The forest wraps its leafy arms around us as we descend the 19 steps, from Beaverbook Cr. and Beaverbrook Dr., to the gravel path below on this 24th of April.
Mmmmm …. it smells different down here – so fresh after the heavy rain of last night – moist earth mixed with that green foliage scent – you know what I mean … everything is still damp – the leaves of the various plants shiny clean. To our left a soft carpet of bleeding heart is in full bloom. Its clusters of pinkish-purple, heart shaped flowers drooping ever so slightly at the end of each stem.
Conversing in a normal voice is difficult as the creek roars past us. Its waters a murky colour leading us to believe that perhaps there was a small slide along its water swollen banks.
The three of us walk single file, along a narrow trail and under moss covered branches, not a townhouse or apartment in site – only plants, birds and each other. Can we really be only walking distance from Burnaby’s Lougheed Town Center?
Along the base of a log, near the stream, a single white trillium stands out amongst the new growth of neighbouring plants. Ants play a huge roll in dispersing trillium seeds throughout the forest. The book, Plants of Coastal British Columbia states, “ants lug the seeds back to their nests, where they eat the appendages or feed them to the larvae and then discard the remaining seeds on their rubbish piles.” Who would have guessed! Every creature, great and small has an important role to play in this world of ours.
If you would like to join us on our next walk check out our calendar tab and look for bird watching.
Photos: people by Wendy Snyder, fuchsia bleeding heart, white trillium & nest by Randy Snyder