – Store front

This farm has the perfect layout for picking your own fruit adventure. The store front is inviting and the farming family is very helpful. This is a family run farm specializing in spray free strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and pairs. There is an area to wash the fruit and yourself after your adventure in fruit picking. Country Bumpkins Berry Farm is located at 41510 No. 3 Road, Chilliwack, BC.

Country Bumpkins Berry Farm – Picking Strawberries

Not sure why picking your own fresh fruit is so much fun, but I am hooked. I enjoyed my time on the farm and will return. I got to enjoy the best part of farming without any of the chores. What a deal!

Terra Nova Rural Park, Foxglove or Fairy Bell, wildflowers

The foxglove is a beautiful weed that grows in North America west of the Cascade Mountains. The heart stimulant digitalis is derived from this species, making it deadly toxic to small children and grazing animals.

Terra Nova Rural Park, Parson House

The Parson house is currently under reconstruction. The home was originally built by Joshua Parsons who worked as a Carpenter for the Nova Cannery company. This is a typical Newfoundland, plan Victorian side-hall cottage, 2-story, 3 bedroom, parlour and scullery home with a central chimney and bay window. The home was later inhabited by several families who fished the local waters from the 1880 until the 1960s.

Terra Nova Rural Park, Slough

There are nice boardwalks without handrails to block the view over the slough. The absence of the handrails makes viewing the fish and wildlife much easier. The water is clear and you can easily see the bottom of the slough. From the slough you can walk on paths with native crabapple trees, gooseberries and salmonberries vines. This is a very good site for a picnic so bring your lunch basket.

Terra Nova Rural Park, Richmond

Terra Nova Rural Park is on the west end of River Road in Richmond. It is where the Fraser River empties into the Straight of Georgia. There is a gravel bike and pedestrian path through the park with great views of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. It is a great place to view the Great Blue Heron. During low tides the Great Blue Heron is able to find small fish to feed on. Bold eagles fish the Fraser River and the Straight of Georgia.