On a recent drive to Horne Lake, I was taken by the striking colour and shape of the Arbutus tree. In an area mostly forested with Fir, Hemlock, Pine and Cedar the broad leaf Arbutus stands apart, yet like the conifers it is evergreen. It produces white flowers in large drooping clusters in spring and red fruit in the fall. Arbutus means "strawberry tree" in Latin in reference to the bright red berries. The bark of the young tree is smooth and chartreuse in color while older trees have reddish bark which peels off in large strips. It is only found on the southeast coast on Vancouver Island and seems to grow in pockets where conditions are just right. I think it was the sheer numbers of them at Horne Lake that made me get out the camera and start shooting and later researching. We've had record-breaking hot and dry weather here of late and it has stressed the Arbutus tree. You'll note in the pic below of the old tree that many of it's leaves have dried and fallen. It reminded me of September in Ontario, end of summer/winter coming on, but then I put those evil thoughts away. Lots of time for that later... much later.
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