Remarkable Trees Around the world – