30. Arbutus

There few trees as distinctive as the broad-leaved evergreen (Canada's only one) Arbutus, or if you are from the U.S. "Madrone". The idea that I'm fortunate to live on a property with many Arbutus, my favorite tree, still astounds!  Arbutus trees are adapted to the dry open forests and rocky slopes with shallow soils that are found on Leaning Oaks. The thick leathery leaves will shed in the summer during times of drought.  The peeling bark exposes the smooth, silky sensuous surface that can be cool to the touch. 

The drooping clusters of small white bell-like flowers that bloom in the spring fill the air with a lovely earthy honey scent. The fall clusters of red berries are manna to the birds, particularly the robins and other thrushes. In a good berry year dozens of birds will burst from the tree tops, pooping red berries everywhere! We'll add photographs of the flowers and blooms as those seasons come. 

When a friend told me about the poem "My Love's an Arbutus" by Alfred Perceval Graves, she said she never really understood the reference to the tree until she moved to Victoria and saw the tree through the seasons.  "No wonder his love was an Arbutus, she is always shedding her clothes" was her assessment! 

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