by English Bay: trees
One lovely and warm spring-like day last week, we went out for a walk in the late afternoon along Vancouver’s famous English Bay at Stanley Park. Camera happy that day, I captured an amazing number of beautiful images (braggart!) from which I have a hard time selecting only a few, so I’ve decided to do a short series here. First are these trees against a constantly changing sky. Enjoy!
Edited later: My English readers, Barrett and Joe, have read my mind (see comments). In searching for a good link on English Bay I was disappointed to not find a word about the name. Vancouver historian Chuck Davis’ ever-growing site did not yield the answer. Finally I found this tidbit at City by Cycle:
English Bay beach, which was termed ‘Ayyulshun’ by the Indians meaning ‘soft under feet,’ was established in 1893 with a few beach shacks built there. The name ‘English Bay’ commemorates the meeting of the British Captain Vancouver and Spanish captains Valdes and Galiano, in 1792. This is the event that also resulted in Spanish Banks’ name.
I wish the city had kept the native name. And now I also know where the name of the southwest shore of English Bay, Spanish Banks, came from. That is the shore you see in the background in these photos.
Addendum: The other photos in this series:
English Bay: beach
English Bay: reflections
English Bay: sky
February 7, 2009 in Canada and BC, Nature, Photoworks by Marja-Leena
These are lovely pictures and confirmation why I shall never have the patience to take good photos. You can’t just rattle off shots as I do, hoping that something may slide through the rubbish filter. You’ve got to be there, at that moment, for that low-angled light, to catch another of your specialties: the colour photo that flirts with monochrome. Introducing a sour note: couldn’t they have come up with a more imaginative name for the bay?
England should be proud of the association. But why English? The light is ravishing! When I first read the headline I saw “bay trees” and wondered at the difference between the bay in our garden, an evergreen, and those trees silhouetted against the lemon sky.
Barrett, don’t be so hard on yourself. I’ve taken many pictures that did not turn out well but everything seemed just right this time. It’s difficult to photograph against the sun, fortunately the camera darkened and toned down the colours, I did no photo-editing at all, only resizing for the blog.
Joe, thanks! As you can see that I have found the answer to the naming of English Bay.
It’s spring here again, for the moment. lovely photos!! Trees are such magnificent beings!
very lovely trees, indeed. And the bay must be outstanding; lovely photos.
As I am always seeking to learn more of the histories and stories of the land that we live on, I am glad that you have noted the name this area was referred to by the First Nations.
However, as angelic as some of the meanings of this bay can be, I can’t help but have the opening chapter of Lee Maracle’s Daughters are Forever surface in my thoughts. Have you read her novel? I would be curious to know if this is the bay of which she writes.
Taina
Joan, thanks. February’s weather can be unstable, one day is spring, the next winter but at least we’re on the warming side.
Taina, thank you. I wish all our place names were native. There’s a bit of a movement to change the name of British Columbia, and I’d love it to be native like several of our provinces. Sorry, I’m not familiar with that novel but will put it on my library list.
Wonderful photos. They suggest an unlocking. Spring is on the way for you.
I’ve gone swimming in English Bay a couple of times. Not bad in high summer.
Elegant images. I like their arrangement too. Historically men, yes, men in particular have named places and objects for ownership. As if they ever really obtain it!
Hattie, thanks. You’ve swum at English Bay! I never have for I find the ocean too cold for me. Spanish Banks and Kits Beach on the south side are very popular because the shallow sands make the water warmer there. I think growing up as an inland freshwater girl I still can’t get used to the saltwater.
Naomi, thank you. Hah, the men who named this had little imagination or consideration for the natives!
Black lace.
We have been attending the Vancouver Folk Festival
for many years and may come this summer. It’s fun to go through the fence to the beach and have a cooling swim when it gets hot in the park. And they always have those booths selling trinkets and oddities, too.
hhb, why yes!
Hattie, sounds like fun, perhaps we shall meet? I haven’t been to the Folk Festival in a very long time, crowd and heat shunner that I am. Did you see my post last summer about that side of the bay. I think we may have walked on the grounds of the Folk fest too.