A few weeks ago I was finally able to check out a park located a few blocks south of where I live in Surrey though I had researched a number of parks in the region months ago. This one is called Green Timbers Urban Forest, a day use park. So here is a little background history on the park and what it has to offer.
The forest is a mixture of coniferous and deciduous trees, both replanted and regenerated. The area was first logged in 1929. People came from all around to view the 200 foot trees, some from as far away as San Diego, California. Green Timbers was the first reforestation effort in the history of British Columbia. The majority of what makes up the park was transferred from the Province of British Columbia to the City of Surrey in 1970.
The meadow in the central area of the park was created in 1986 after logging ended. The "lake" (it looks more like a large pond to me) was created in 1986 to duplicate the marshland and wetland that existed there before the logging began. The park is also the headland for the King, Enver and Cub Creeks, important for spawning Coho Salmon and Cutthrout Trout.
There are over 100 species of birds plus mammals, amphibians and other animals in the park. Check out the following links for further information on Green Timbers and other parks in the region:
Surrey Parks, Recreation and Culture
http://www.enviroment.surrey.caGreen Timbers Heritage Society
http://www.greentimbers.caThe first three photos are that of the Douglas-Fir,
Pseudotsuga menziesii, which takes its Latin name from Archibald Menzies, a Scottish born physician-naturalist who first discovered the tree on Vancouver Island in 1791, and its common name from David Douglas, a Scottish explorer-botanist who later identified the tree in the Northwest in 1826. The first image looks up toward the forest canopy, the second looks up one of the trees and the third gives a view of the bark.
Below is a photo of a Swordleaf Fern found in many places within the park. Bracken is another fern that is also to be found.
Fungi of all sorts can be found within the forest as can be seen in the image above. Below is a photo of a Salmonberry,
Rubus spectabilis, related to the raspberry and blackberry (
Rubus ssp). They are found in coastal forests from Alaska to northern California. This edible fruit in the family Rosaceae is yellow to orange to red in colour. The fruit is suitable for jams, candies, jellies and wines. It is an important food for native people.
The photo above shows 100 Avenue looking east. The tallest trees in the park are found north of this street. There are also plenty of paths suitable for walking and cycling as can be seen in the image below.
Above is an image of a wild rose (
Rosa ssp) and the rose hips are shown in the photo below.
A Spotted Towhee looks out over the meadow from the top of a cedar tree and the image below shows a False Indigo in flower at the northern edge of the meadow.
The above photo shows daisies in flower and below is an image of the Alsike Clover,
Trifolium hybridum.
Above is a photo of the Sow Thistle flower,
Sonchus ssp. Then below are two photos of a skipper (butterfly), most likely a Woodland Skipper,
Ochlodes sylvanoides.
The Lorquin's Admiral butterfly,
Limenitus lorquini, can also be found here as seen in the photos above and below.
The image above show the meadow and those below the various wild bees such as bumblebees (
Bombus ssp.) that can be found in the meadow and other areas of the park.
And you just never know what you might find in the water such as a salmon? There will be more photos but these should whet your appetite some. I hope you have enjoyed them.
When I made one of my walks of the seawall at Stanley Park a few weeks ago, the tide was coming in. In the top photo the water is flowing away from the camera. If you look closely, you can see the current of the incoming tide. The photo is looking east toward Burnaby with the Coast Mountains to the left (north). Aside from walking the seawall, another great way to see the land and seascape is from the air, such as from the floatplane in the photo below. 
Rockweed, a type of seaweed found on rocks along the shore, is common everywhere as seen in the two photos above. Then below you can see a surprise: some minnows swimming amongst the rocks. Unfortunately, I am uncertain of the species but they are more colourful in person than this photo might indicate (i.e. blue and a thin stripe of red perhaps).
Canada geese can be found where ever you look along the water (Burrard Inlet, Lost Lagoon, etc) in Stanley Park and area. The gaggle of geese above is swimming along the shoreline on Burrard Inlet as the tide comes in. Take the time to enjoy and appreciate nature where ever you live. Go for that long, peaceful walk to enjoy all that it offers! - Volker
