UBC Botanical Garden Forums A help forum for gardening, botany and plants. Sat, 14 Mar 2026 22:55:05 +0000 Sat, 14 Mar 2026 22:55:05 +0000 UBC Botanical Garden Forums https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/ Cherries in Seattle, WA Sat, 14 Mar 2026 18:24:09 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/cherries-in-seattle-wa.90456/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/cherries-in-seattle-wa.90456/ invalid@example.com (Willard) Willard

Here is a website for a live webcam of the Quad at University of Washington, Seattle.
Watch the 'Somei-yoshino' in real time.
Edited by wcutler - look farther down in this thread for the current year's link.]]> 32 Bamboo ID Sat, 14 Mar 2026 06:00:35 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/bamboo-id.105471/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/bamboo-id.105471/ invalid@example.com (Zeb Haney) Zeb Haney
This is my first post in probably 15+ years. My daughter just obtained some bamboo via Facebook Marketplace. This is in the Puget Sound area of Washington State, USA. What photos would I need to include to get help on identifying the species?

Please also help me understand key identifiers for bamboo.

Thanks,
Zeb Haney
Arborist]]> 1 Sunshine Coast/Gulf Islands Fri, 13 Mar 2026 22:37:55 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/sunshine-coast-gulf-islands.95067/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/sunshine-coast-gulf-islands.95067/ invalid@example.com (Willard) Willard Now it's time to start scouting for cherries in my new neighbourhood.]]> 676 Strangely-growing tree Fri, 13 Mar 2026 02:18:40 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/strangely-growing-tree.105467/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/strangely-growing-tree.105467/ invalid@example.com (Garry Oak) Garry Oak 5 One more shade tolerance question! Fri, 13 Mar 2026 01:52:57 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/one-more-shade-tolerance-question.105470/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/one-more-shade-tolerance-question.105470/ invalid@example.com (davidrt28) davidrt28 Abies alba
Abies vejarii on firma (I know this shouldn't be very hardy, but the guy whose tree the scions came from in North Georgia [US ] said it has survived around 0F)

There is a slight preference based on how well the soil in each location drains, but I'll see what the shade tolerance difference is first.]]> 1 2026 virtual garden tour... Thu, 12 Mar 2026 23:43:49 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/2026-virtual-garden-tour.105418/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/2026-virtual-garden-tour.105418/ invalid@example.com (Pieter) Pieter
There's not much to find in terms of colour in the yard this time of year but I did find some...

View attachment 261042 Like this Anenome coronaria, which I've seen unfolding very slowly over the past couple of weeks. There's a white one budding up not far away...
View attachment 261043 Here I thought I found a primula without slug damage but upon closer inspection of the picture I do see some, minor though it is..
View attachment 261044 ...

2026 virtual garden tour...]]> 22 Hastings-Sunrise Thu, 12 Mar 2026 21:13:57 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/hastings-sunrise.37271/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/hastings-sunrise.37271/ invalid@example.com (wcutler) wcutler First posting in 2008

Accolades on East 5th Ave from Nootka to Lillooet are a 2008 VCBF Festival Favourite.
View attachment 35085 ]]> 181 Michigan Cherry Farmers Find a Surprising Food Safety Ally: Falcons Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:08:22 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/michigan-cherry-farmers-find-a-surprising-food-safety-ally-falcons.105469/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/michigan-cherry-farmers-find-a-surprising-food-safety-ally-falcons.105469/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper Michigan Cherry Farmers Find a Surprising Food Safety Ally: Falcons
]]> 1 West End / Stanley Park Thu, 12 Mar 2026 01:10:55 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/west-end-stanley-park.35159/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/west-end-stanley-park.35159/ invalid@example.com (wcutler) wcutler First posting in 2008

Here's a pre-season report from the semi-tropical west end. Autumnalis Rosea trees have been quite properly covered with their very subtle blossoms since November. Prime locations are 1000 block Pacific, Thurlow lane between Burnaby and Harwood, and Nicola mini-park north of Davie.
View attachment 33440 View attachment 33441

There have also been scattered blooms on Whitcomb and Accolade trees since at least December. If...

West End / Stanley Park]]> 863 Best Shrub for Bees? Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:12:42 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/best-shrub-for-bees.105466/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/best-shrub-for-bees.105466/ invalid@example.com (DavidB52) DavidB52
I don't want anything that gets too big, maybe 7 - 8 feet tall.
Long blooming time. Provides nectar and pollen. Suitable for the Lower Mainland. Perennial.

Given the choice to plant a single shrub for bees, what's the best recommendation?]]> 4 Spring 2026 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:23:07 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/spring-2026.105461/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/spring-2026.105461/ invalid@example.com (AlainK) AlainK This morning :

View attachment 261261 View attachment 261262 View attachment 261263 View attachment 261264 View attachment 261265

Acer "discolor" is not a valid name apparently.
More pics just for the fun :

View attachment 261266 View attachment 261267]]> 5 Raccoons solve puzzles for the fun of it, new study finds Wed, 11 Mar 2026 07:05:41 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/raccoons-solve-puzzles-for-the-fun-of-it-new-study-finds.105468/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/raccoons-solve-puzzles-for-the-fun-of-it-new-study-finds.105468/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper Raccoons solve puzzles for the fun of it, new study finds
]]> Ubc Tue, 10 Mar 2026 03:59:05 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/ubc.36223/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/ubc.36223/ invalid@example.com (wcutler) wcutler First posting in 2008

VCBF scout Melody Hessing has photos of the Autumnalis Rosea on Chancellor Boulevard (extension NW Marine), to the west of the intersection of Theology Mall and Newton Crescent. Pictures are from first and third tree west of intersection.
 View attachment 34778 View attachment 34779

Melody also reports: This will be a beauty. Beautiful umbrella shape, and views behind...

