001C97BA THE WEST VAN NEWS July 26, 1929. growth--made»ecessary by the great fires of years gone by. EVe therefore find on the lower slopes familiar herbs, shrubs and trees, with the vigorous young conifers preparing to recapture the terri- tory and displace the other plants. As we approach the green woods, on the sky-line, many familiar plant types disappear. EVe encounter seedling conifers, i»eluding white pine, while the shrubbery now includes blue- berries. Fire has had its own way with the shallow soil of this zone, and conifers grow slowly. EVe miss the ranker vegetation through which we have just passed. West Vancouver a Real Rock Garden By H. G. Selwood times, proud owners of rock gardens have invited us to inspect the sanie; the which we have done, with suitable ack- no~vledgment of the labor and patieiice involved in the produc- tio» of such displays. EVe have then proceeded, at the first op- portunity, to introduce our late hosts to that queen among rock gardens, comprising about thir- ty-two sqaure miles of mountain, valley and ocean foreshore, k»ow by the very prosaic name cf EVest Vancouver District; a gourde» equal in extent to many Stanley Parks, of infinite varie- ty. and and oiving nothing what- ever to human labor. It is admitted that a proper survey of our District entails many visits, and presupposes at least a modest capacity in the way of ivalking and hill-climb- ing; which latter accomplishment hcwever, is largely a matter of patience. A Varied AIenu The Forest Primeval In the real woods we begin to freshen up and take notice. The grades are easier, the great trees ensure coolness, the for- est floor is like a thick carpet, the air is less oppressive at this height; there are things to see,with more ahead, and we begin to develop a sense of adventure. EVe are made aware that all flowering plants do not make a living in the same way. There are degenerate types, as there are in other forms of life. The coralroot orchid and Indian pipelive on decaying vegetable mat- ter; arid, having little use for regular leaves, have been depriv- ed of them. The salal sometimes harbors a parasite, like a purple cone, on its roots; known to the Indians as "poque," but with a much more fearsome botanical nar.~'. EVe revert to the honest work- ing man type of plant. Queen cup lilies and ground dogwood are very plentiful. The twisted- stalk lily conceals its flowers be- neath its leaves. The iriconspic- uous twayblade orchid almost escapes notice. The conifers now iiiclude yellow cedar and mature white pine. The blueberry und- erbrush is interspersed with equally large and more showy flowering shrubs;--bush pyrola (copper bush), false azalea, mountain ash and white rhodo- dendron. Those portions of our District served by road are well known; aotably, the rugged Capilano River valley, the residential section of the southern slope, and the cliff-bordered western area, which makes Californians feel at home. But only the "hiker" knows the deep woods of the northern slopes, the dark can- yons and peaceful headwaters of the larger streams, the dense thickets of the Eagle Lake coun- try, the rocky mass of Black Mountai», the park-like "mead- ows" of the crescent curve of Hollyburii Ridge, and the placid pools scattered over the uplands at varying elevations from one to four thousand feet. The Sunny IVest End From seashore to summit, hundreds of forms of plant life struggle to bloom and fruit in season; many favoring a partic- ular locality, as is the habit of plants in their native state. Thus we have in the west end the ar- butus tree, the larger bearberry shrub, and the small creeper, micromeria; known around San Francisco Bay as madrona, man- zanita, and yerba buena, respec- tively. Also, scrub pine, juniper, the dog-tooth lily, mild ginger, blue-eved Mary, sea-blush, mon- key flower, and wild hyacinth. Along the power line, north of IVest Bay, is a great showing of tree dogwood and red-flowering currant; with an occasional june- bery (saskatoon) shrub. Pent- stemons favor the west wall of Black Mountain, although at least one variety is found along the Capilano River. The Subalpine Meadows AVe approach the Ski Camp, o» the shore of the artificially en- larged First Lake. The woods are more open: we are on the fringe of the meadows. The les- ser shrubs make their appear- ance: pink false heather, white moss heather, red spirea and mountain laurel. Blueberries are in their element, and are seen to be of at least two kinds; one with a whitish bloom, which might be called a pie berry; an- other black, sweeter than its rel- ative, which might be termed a table berry. First Lake is the lowest in al- titude (three thousand feet) of a number of ponds, strung along the Ridge trail. Unsuccessful effor ts were made to impound the mater of these ponds and of the Ridge crest, generally, and divert it to the Nasmith mill, now dismantled; which accounts for the dykes and ditches along the trail, right up to the foot of the Peak. The discharge from First Lake enters English Bay at the foot of 25th Street. Excelsior The vegetation of the upper levels, especially, is fitted to its environment; and, as it is not easy to reproduce highland con- ditions in a lowland garden, it behooves us, if we want to see cur native "alpines" at their best to follow the reputed example of 31ahomet and go to the moun- tain. Taking the line of least resist- ance, we follow the usual route up Hollyburn Ridge, by way of 22nd Street, passing Pollough Pogue's fire lookout and sanctu- ary for man, bird and beast. The plant life of the south side of the Ridge is going through the very gradual process of reforest- ation--leading up to what the botanists call the "climax" It is quite evident that plants ought to grow on these mountain meadows. The sphagnum and other mosses, the matted vege- tation, and the peaty soil, act like a sponge; retaining moisture from the melting snow and later rainfall, sufficient to feed the streams during the summer months and to sustain an abund- ant plant life. ~ ~ ~ ~ y 4 ~ ~ a 4 ~ s Q 4 1I~ ~ pa ~ ~ q ~ t 4$ DOGWOOD TREE In the garden of Mrs. H. Gleed, 16th and Lawson. Notice the relative size of the lady and the tree. Hardy Perennials The daisies include the mauve erigeron and the yellow arnica. The tall lily, with showy leaves and small greenish flowers, is fslse hellebore. (The frequent