Terra Nova Tree Walk: Part 3

If you look closely at the right hand of this pond, you can see the house belonging to the beavers that have been chomping on the nearby trees. We are making a map of the site, so we'll have to be sure to include the spot with the beaver house. If there are any of your favourite places at Terra Nova, please let us know, and we will include them.

 

 There are some fruit trees remaining from the settlers farms that used to be here. These are a couple of old gnarly pear trees (Pyrus). I can't wait to see the bees tucking into the flowers when they are in bloom! Norwegian Maples (Acer platinoides) line the driveway. These can become a problem because the keys tend to take root quite easily and they spread all over the property.

I was surprised to see a gingko tree (Ginkgo biloba) in this part of the yard. Michael says he's never seen a female gingko tree in Richmond because the fallen fruit tends to be messy and smelly. (Some folks do collect the nuts and eat them.) It's the oldest living species of tree on earth.

This oddity is a Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria). It's the national tree of Japan, where it is called "sugi". Perhaps it was planted by, or in honour of, the Japanese Canadian family who used to own one of the farms here. It's often planted by shrines in Japan, where it's considered a sacred tree. The versatile wood is used to build houses and furniture.

To the north of the Nature School is an ecologically sensitive area where the City is planting some native species. This little one is a grand fir (Abies grandis) which could grow up to be 70 metres tall.

Next to the school house is one of Michael's favourite trees: a big oak (Quercus) that is over a hundred years old.

I asked him to put his hand against the crenulated bark of this venerable oak. This tree is a sentinel, witness, and survivor.

Once a tree becomes a safety hazard, it does need to be cut down and put in a safe place. These become interactive sculptures that the children can explore and climb on. They also act as wildlife trees, providing home and food for insect and plant decomposers.

This photo shows the black, stringy rhizomorphs of a fungus that weakens trees and contributes to their death. It's called Armillaria, and can cause "white rot" root disease.

"Trees are more resilient than humans, says Michael. "They can fall over and keep on growing." A great deal of Michael's work is helping trees age gracefully—a kind of horticultural gerontologist. In this way, he is a hero for protecting urban biodiversity. His work is not always appreciated by developers and home owners. They must consult with Michael before they do any work around city trees. They often see trees as an inconvenience rather than an asset. If trees are the lungs of the city, then Michael is also like the pulminologist of Richmond. He is wise and knowledgeable about the sentinels of our city, and should be celebrated and honoured. 

On the way out of the site, Michael points out a black locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia). He says that this species is on the watch list because it is becoming increasingly invasive. There's a protected area he monitors that has a zillion baby black locust trees growing in the yard, which becomes a management issue. This is unfortunate, since the trees produce a great deal of nectar, much loved by bumble bees.

Since many of the exotic trees on the site are affected by too much water, I asked Michael about the effects of the recent drought we've been having during the warmer months. "The great western cedars (Thuja plicata) are dying all over the city. We have to keep a close eye on them." These majestic local trees are showing the effects of climate change. Often trees planted in cities are subjected to many stressors, and the continued drought is just too much for many of our largest trees.

By the time we'd finished our walk, the sun had broken through the clouds and a mackerel sky appeared. I felt grateful for the people who make our cities more beautiful and healthy. It's what they do every day.