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Although many different species exist onsite today, historical records suggest that twenty-two species of native trees grew within the vicinity of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.

In the two volume Cultural Landscape Report for Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (1992), Terri A. Taylor and Patricia C. Erigero compiled a list of native plants noted in the historical record at Fort Vancouver.

I’ve culled a list of trees from the report (listing them below as Common name [Botanical name]), added the detail of varietal information and updated the botanical names to reflect the currently accepted scientific names. I’ve also included links to detailed species information from the US Forest Service’s Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) or the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Plant Database.

• Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii)

• grand fir (Abies grandis (Dougl.) Lindl. [Pinaceae]))

• western larch, western tamarack (Larix occidentalis Nutt. [Pinaceae])

• lodgepole pine, tamarack pine (Pinus contorta var. Murrayana [Grev and Balf.] Engelm.)

• western redcedar, arborvitae (Thuja plicata Donn. ex D. Don)

• Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia Nutt.)

• Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana Dougl. [Fagaceae])

• Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia Benth.)

• red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.)

• black cottonwood (Populus balsamifara L. subsp. trichocarpa [Torr. and Gray] Brayshaw [Salicaceae]))

• quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx. [Salicaceae])

• big-leaf maple, Oregon maple (Acer macrophyllum Pursh. [Aceraceae])

• vine maple (Acer circinatum Pursh.)

• bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata var. mollis [Dougl.] Brewer)

• Pacific dogwood (Cornus nuttallii Audubon ex. Torr. and Gray [Cornaceae])
  

• Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis [Bongard] Carriere [Pinaceae])

• western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla [Raf.] Sarg.)
  

• western crabapple, Oregon crab apple (Malus fusca [Raf.] C. K. Schneid.)

• Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii Pursh. [Ericaceae]))

• cascara, buckthorn, bearberry, coffee-tree (Rhamnus purshiana D.C.)

• Douglas hawthorn, black hawthorn (Cratageus douglasii var. suksdorfii)

• willows (Salix ssp.)

With the recent moderately-warm weather, the buds on the park’s Big-leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) trees are opening now to reveal clusters of fragrant, yellowish-green flowers. Several young leaves can be seen, too.

See more of them here on my website:

http://buzzparker.com/artwork/collage_MiniatureMansions.cfm

Through some online research I discovered that the show was written by two talented 19-year-old students from Michigan University who wanted to showcase their abilities, as they were not being given roles. Unfortunately, this was not the case for this production, as the material exposed the cast’s weaknesses as performers. A lack of direction could be partly to blame for this, or perhaps the show was under-rehearsed. Who knows, what I did notice were the actors filling in non-moments with embarrassing and inappropriate jigs and gestures that bore no relationship to the material, and badly-executed harmonies.

The set consists of a block of white steps on a white painted square, which remains static throughout. The costuming can be summed up in one word – beige.

There are always teething problems if you go to see a show early in its run, so one is hopeful that lighting and sound issues will be resolved. However, a three-row venue does not require giant microphones masking-taped to the sides of performers’ heads. In fact, professionals should not need microphones in a venue of this size at all, full stop.

The show has its merits, of course. There are a few numbers, like the amusing and well-staged “Facebook” number, David Fick’s “gerbil” song, Luella Holland’s epiphany about her boyfriend and Shannyn Fourie’s murderous rant which provide giggles. (I can’t name the songs as there were no programmes.) Many of the other numbers had great potential, but I don’t want to pay over R100 for potential.

The actresses’ performances were far more mature than the men’s, who came across as mere boys, though David Fick has some moments of showing acting ability.  Roland Perold’s wooden performance during the “Greece” song, which is supposed to paint a picture of a beautiful Greek island, was particularly bland and his acting palette is as beige as the costumes. Holland, an attractive newcomer, has a great deal of  potential, but would have benefited from more direction. Having seen other performances by Fourie, she is the most accomplished of the four performers, however she seems almost embarrassed and apologetic for the show’s weaknesses.

Had this musical been an am-dram  production or a high school play, it would have been enjoyable. But as it stands, Cape Town audiences deserve more from so-called “professionals”. How ironic that the production can be summed up by one number featured in the show – “Coasting”.

Edges runs at the Kalk Bay Theatre until 25 June 2011.

The Cape Crit

If you are visiting this site from your iPhone or iTouch: Save this image to your iPhoto Library, select the image, tap the icon in the lower left corner of the screen, save the picture as a wallpaper. Done! Bigleaf is a leafy creature last spotted in Humboldt County.