plants Archives - Stanley Park Ecology (SPE)

May 7, 2026 @ 06:00 pmEvents

Birds and Blooms: Plant and Bird Walk

With spring in full swing, the plants are showing off their colourful flowers and soft leaves as the migratory birds have started their nesting season. Join us for a walk along Lost Lagoon to learn how birds rely on native plants throughout the seasons, from hummingbirds drinking sweet nectar to woodpeckers drilling cavities and bushtits pulling soft lichens and plant fibers for nesting materials. No bird or plant ID skills necessary! Join us for a bird and plant walk during the Greater Vancouver Bird Celebration!

male Anna's hummingbird hovering among yellow Oregon grape flowers — Photo: Josephine Hrynkiw; Anna's hummingbird

Apr 18, 2026 @ 02:30 pmEvents

Earth Day Trees and Forest Plant Walk [pre-registration full]

As you wander the trails of our coastal forests, do you recognize the plants around you? Are you familiar with the trees towering above, and the ferns and mosses at your feet? Join us for a stroll through the forest to get to know the common trees and forest plants of our region and appreciate the “green” that we celebrate this Earth Day!

salmonberry flower with a forest background — Photo: Julia Taylor; salmonberry

Mar 21, 2026 @ 02:00 pmEvents

Living Fossils and “Prehistoric” Plants

Let’s take it back millions of years across time, learning about the ancestors of plants that are found right here in the place we know today as “Stanley Park”. Join us to discover what makes a plant a “living fossil” and get a glimpse into the ecosystems of Earth during the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods and beyond. We’ll even get to take a look at a real plant fossil to compare one prehistoric tree to their present-day descendent! Come along for a light-hearted journey across time and the evolutionary track of plants such as horsetails, the dawn redwood, and ginkgo trees.

close-up of underside of sword fern frond with spores — Photo: Justine Kaseman; sword fern spores

Feb 7, 2026 @ 11:00 amEvents

Frosty Forest: Winter Plant Walk

Join us for this wintery forest walk, where participants will learn about various species of ferns, evergreen trees, and other resilient plants that thrive in winter conditions, and how to identify them. We will delve into the fascinating adaptations these species have developed to survive snow, frost, and relatively limited sunlight. Discover the hidden ecosystems that flourish beneath a blanket of snow, and gain insight into the crucial roles these plants play in forest ecology!

several snowy licorice ferns hanging down in dappled sunlight — Photo: Julia Taylor

Dec 6, 2025 @ 02:00 pmEvents

What’s that Tree?

Do you find yourself wandering through the Park and wondering about the tall trees that greet you? If you’re curious about learning some beginner tree identification, join us for a relaxed outing in “Stanley Park”! We’ll learn how to recognize the late fall/early winter traits of some common forest and urban trees by taking a closer look at their bark, cones, and needles. No plant ID experience necessary!

close-up of the green foliage of a western redcedar — Photo: David Prasad, CC BY-SA 2.0

Nov 29, 2025 @ 10:00 amEvents

Family Forest Field Trip

Looking for a family event to spend time in nature this weekend? Come along to our Family Forest Field Trip nature walk, where we’ll explore the forest ecosystem and learn about the plants and animals who live there. Join us as we engage our senses and listen for the calls of nearby birds, feel the textures of the forest, and use magnifiers to get an up-close look at the hidden life around us.

Join Us!