Second try to send an email with attachments .. and a couple of pictures to show the size of this beauty.... I do wonder how many years they grow, though... It is amazing the wildlife that this harbours....shelter for ME and the wildlife! I think this should be a testament for a moratorium on cutting of these wonderful specimens. Sherry
Yes, a most magnificent tree, but I wonder how the homeowner will feel when one of those magnificent branches comes crashing through his roof?
What part of Nanaimo is that tree in? I photograghed a nice specimen just off Townsite near the Elks hall, but can't find it at the moment. Thanks, LPN. (Lantzville)
I know the one you mean... MUCH too pruned (rounded)for my liking!!! I like this, more natural look better!! It's off Lost Lake Road.... and to reply to another who spoke of a limb falling on my roof...yes, it's something that worries me--I have had it pruned over the years, and have wondered what I would do if my house was threatened !!! I've been lobbying to get another Arbutus planted on the opposite corner (City "road allowance"), wondering if I would ever have to consider taking it down -- after the recent big winds I have considered having an arborist look at it...but quite frankly...I think I'll take my chances of it falling on my house..It's too beautiful to kill..!!! I wept when some beauties were destroyed on the hillside above me...to make way for the next subdivision!!!
There are some great stands and nearly forested areas of A. menziesii around Nanaimo and up my way in Lantzville where they are vast majority of trees. Cheers, LPN.
A vast majority of trees? I've never seen this around here. As beautiful as they are, arbutus do pose some major problems to homeowners, where they are grown on the typical suburban size lot. Aside from the obvious danger posed to houses situated in close proximity to large specimens, there is also the issue of shedding leaves. Hopefully, however, people will recognize the value of the species, and will try to preserve them wherever and whenever possible.
Gordo, Most lot sizes around my area are a third to half acre in size. Even small urban lots are host to native Madrone, although fewer in number. Some areas here are forested in Arbutus menziesii as show in the pics below and are the dominant genus. Cheers, LPN.
Thanks for the Pics, LPN. Those certainly are large stands of Madrone. I have a couple seedlings growing here that have popped up in the last couple of years. Usually, I see these growing with Douglas Fir, predominantly on rocky, gravelly areas, where few other trees can survive.
Several arbutus listed here, with dimensions. Compare with yours for perspective. http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bigtree/docs/BigTreeRegistry.pdf Notice same site also has links to four pictures of two of the arbutus listed, including this one. http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bigtree/images/arbutus005b.jpg
tomauroland (Sherry) I did come across that pic I mentioned in a previous post. It was taken in Sept 2004. Cheers, LPN.
