The proposed Native Plant Garden on Lions Bay Avenue will one day display plantings of indigenous flora for all who are interested to see and learn about. As a chosen activity, gardening is by far the most universal and most popular.

The theme for the Lions Bay Native Plant Garden site is part of a world-wide effort to "re-green", restore and protect native bio-diversity that is being lost to development. Approved by our Council, the project also complements the work that is being done by others in Lions Bay to show and to enhance our natural environment - work by our local landscape, trailblazing and gardening groups.  Although much legwork is needed at this very early stage, it is hoped that the Native Plant Garden will ultimately be of value not only to the residents of Lions Bay and their children and grandchildren, but as an example for the wider community to follow as well. The authors greatly appreciate advice freely given by Roy Forster, former Director of VanDusen Garden. Have you noticed the improvements made to the site over the past few months? A small group of volunteers is waging a war-on-weeds, and many Himalayan brambles, Scotch broom, English ivy, Chinese lonicera and other undesirables have been given eviction notices. The battles continue and reinforcements will always be welcome. The site, like many other neglected public spaces, had become a mecca for residential debris, including an old camera (what secrets lie therein?), and bottles, cans, and other waste. The efficient removal of large piles of collected rubbish by our Works Department is keeping the area fairly neat and tidy.

Paths are taking shape among the Salal and Swordfern. These native plants, along with Mahonia and Snowberry, are being pruned gently and most have been left in their established locations. Others have been transplanted to make way for paths that when ready will receive a dressing of bark mulch.
Young Hemlock and Cedar were planted this Spring to provide privacy to adjacent homes. A necessary watering system is temporarily in place, to become permanent later. Birch, Bitter Cherry, Snowberry and Arbutus are showing new growth, and a Dogwood is in spectacular bloom. Nursery sources in the Fraser Valley have provided catalogues from which we can select suitable natives for future planting.

Many thanks to Jim Cadwaladr, former Director of Milner Gardens, for drafting Mary's design of the Native Plant Garden Plan for us. The Plan shows details for the Garden, a voluntary project for all who may be interested in seeing the garden come to fruition and be sustained into the future - please join a "Friends of the Native Garden Group" to support our efforts, together with Council, to obtain external funding from public benefactors. The site is a pleasant place for the on-going nurturing activity related to native plant restoration, to the soothing sound of nearby Harvey Creek in the early morning, and in the company of squirrels, robins and other creatures that share our habitat.

Mary Comber Miles, 604-921-7842
Louis K. Peterson, 604-921-7260, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it