 |
Significant Trees of Kelowna
|
|
|
Submitted by Ev Vielvoye
A small oak seedling from the forest at Windsor Castle in England was planted on the 3rd of May 1937 at 3 p.m. near the northeast corner of the Rutland Brick School. The seedling had been sent to the Rutland Women’s Institute to plant in connection with the Coronation celebration. The honor of planting the tree was given to Annie Gray, the oldest living member of the Rutland Woman’s Institute. Mrs. Gray was born in Guildford, fifteen miles from Windsor Forest and her late husband Samuel Gray had been secretary of the Rutland School Board when the brick school was built. A reading of the history of English oak tree and the significance of the occasion was given. Principal D. H. Campbell impressed upon the pupils their responsibility in caring for this tree, so that it would grow to be an impressive tree. Two pupils, Basil Bond (killed in Word War II) and Robert Hardie assisted. In 2005, this tree still stands on the northeast corner of the abandoned brick school, like a majestic monument.
|
|
Submitted by Jan Johnston
We bought our little 1942-built house in 1986 and learned that it was known as the “Bullock House”. In 2003, I met Mrs. Bea Bullock while working in Mayor Walter Gray’s office. While she waited for her appointment, she and I chatted. Our conversation turned to my proximity to City Hall and my good fortune to be able to cycle to work each day. She asked me where I lived and when I told her that I lived on Ethel Street and had the city’s biggest and most beautiful Magnolia in my front yard, she said, “I planted that tree.”
She told me that her Mother-in-law, Veronica Bullock (John’s Mother) lived in our house and Richard Bullock and Al Horning spent many hours playing there as children after school; St. Joseph’s Elementary School is just next door. Bea wanted to plant the Magnolia for her Mother-in-law for Mother’s Day in 1962. She bought the tree from Ernie Burnett at Burnett’s Greenhouse, just down the street from our house. John thought the idea to plant a Magnolia tree in the middle of the lawn was silly. But, he insisted he would supervise the planting of the sapling by his wife and mother anyway, because he didn’t think the two women would know what they were doing. Eventually, Mrs. Bullock dismissed her son and the two women had the nicest day planting the tree. The instructions advised that if you want to get a big tree you must plant it in a very deep hole. They didn’t have the right tools, so Ernie Burnett came up the street to their aid with proper shovels and together they dug a 4-foot deep hole. Well, they obviously planted it deep enough because it certainly has grown. When we first bought our house, the drip line of the tree did not yet meet the sidewalk which runs down the middle of the yard; now the tree arches well past the sidewalk creating a lovely green and sometimes pink arbour.
We invited John and Bea Bullock (owners of Kelowna Land and Orchard Company) to our house in April 2004 when the Magnolia was in full bloom. I told Bea, “you’d better come now because our tree is absolutely beautiful!” She came on a Sunday, wearing a lovely pink suit that matched the blooms perfectly. I wanted to take a photo of her and John “under” the tree, but Bea insisted she climb into it. I got out my 8’ aluminum ladder and up she went. I was a bit alarmed and called up to Bea, my new 78-year old friend now perched on a 12-foot high cross branch, “be careful!” She called down, “I’ve climbed much higher trees than this!” So I relaxed, and John just laughed. Later, I called the Daily Courier to tell them about Bea’s tree and that it would make a nice photo on page A2 where they often print community pictures. Sure enough, Ron Seymour sent photographer Kip Franz to take a photo to accompany the story entitled “Bea’s  Tree Bloomin’ Lovely”. Kip shared my worry when Bea pooh-poohed his sissy idea to photograph her standing next to the tree and scaled the ladder once again up to her favourite high branch. The article appeared on the front page of the Daily Courier on April 13, 2004.
I love our tree … oops … Bea’s tree. Each spring when it is in bloom, there is a steady stream of cars slowing down to view it, or people strolling by to ask about it. I have met a lot of people under that tree. Wedding parties have been photographed under our tree. Mike Roberts on CHBC-TV used our tree as his backdrop one spring day for his weather report. The petals, which must be promptly raked up to avoid slipping on them, make a perfect compost starter when alternately layered with dry material. I usually get the compost pile steaming after a few wheelbarrow loads of Magnolia petals. The leaves, too plentiful for my compost bin, fill over two dozen large leaf bags each fall and get picked up by the City to help make Ogogrow. I get a lot of exercise raking petals and leaves from our tree. Our front room is kept cool in the summer because of the beautiful shade it provides. We have many species of birds who visit our yard and love our tree as much as we do. Our Saucer Magnolia is a very beautiful, beneficial and historical tree, indeed.
|
|
The current allée (tree lined driveway) was planted by Lady Aberdeen, after the original fir trees that were planted here in 1892 died. These trees are apparently Eastern white cedars. The allée used to extend much further towards the north. There are many stories about the area being haunted and children used to enjoy telling stories about seeing or hearing ghosts among the cedars.
Historical photo of the young cedars
(Courtesy Kelowna Museum photo #1692)
|
|
This majestic linden was planted by Lady Aberdeen next to the NE corner of Guisachan House. Below is a photo of the tree when it was much smaller (photo courtesy Kelowna Museum).
|
|
 Often confused with maple, Liquidambar has unusual star-shaped leaves, fruits that look like Christmas ornaments, and spectacular fall colour. This is the largest Liquidambar in Kelowna. The planting date is unknown.
|
|
A southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) was planted at 3524 Rose Road in 1997 by the late John Hogue. The tree was 1m high when planted and now stands close to 5m. The southern magnolia is native to the southeastern U.S., from southern Pennsylvania into Mexico. It has survived our winters without any noticeable winter injury. It is a broadleaf evergreen that retains leaves for two years, with two year old leaves browing around the margins in spring, and falling shortly after the new growth emerges in the spring. It begins to bloom in late June and flowers sporadically throughout the summer, producing large dinnerplate sized flowers which last two to three days. Submitted by Robert Hogue.
|
|
|
Planted in 1929 as a landmark by Col. W.H. Moodie and his daughter Marcella, this tree had to be removed in August 2006. A storm broke off one of the trunks, revealing extensive trunk decay.
|
|
|
|
