Native Spring in Abundance

I will get around to talking about fabulous ornamental shrubs, trees and perennials we grow here in Vancouver, but right now, the native plants are really shining. It's truly spring in abundance in the forests right now, while in the garden, mid-season tulips are at their peak, lilacs are bursting open, mock orange fragrance is filling the air, rose buds are fat and current and daffodil blooms are fading away. When the sun shines it's glorious and when it rains, as it's just starting to do right at this minute, well, at least it still smells like spring out there. The rain brings all our wonderful plants, so we suck it up. And wait for sun.

On my forest dog walk this week, I immersed myself in one of my all time favourite fragrances, that of the new leaves of the balsam poplar 'Balm of Gilead' opening. It's pervasive where the tree grows but you might not recognize where it comes from because there is no flower associated with the fragrance. The leaf buds and young leaves are resinous, sticky, and it is from here emanates the smell. If you walk the seawall by Jericho Beach or the trails of Seymour Mountain this time of year, you will be familiar with this smell. On my scent-o-meter, it rates an 8 out of 10. Ahhh. I am fond of plucking a young branch and keeping it in my car to offset the dog smell. It's heaven. Don't worry, the trees are like weeds here, so they won't miss a small branch! And you can find actual skin balms made from the oil, though rare. Look for the yellowish green leaves covering large deciduous trees this time of year and take a sniff.

Balsam Poplar 'Balm of Gilead' (Populus balsamifera)

Another favourite year round plant, native to BC, is our Western Sword Fern. What a fabulous plant. The new fronds are unfurling at this time of year and they are architecturally brilliant, covered in fuzzy gold hairs. The mature fronds are full, upright and statuesque. You need never prune them unless you feel a need to clear off the dying leaves that neatly layer themselves around the bottom of the plant. The tolerate our wet weather and even survive our recent drought-like summers. It is one of the plants I use most in west coast style landscaping these days. What a winner.

Fronds opening of Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum)

More later. Spring is too mind-boggling to try and lay it all out at once. I'd better pace myself.