We Like Big Trees and We Cannot Lie

We asked, and you delivered! When Tyee contributor J.B. MacKinnon embarked on a tour of Vancouver’s best trees, we invited readers to share their favourites with us via email.

MacKinnon’s writing inspired readers to embark on local tree tours of their own, sparking lively discussion about the city’s most beautiful stately trees.

“J.B. nabbed two of my favourites: the oak in Alexandra Park and the wingnut around the corner from us,” wrote Tyee reader Bruce Mohun.

“I have two other favourites in the neighbourhood: the poplar beside the Aquatic Centre (with its resident and rare taiga flycatcher), and a tulip tree near the tennis courts in Stanley Park.”

Mohun sent us sketches of both the tulip tree and the poplar.

Tyee readers have shared their photos and writing about seven other spectacular locations of their favourite Vancouver trees below.

Tell us about your favourite trees in the comments.

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“This giant sequoia grows in that weird little not-a-park at the corner of Union and Gore stretching to Keefer. It’s one of few really big trees bordering the DTES and Chinatown. I walk by her almost every day and always say hi.” — Jo Mcrobb

“The 4700 block of Fleming Street is very ordinary except for the eight majestic big leaf maples (acer macrophyllum) that line both sides of the boulevard. Being tightly clustered, these giant trees have developed a narrow crown supported by a trunk free of branches for about half its height.

Their magnificent canopy offers an oasis of cool in the summer and a spectacular display in the fall. Standing among them, listening to them breeze-speak, caressing their trunks puts things into perspective.” — Rod Raglin

“Katsuras are one of my favourite tree varieties, but there is one small cul-de-sac in my neighbourhood which has several enormous katsuras that are just magnificent. They’re on Brightwood Place (a very well-suited name) and I love walking my dog past and gazing up at the branches.

The trees look best at the time of year when their leaves have just emerged, bright green against the dark moss-covered branches.

One house at the end of the cul-de-sac has cut down its katsura and I don’t know why, but the gap is really glaring.” — Louisa Smith

“This bunch of nice shirotae cherry trees in Helmcken Park (Pacific and Cambie, Yaletown) were planted in 1986, for Expo ’86, and are now 40 years old.” — Gerald

“The group of trees at Thornton Park by the Main Street SkyTrain and train station, I’ve always loved. They are magnificent to me. I just looked up the names of the trees: Northern catalpa. Caucasian wingnut. Princess tree. Cherry trees.” — Lorene MacDonald

“On the west side of Dumfries, immediately south of 18th — two Black Locust. The foliage is chartreuse, and when backlit by afternoon sun, it nearly glows.” — Lorne Morrow

“I have been admiring Metro Vancouver trees for more than two decades. I often rely on David Tracey’s Vancouver tree book. Walking west on Pender from Main are a series of majestic Ginkgo bilobas. Definitely my favourite tree. This is the only surviving genus of a very ancient tree. Ginkgos, with their majestic beauty thrive in an urban environment. On Pender there are male and female trees. The latter produce nuts which are prized by locals as a snack and as medicine. In the fall, Ginkgo leaves turn a vivid yellow, not unlike the Tyee banner. Look into them yourself for their unique leaves, tree shape and history. My favourite tree since I saw a mature yellow one in 1999.” — James Witwicki

What are your favourite trees in your neighbourhood? Tell us about them in the comments.