From 27 nominations, the winner of the 2023 Comox Valley Nature Tree of the Year event has been chosen by public vote. Now in its sixth year, this event aims to foster a strong connection with nature by bringing attention to local trees that Valley residents cherish.

The tree that came in first place was Tree #9, a western red cedar in Seal Bay Park. Nominator Ted Grainger is frequently out on local trails and obviously has an eye for trees.

鈥淎t some time in its life, this cedar tree fell over and landed on a Douglas fir stump,鈥� said Grainger. 鈥淚t then grew a second root system down the fir stump, about four metres from its original base. Three new trees then grew from the original trunk. I marvel at the tree鈥檚 tenacity.鈥�

Tree #7, a silk mimosa, claims second place for nominator Kathy Tae. This deciduous tree produces leaves in late June and it has a decidedly tropical appearance that peaks when the fragrant blooms appear in late July or early August. This tree is very much at home in the sunny front garden in Comox.

In a small private forest to the west of NIDES school on Smith Road in Merville, we found the third-place tree. Small in stature and without living parts, Tree #6, a Douglas fir 鈥淲ildlife tree,鈥� very much lives for wildlife and the children from the school who frequently play near it.

鈥淭his special tree has played an important role in many children鈥檚 games during class forest walks,鈥� said nominator and teacher Jamie Dobbs. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been a source of joy for kids having a bad day. He always has something interesting to say. He鈥檚 cautiously housed many prized possessions and secret messages. He has made the trees feel alive and has fostered a sense of connection to the forest.鈥�

City of Courtenay arbourist, Shane Tillapaugh, nominated Tree # 23, a big leaf maple in Hurford Hill Park.

鈥淭his remarkable tree is one of the few remaining big-leaf maple mother trees in the Comox Valley,鈥� said Tillapaugh. 鈥淭his giant is estimated to be approximately 300 years old and was a sapling nearly 150 years before settlers began arriving in the area. As a mother tree, this maple is connected via the mycorrhizal network to likely hundreds of other trees in the surrounding mixed coniferous-deciduous forest. When observed from below, the finely textured brown bark of the twinned stems draws the eye upwards into the majestic tapering branches of the wide-spreading canopy. In the spring, the newly emerging bright green leaves are magnificently set off against an azure sky. Gorgeous.鈥�

All four trees were very close in votes and so it seemed fitting to share all four stories.

The photos and descriptions of the trees nominated this year as well as the chart of the cycle routes to the trees will remain on our website for the rest of the year.