application of the term "false" to our western plants is merely the result of their being named by eastern botanists.) In very marshy spots, deer cabbage and pale violets abound. Around the Fifth Lake, the white marsh marigold is the first flower to appear after the snow nielts, about the middle of June. The white-flowered spirea, four inches high, is common, and is usually mistaken for a saxifrage. Trees include the sweet-scented balsam fir and mountain hem- lock. Dry cones, large and small litter the ground; the six-inch o»es fell from the white pine; the purple fir cones are also large, but fall to pieces on the branch when mature. In the natural ponds are yel- low water-lilies. At the margins is likely to be attached the jelly- like spawn of the newt. Dragon flies pursue the infrequent mos- quito. Bees and butter-flies are quite at home. Birds are not common; animals keep well out of the way. Every prospect pleases, and only man is--noisy. View Points At the snow post, thirty-four hundred feet, we overlook the Capilano valley and a wide ex- panse of mountains. The Grouse Mountain system is due east, and ive are far enough north to see tne back of Crown Mountain. The snowy peaks in the far north are those to the east of the Squamish valley, Mount Mam- quam among them. From the Peak, forty-three hundred feet, Mount Garibaldi is visible, and we can see in most directions far beyond our local field. EVe also get bird's eye views of Capilano and Cypress valleys; the latter for its whole length, from Cy- press Lake to English Bay. A Happy VaIley Cypress Lake and marsh lie at three thousand feet elevation, between Mounts Strahan and Black, on the northern boundary of our District, and are mell worth an extended visit. The drainage is both north and south; a typical "divide." The flora is varied, and includes a fly catcher, the butterwort (some of these Old Country names are very crude!) with one intensely blue flower and slimy leaves, to which latter insects adhere. The plant folds its leaves and absorbs the juice of its victims; a good demonstra- tion of the fact that there is no definite line between the plant and animal kingdoms. The East End Route The descent from the Peak may be made, by way of the bed of the North Fork of Broth- ers Creek and connecting trails, to 16tli Street. The sources of the North Fork are in the vicin- ity of Fifth and Fourth Lakes. Here are plants of the saxifrage type, notably the graceful Grass of Parnassus; a name which has survived from the days of the ancieiit Greeks. That common- est of high mountain flowers, the Sitka valerian, scents the air very perceptibly. The banks of the streams are crowded with maidenhair fern and other shade lovers. Cascades add variety to the trip, and bring out the pocket cameras. At the top of the great falls, where we strike the Mahon trail we deviate a few yards south to Middle Lake, with its typical bog flora. This is the home of the blue gentian, the false asphodel 1! ly (whence our "daffodil" ),labrador tea, cranberry, and sun- dew. The last-named is another fly catcher, of a reddish and gen- erally bloodthirsty appearance, which secretes a transparent fluid for the ensnaring of its victims, and which also has a folding leaf action, a la butter- woi't. Sleepy Hollows )Vest Lake, the source of the )Vest Fork of Brothers Creek, which drops into the North Fork below the great falls, is an im- portant base of supply for our local upper level water system, It is the largest of a number of beautiful ponds, lying easterly from First Lake and westerly from Middle Lake; and is a few hundred yards from the latter. Lawson and McDonald Creeks also rise in this neighborhood, and f lorn south to Hollyburn. Brothers Creek joins the Capil- ano River, at Marine Drive, aft- er a stormy passage. The Old hlahon Trail Coming down the Nahon trail, we pass East Lake, on the shore of which is noticed the "trefoil" bogbean. This is a gloomy pond,recalling the Haunted Pool,without which no English coun- try estate is considered quite re- spectable. This is the last standof the mountain type floweringshi'ubs. The Mahon trail has been inuse, by the fortunate few who know it, for many years. It runs through the exceptionally inter- esting woods which clothe the north-easterly slopes of the Ridge; and can be followed, with some difficulty, to the Capilano River. )Ve leave this trail at the first skid-road, heading for the aband- oned Shields logging railway, and passing through a swampy district which yields the rein orchid, several lilies, and gold- thread evergreen. The railway right-of-way affords an easy way home; also a clear view to the east and south, as it passes t) i rough a logged and thrice- burned section. A Natural Playground There is a constant and grow- i»g agitation for the establish- ment of a public park on Holly- burn Ridge; and it is to be hopedthat such a park, if set aside, will be extended to include part of Black Mountain. In this con- »ection, a contour line drawn a- iound our District at the Eagle Lake level, sixteen hundred feet, would segregate a mountain area of perhaps sixteen square miles; which would contain the sources of all our streams, except the Capilano River, and all our lakes, except AVhyte, and which would be beyond the range of current town-planrfing schemes. It istrue that timebr licenses exist, and that other practical obstacles to the formation of such a large park area would present them- selves. But it is pleasant to re- flect that we may be able to rely on having "a real rock garden" in Greater Vancouver, for many years to come; literally and fig- uratively above commercialism. CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF AVEST VANCOUVER NOTICE TO AVATER USERS. L. M. DUVAL and 3. W. MANSON Stockbrokers and Financial Agents Stocks, Bonds, Investments PRQiQ vwaaaar~ Q~g Prompt Execution of Buying and Selling Orders. Reliable Information Given Seymour 8894 579 Dunsmuir St., Vancouver Burrard Sheet Metal 229 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver Phone North $45 Res. North 918Y and 1214Y No person is permitted to use a Hose or Sprinkler exceptwithin the hours stated below: EAST of 22nd Street--7 to 8 P. M. ONLY AVEST of 22nd Street--8 to 9 P. ilI. ONLY Failure to comply will render party respoasible liable toprosecution. By Order of the Council, JADIES OLLASON, C.M.C.