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.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
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
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
Saturday, June 27, 2009
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.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
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
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
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
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
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
Richmond Olympic Oval Lagoon & Artwork 2
Sunday, June 14, 2009
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
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
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Terra Nova Rural Park, Foxglove or Fairy Bell, wildflowers
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.
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