I do fine art photography in black and white and was just wondering if anyone new the whereabouts of some fine specimens (in their natural state) of Western Yew that I could photograph for a project. I would prefer the location to be within the BC Lower Mainland. Thankyou.
Hi Michael--was hoping someone would jump in here as I don't think I have a great answer for you. I did notice a Western Yew along the main trail in Redwood Park, that is about 18300 block of 20 Avenue in South Surrey...it is labeled as well. I would also have to say that this might be a tough tree to find a "fine" example...the one at the park looks to be a wild forest specimen, which like all the native yews I've seen means it's kind of a homely understory plant with intermittent branching and a bending trunk...on the other hand this is the "authentic" look of the tree. Not a glorious specimen type species as far as I know! I'm sure the sequoia's in the park make much more impressive photo subjects :-)
Dr. Straley's Vancouver tree book might have this one, don't remember. There is also that newer Greater Vancouver tree book, I saw it some years ago at the UBC shop at the botanical garden entrance. Either one of these might give locations of Pacific yews. When going by someone else's identifications, be sure to check for yourself. The English and Pacific yews look quite different to me, but some others seem to have trouble.
