Stanley Park, around Rose garden. The big tree from Lauraceae family. This tree intrigues me for years. First picture is done at the end of August Last one is from May 19. Flowers look like Laurus flowers at UBCBG
I would expect this to be Laurus nobilis, unless there was some specific reason to think it was a much less usual, but otherwise quite similar tree such as Apollonias barbujana.
I think you are right, answer has to be simple. When I saw flowers I didn't have doubts about family but size of the tree and leaves looking a lit bit different stopped me from the simplest answer
Leaf shape variable. Jacobson, Trees of Seattle - Second Edition (2006) says the translucent leaf margin is characteristic, lists several Seattle examples ca. 35'-45' tall.
@ Ron, no doubt you are right, but your caveat, "unless there was some specific reason to think it was a much less usual. . ." actually would apply to Stanley Park generally. There have been numerous botanically-informed people who have influenced the selection of plantings there over the past century or so. So Stanley Park would indeed be a location where a planted species might represent some botanist's choice for a rare or unlikely species. The park's historical input, right up to present day, runs the gamut from human ignorance to inspired zen.
