The graceful Arbutus tree is a symbol of the west coast of Canada and the United States. This tree is is Canada's only broadleafed evergreen. It goes by many names (Arbutus, Madrone, Madrona, Strawberry Tree) but here in BC she's known as Arbutus. And a real beauty it is with its fragile curling red bark revealing the smooth pale green trunk beneath. Isn't is stunning?
We have a huge specimen in our front yard--probably 100 feet tall or higher. We enjoy looking at it in the spring and early summer. After that we're less fond because the leaves begin to drop in July and don't stop until November. The leaf drop is followed by the bark and then the berries, and in the spring the flowers. It means a lot of raking but hey! We don't need a gym membership.
Hi Joanna - I'm across the water, in Vancouver...and I've just learned something new - thanks! I'm a fan of all our wonderful trees in BC, but now I know a little more about the Arbutus tree.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the A to Z Challenge.
Jenny @ Pearson Report
Co-Host of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.
I believe I've seen these trees. I often have difficulty distinguishing many tree types, but I'm probably not paying enough attention either.
ReplyDeleteLee
Places I Remember
Wrote By Rote
An A to Z Co-host blog
I'm so glad I live in a place where arbutus grow. They are the most beautiful trees.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tree. We have a yard full of oaks. A few maples and a Japanese flowering lilac tree or 2.
ReplyDeleteThe curling bark reminds me of the bark of a guava tree. In the Philippines, we had them everywhere. Sometimes, it was fun picking the bark off, but my Mom always told us to leave them alone. Heh. :)
ReplyDeleteGoodluck with the A-Z challenge!
Hello! Stopping by for the A to Z Challenge. I never knew the Arbutus was also called the Strawberry Tree. How interesting.
ReplyDeleteSusanne
PUTTING WORDS DOWN ON PAPER
So THAT'S what that tree is called!
ReplyDeleteOh my, it is a beautiful tree. I'd never heard of this kind of tree before. Great "A" word!
ReplyDeleteAh, I do miss Canada! The Arbutus sheds very much in the same way as the Gum.
ReplyDeleteEven the orangey color of its bark is similar!
Happy A-Z! New follower! : )
What an awesome post! Checking you out because you did the same for me and I'm glad I did!
ReplyDeleteIt is a stunning tree! Great start to "A to Z"!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking I hadn't ever heard of that tree, but then I saw the peeling bark. I feel like we had those trees in Oregon. Either that, or we had another tree that peeled all papery like that. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAside from that, I'm your co-host for the A-to-Z! If you didn't get an email from me the other day, it may have gone in your spam box. Please feel free to contact me via my profile or reply to that email if you need anything or have any questions.
Shannon at The Warrior Muse, co-host of the 2012 #atozchallenge! Twitter: @AprilA2Z
Oh, my! I have Madrone, curling bark and all, in my front yard. In fact, a neighborhood school is named Madrone. Arbutus is a totally new word to me. Good luck with A-Z; I am giving it my best shot but am unsure how successful I will be doing a daily post. Well, onto "B". Do you have something new to teach me?...loved learning about Arbutus.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tree! We have two Madrona's in our yard . . .it's interesting how the name can be different - either that or many of us are just mispronouncing things.
ReplyDeleteStunning photos ..... Victoria, BC - lived there for nearly a year on the corner of Central Ave and Monterey Ave. Loved it was 1989. Coming back this summer for a visit.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photo you have taken. Warm regards from Sweden.
(have problems with posting replays for the open ID - so I give you my profile instead - do not use google for blogging or following) http://mygulitypleasures.wordpress.com/ Viveka