British Columbia: VCBF Tree Talks and Walks this weekend, April 13/14

We're promised lousy weather, but you couldn't want better tree locations and speakers at this weekend's Tree Talks and Walks, put on by the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival. Put on those wellies, grab your festival umbrella and come for the shows - these are some of the best sights in the city, and they're all in bloom.

Tree Talks and Walks UBC

Lower Mall 'Somei-yoshino', UBC

• April 13, 2013, Saturday, 10:00am to 11:30am

• Meet outside Fraser Parkade by the Asian Centre, just east of the Nitobe Memorial Garden at 6440 Memorial Rd.

• Presented by Douglas Justice, Associate Director and Curator of Collections, UBC Botanical Garden & Centre for Plant Research

The walk includes cherry viewing along Lower Mall and the surrounding area to see UBC's 'Somei-yoshino' and other flowering cherries.

Tree Talks and Walks Stanley Park

Rose Garden 'Akebono' --- Japanese Memorial 'Shirotae'

• April 13, 2013, Saturday, 2:30pm to 4:00pm

• Meet at the Rose Arbour at the Lower Rose Garden, Pipeline Rd, Stanley Park

• Presented by Park Board arborist, Bill Stephen.

This spot will be a focal point to discover many of the beautiful and unusual ornamental trees and plants in Stanley Park's Shakespeare Garden. It will also discuss some of the history of the park and how the Park Board balances demands of the public with the need for open green space.

Tree Talks and Walks Queen Elizabeth Park


Queen Elizabeth Park 'Somei-yoshino' and 'Akebono'

• April 14, 2013, Sunday, 1:30pm to 3:00pm

• Queen Elizabeth Park, meet at the parking lot (33rd Ave and Cambie) under the west end cherry trees

• Presented by Alex Downie, Supervisor of Vancouver’s Neighborhood Parks, and former Supervisor of Queen Elizabeth Park and Bloedel Conservatory.

A guided tree walk highlighting the many exotic and native trees at Queen Elizabeth Park's arboretum, founded in 1949, contains tree species from around the world. This walk will focus on the ornamental qualities and garden-worthiness of the wide palette of trees we can grow in Vancouver.