Ubc]]> 396 20260314 - Victoria - Lichen Walk - Mar 14 2026 Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:21:02 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/20260314-victoria-lichen-walk-mar-14-2026.105420/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/20260314-victoria-lichen-walk-mar-14-2026.105420/ invalid@example.com (Frog) Frog South Vancouver Island Mycological Society
Victoria BC
March 14, 2026
with Juliet Pendray
Location & Details: TBA
https://svims.club]]> 1 Downtown Mon, 09 Mar 2026 01:07:21 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/downtown.36035/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/downtown.36035/ invalid@example.com (Anne Carten) Anne Carten First posting in 2008

I rode my electric bike around today to look at Cherries downtown. The buds are getting fat but no blossoms as yet. The Whitcomb cherry at the North foot of Denman street (by Bliss Bistro) is 50% in bloom. Once I figure out my new camera, I will post a picture.]]> 519 Another magnolia fruit - id requested; now 'Caerhays Belle', mostly flowers Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:38:00 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/another-magnolia-fruit-id-requested-now-caerhays-belle-mostly-flowers.57086/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/another-magnolia-fruit-id-requested-now-caerhays-belle-mostly-flowers.57086/ invalid@example.com (wcutler) wcutler
This tree, on Haro west of Denman, has flowers that I described as being about 8 inches in diameter. It has no fruits now. The flower photos are from 2008; the others are from today.
View attachment 70623 View attachment 70624 View attachment 70625 ...

Another magnolia fruit - id requested; now 'Caerhays Belle', mostly flowers]]> 6 The changing chemistry of invasive death cap mushrooms Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:24:59 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/the-changing-chemistry-of-invasive-death-cap-mushrooms.105465/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/the-changing-chemistry-of-invasive-death-cap-mushrooms.105465/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper The changing chemistry of invasive death cap mushrooms​
]]> Should B.C. keep or drop daylight time? The province wants your input Thu, 05 Mar 2026 01:53:12 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/should-b-c-keep-or-drop-daylight-time-the-province-wants-your-input.95752/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/should-b-c-keep-or-drop-daylight-time-the-province-wants-your-input.95752/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper
]]> 58 Deadly lookalikes Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:01:01 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/deadly-lookalikes.105464/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/deadly-lookalikes.105464/ invalid@example.com (allelopath) allelopath Mushroom poisoning surge hits immigrant communities harder

Health experts say people used to foraging elsewhere in the world are confusing death caps with edible, visually similar mushrooms found in their home countries, and hospitalizations and deaths are on the rise.

https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/02/27/deadly-lookalikes

Via metafilter]]> 5 Acer palmatum 'Red Pygmy' Wed, 04 Mar 2026 13:56:37 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/acer-palmatum-red-pygmy.2118/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/acer-palmatum-red-pygmy.2118/ invalid@example.com (Elmore) Elmore 89 Cut off the Dead Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:43:51 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/cut-off-the-dead.105463/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/cut-off-the-dead.105463/ invalid@example.com (mobiledynamics) mobiledynamics
However, I believe we just had our last frost freeze for the year and old man winter is on it's way out

I have a JM - single leader, no real branching. It did flush out from top to bottom with Buds and then they all fizzled out . I left it alone...bark test showed it was alive.

The lower 2/3 has some buds on it. Above that, no buds but it doesn't appear to have died back yet...


What do I do this season. Leave it alone or top it off...

Cut off the Dead]]> 2 Strathcona Mon, 02 Mar 2026 02:27:16 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/strathcona.36522/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/strathcona.36522/ invalid@example.com (Laura Blumenthal) Laura Blumenthal First posting in 2008

I found this beautiful specimen at Union & Hawks Sts. on the Vancouver Walking Meetup Group's walk yesterday. Unfortunately, my photos aren't great because 1) the light wasn't great, and 2) we were in a rush to keep moving - maybe somebody else could go by and get a better shot.


Here's the map:

View attachment 34975]]> 101 Killarney Mon, 02 Mar 2026 02:12:38 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/killarney.36800/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/killarney.36800/ invalid@example.com (Mayling Chang) Mayling Chang First posting in 2008

Willy and I were excited to find some different cherry trees blooming in Killarney, but we are not sure the names of clutivars, so please correct them for us. Thank you.
What a beautiful weather and lucky day!

A. Cherry Plum : trees are planted inside a private condo, so I could not capture the whole crown form, and flower part. However, the tree is strongly upright
1. Location: E56th between Kerr and...

Killarney]]> 149 Fungus on Acer stump Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:20:53 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/fungus-on-acer-stump.105462/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/fungus-on-acer-stump.105462/ invalid@example.com (wcutler) wcutler Acer freemanii or A. saccharinum were cut down on my street. The stump diameters of all of them were close to one metre. The one a block away has a fungus I have not seen before.
View attachment 261282 View attachment 261281 View attachment 261283 View attachment 261284 View attachment 261285

One of the three stumps on my block is hosting Turkey Tails on what I think was the same species. The city has them all listed as Acer saccharinum, but forum...

Fungus on Acer stump]]> Victoria, BC (on Vancouver Island) Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:38:11 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/victoria-bc-on-vancouver-island.48873/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/victoria-bc-on-vancouver-island.48873/ invalid@example.com (wcutler) wcutler 106