Street Trees in Bloom

Catalpa Flowers "Heaven Scent"

June 27, 2005 - The majority of people look forward to the early spring flush of the pinks, whites and mauves that comprise the multitudes of shades in the city's over 36,000 flowering cherry and plum trees. The sight of a china blue May sky with cloud-like cherry (Prunus) blossoms, shifting in the breeze, can make you stop in your tracks and ponder the beauty of this place we call home. By end of spring the Cherry tree act is over but there are others waiting in the wings and though their glamorous skirts are held a bit higher up into their canopy, they are no less worth the waiting for.

Early June marks the time when the Park Board's over 600 Catalpa street trees will be coming into bloom on this most interesting woody sentinel. The tunnel-like effect produced by about 200 specimens along West 10th Avenue between MacDonald and Alma Streets is just one fabulous example where you can now easily observe the bouquet-like multi-clustered blooms held proud of their "skirty" leaves. A closer inspection of the flowers will not only surprise with their nearly identical mini-orchid like appearance but give you double the pleasure with their evocative scent released just as evening sets in.

The Park Board Catalpa varieties are native to Southern and Central United States and can grow from 30 - 100 feet. They are one of the last trees to come into leaf and first to lose those leaves in the autumn as they are at the extended part of their range in Vancouver.

Catalpas are not considered long lived at approximately 150 years but their beauty, amazing leaf size and shape plus their elegant and sweetly scented flowers make them a welcome addition for those who pass under their ever sheltering boughs.

Catalpa Locations

• Nelson Street between Denman and Stanley Park
• 10th Avenue between MacDonald and Alma Street
• Thornton Park at Main Street and Terminal Avenue
• VanDusen Botanical Garden at 37th Avenue and Oak Street
  (ceremonial planting when garden was opened in 1975)

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