Vegetation
The ground in Green Timbers slopes gently from northeast to southwest. The main stream is King Creek, with Enver and Quibble Creeks east and west of it. The soil is generally loam over gravely clay, altenating with low, moist patches. Much of the original humus layer was eroded in the course of logging and in clearing and burning in preparation for replanting. This resulted in the root systems being shallow as can be seen from the shape of the roots of the many blown over trees.
Coniferous Trees
For the original planting in the thirties, the area was divided into 106 five-acre lots. Conifer (evergreen) seedlings were planted in rows about ten feet apart: Douglas-fir, Grand-fir, Western Redcedar, Western Hemlock, and trial plots of Scotch Pine and Eastern Red Pine.
Deciduous Trees
Deciduous trees shed their leaves before the cold or dry season. Before this the leaves often turn orange, red or yellow. New leaves appear in spring. There are many different varieties and sizes Deciduous trees in Green Timbers.
Ferns
Ferns are delicate plants that only grow in areas where there are suitably moist conditions. They favour sheltered areas under the forest canopy, along creeks and streams and other sources of permanent moisture. Ferns reproduce differently from the conifers and flowering plants. There are many different varieties and sizes Ferns in Green Timbers.
Flowers
Flowers make up the “Herb Layer” of the forest. They include: White: Trillium, Wild Lilly-of-the-Valley, Bunchberry, Foamflower, Twistedstalk, and Vanilla Leaf. Red/Mauve: Fireweed, Bleeding Heart, Coral-root Orchid Yellow: Skunk Cabbage (Yellow Arum). Whitish-green: Rattlesnake Plantain.
Colourless: Indian Pipe
Mosses
Mosses are an amazingly resilient and versatile group of plants. They range from microscopic discolourations on the soil to great shaggy knee-high carpets. They can be found in just about every habitat you can think of. There are many different varieties and sizes Mosses in Green Timbers.
Shrubs
Shrubs make up the forest’s undergrowth or “Understory.” They play an important role in protecting the root systems of the tall trees, regulating the water run-off and restoring the soil’s nutrients as their leaves and stems decay. Shrubs provide shelter and food for birds and other animals and add to the beauty of the forest. Common shrubs are Salmonberry, Thimbleberry, Elderberry, Huckleberry, Salal, Trailing Blackberry, and the less common False Azalea and Devil’s Club.
Wetland Plants
Each wetland community has a variety of plants which provide shelter and food for many of the animals living there. Plants add oxygen to the water for underwater species. There are many different varieties and sizes wetland plants in Green Timbers.