Stanley Park Ecology Society News

The Stanley Park Native Plant Demonstration Garden is located near the tennis courts near the southeast corner of Lost Lagoon at the foot of Robson Street. It partially surrounds the West End Community Garden plots.

During the winter months most of the native plants have been dormant, protected by a leaf mulch layer. Now spring is in the air, the nights are shorter, temperatures are slowly rising, and the plants are starting to come up again. Early plants, such as skunk cabbage are peeking out.

The SPES Volunteer Garden Stewards have begun partially removing the mulch layer (there is still the danger of frost), have pruned those bushes that needed thinning, and will soon be labelling the newly-emerged plants.

On February 16 the first bud opened on Ribes sangineum (red-flowering currant) an early blooming shrub. Its clusters of brightly coloured tubular flowers are an important early nectar source for hummingbirds.

February 20, 2008
Wilma Mosmans, SPES Native Garden Steward

The Stanley Park Ecology Society is offering an exciting volunteer opportunity for 8 secondary school students to earn volunteer hours for an intensive, 4 day period over March break. Through participation in this program, student volunteers will work in teams to gain valuable professional experience working in both outdoor and office settings.

For details see the Volunteer Opportunities section