If, as Mahatma Ghandi said, “Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress” then I would like to help us along on our journey by strongly disagreeing with Joe Ronsley, Mary Comber Miles and others who support the idea that we should only utilize native plantings  in the median on the new highway through Lions Bay.

A stunning feature of our village is, in my opinion, our entrance which has no native plants other than perhaps a dogwood tree or two.

Newer residents may be surprised to know that this was designed and created, under the guidance of a former head gardener from the Butchart Gardens, by a group of volunteers including Louis Peterson  and Shirley Stokes many years ago.

Every time I enter the village, my eye is automatically drawn to this bank   which has required very little maintenance, has provided a blaze of colour, and has continued to stand the test of time, enhancing our own natural beauty throughout every season for almost 40 years. Why, therefore, would we not choose  what we can be sure will work and continue the theme along the highway median, perhaps adding  some winter and summer heather and a few  seasonal bulb plantings for extra interest and colour?

 I risk being labeled a philistine for making such an outrageous suggestion, but I am very respectful of and reasonably knowledgeable about our native plants and how they fare in different environments. I, too, strongly believe that we must do all we can to protect them.

Mahonias do well in  a forest setting, but  in full sun  without  moisture and protection from surrounding trees the leaves tend to dry and turn brown. Vine Maple, I agree, is very showy in the fall but out of a forest environment, standing alone, it would look very spindly in winter as would The Red Flowering Currant which is also deciduous. I agree that the Aquilegia, our wild columbine, is an exquisite flower, but it would hardly be appreciated by drivers passing through at 60 km. per hour.

If everyone was in agreement with Joe, we would be deprived of the sight of  the cherry blossom trees  that  line Vancouver’s streets , the magnolia blossoms and spring bulbs through Dundarave, the heather banks on the highway through Furry Creek and, of course, our beautiful daffodil bank by the community centre which probably makes Joe cringe every time he passes.

 I ask you. Is it really such a sin to suggest non native plants?   

Comments (2) >>

Phil Bromiley said:

I agree with Rose Dudley, and many thanks to you Rose, and all the volunteers for maintaining that beautiful landscaped entrance to Lions Bay, and for all the landscape maintenance you all do in and around the Village, you all deserve a Volunteer Medal. Like Rose I would prefer to see the same products planted in the Median as are planted in the entrance, this would give most visitors, and drivers, a clear indication that the Village of Lions Bay is a special and unique place, not just a Village hidden away in the forest. I also agree that there are many beautiful native trees and shrubs in and around the forest we live in, however there are also many more colorful plants and trees that man has successfully introduced to this climate from other parts of the world. When we use these other colorful plants to dress up our landscape then we are creating Visual Art for enjoyment of others. The one thing that we seem to be forgetting here is, that one reason for creating a median was an attempt to CALM TRAFFIC passing through the Village. The most colorful display of plants , trees and bushes, similar to those used at the entrance to the Village, when introduced to this Median would very definitely help calm traffic! I very much doubt that anyone reading this even considers to slow down to look at the disgusting messy landscaping that was created by the Highways Department at Ansel Place overpass. PLEASE PLEASE do not let the Highways Department have any input on the type of vegetation used in the Median , or along the side of the road, as they no nothing about Landscape Beauty. The Village Council should ask the Highways Department for a cash settlement in lieu of their proposed plants and trees, then allow our Volunteer Landscapers, the only people who really seem to care about cultured landscape beauty on Village Property,( Volunteer ACTION speaks louder than words ) get on with creating some Landscape Art that we all can be proud of. If there is not enough cash coming from the Highways Department then lets get a FUND RAISER going so that these volunteers can purchase what they want. Thanks again Rose, and I will be there to help the Volunteers on this project. Lets hear from some more Landscape Volunteers.. there must be many other residents that also prefer the type of plants used at entrance to the Village. Philip Bromiley 233 Bayview Road.

April 07, 2008

Louis Peterson said:

Remembering the glorious radiance of yellow and golden fields of dandelions, and the invasive nasturtiums, buttercups and marigolds enhancing the banks of ditches and streams to gladden my three-kilometer walk home from school, in the days of pesticide-freedom some seven decades ago, it seems to me that there are many ways to enjoy what Nature has to offer us. While the evergreens are fine and necessary, if sometimes monotonous, the surge of new growth on the deciduous "scraggies" and the greening of the black fields of recently sown oats and wheat in Spring is an uplifting sight that is hard to beat. In the discussion about "native" and "non-native" plants for the highway landscaping, we have to bear in mind what the Ministry of Transportation is most likely to consider, possibly agree to provide. The "2010 Legacy of Native Flora", with illustrative plaques at all the viewpoints along the Sea-to-Sky, has the potential to become a Provincial botanical asset. Within communities, if it is so wished, there could be opportunities to adopt the more "domestic", ornamental approach. As I write, I am sure that many of us enjoy the fresh spring blooms of daffodils adorning the "Mischkin Initiative", and the heathers blooming on Wolf's bank. It may be possible to develop slightly different horticultural themes in other locations within the Village, to add interest and variety to our community. For those of Scottish heritage, I would like to suggest that Heather is a Native Plant! Louis K. Peterson

April 13, 2008

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