Welcome to the Drive!
Directions
What better place to start a walk around Commercial Drive than where you will most likely disembark from public transport. From whichever mode of getting here you choose, once arrived, head for the corner of Commercial and Broadway – the walk starts here. Walk north up Commercial Drive passing 7th Ave on your right. Take a look but don’t get too distracted by this beautiful tree-lined avenue right now as we will be returning to it later on in the walk – but by all means stop for a moment and enjoy. Continue one more block again enjoying the view east along 6th before crossing over Commercial Dr and heading west along this tree-lined avenue. On the way you will find yourself below the magnificent canopies of our first featured tree: The Elm.
The view east along 6th Avenue.
Spring (above) and early winter (top)
Elm
Proper Name: Ulmas pumilia & Ulmus americana
Common Name: Siberian Elm (or Dwarf Elm) & American Elm (or White Elm)
Description: There are two species mixed together on this block. The tall upright ones are American Elm and the smaller, bushier ones Siberian Elm. In spring small green flowers appear on hanging stalks and are then followed by wafer-like seedpods. It has deeply furrowed bark (see picture) and serrate leaves.
Defining Feature: Usually it’s quite easy to identify an Elm because the base of the leaves are asymmetrical, plus there is also the distinctive seed pod. However, it is often hard to know which species it is without holding both the leaf and seed pod in your hand at the same time. To complicate things the Siberian Elm leaf shape is not as asymmetrical at the base as the rest. But generally to identify an Elm the leaf or the seed pod are your best bet. On this street just look for the deeply fissured bark shown below you can’t miss it.
