Exploring the landscape of Canada

THE GARDEN FANATIC

“The Blue Canadian Rockies and the banks of Lake Louise ... “

-- THE BYRDS

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must

carry it with us, or we find it not.”

-- RALPH WALDO EMERSON

The Plant Man and Catharine packed the bags onto a plane and

whisked off to the Blue Canadian Rockies and the banks of Lake

Louise. We traveled north to meet our friend the Wilderness Wizard on

a bike tour from Jasper to Banff. This was to be a trip of discovery

about nature’s landscaping in the forests and valleys of Alberta,

Canada.

Nestled within the mighty stands of White Firs, Aspens and Lodge

Pole Pines, they were seeking water features forged by glacier

movements, tree selection guided by altitude and latitude and

wildflowers growing where conditions would allow. The Canadian

landscape is less structured than most home gardens, not stifled by

designers and architects (or Design Review scrutiny). Boulders are

perfectly sited, in harmony with the water coursing through streams

and rivers.

The Wilderness Wizard explained, “Altitude and moisture determine

where certain plants can either thrive or merely survive. The more or

less distinct altitudinal zonation of vegetation is due, in part, to

the gradual lowering of temperature from the valley to the summit of

a mountain. The lower part of most mountains is densely wooded,

whereas the upper part may be treeless.”

Catharine, an expert member of the Open Space committee, added,

“Precipitation also greatly affects the plant cover of mountains. The

western foothills in British Columbia, which receives abundant

rainfall, are covered with trees. The eastern foothills, lying in the

rain shadow of the Rocky Mountains, are inhabited by drought

resistant prairie species. Precipitation generally increases with

altitude -- this explains why some of the most verdant and lush areas

of wildflowers may be found above timberline, in sheltered alpine

valleys supplied with water from melting snow banks.”

The Lounge Lizard (coincidentally on vacation in Canada with his

family) gazed longingly at couples cycling by his parked minivan,

free from the burden of children. He didn’t notice that one of the

cyclists was his neighbor the Garden Fanatic, hidden by his Giro

helmet and Maui Jims. He sighed as he got up from the picnic table,

picking up the remains of lunch strewn by his sons. Something clicked

for a moment, as he glanced at the flourishing variety of brilliantly

colored flowers before him. But the thought was lost, as his son’s

errant throw sent a baseball crashing through the Aerostar’s

windshield.

The town of Banff was alive with the vibrant purples of Lilac

(Syringa vulgaris), only seen in Laguna’s upscale florists. Color in

the garden was similar to ours, only a season behind. Iceland

poppies, snapdragons and pansies smiled at passersby, bordered by

trailing display of Crystal Palace lobelia. At the larger hotels,

healthy Canadian females tended the perfect grounds, with turquoise

lakes and glacier-capped mountains in the background.

But the real reason for any hiking, cycling or driving experience

in the Rocky Mountains was the opportunity to see wildflowers. The

mountains seemed to enhance the natural beauty of multi-colored

fields of blossoms. Even on rainy days, the flowers exhibited

exuberance for life unmatched by flowering plants elsewhere. The

wildflowers beckoned to be photographed, invited one to recline amid

the lushness of an alpine meadow with a loved one, or offered the

opportunity of viewing a rare native orchid.

The return to California was a study in contrast. The Lounge

Lizard returned to Laguna exhausted, nursing mosquito bites and

poison ivy rash (he stumbled into the northerly most patch in

Alberta). The Garden Fanatic returned home exhilarated, dreaming of

Canada and her natural beauty. He is determined to introduce more

native plants into his landscapes and to design with nature in mind.

But both travelers had one thing in common: it was nice to be back

home in Laguna! Happy Birthdays mom and Linda!

* STEVE KAWARATANI is the owner of Landscapes by Laguna Nursery,

1540 S. Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. He is married to local writer,

Catharine Cooper, and has three cats. He can be reached at (949) 497-

2438, or e-mail to steve@lagunanursery.com.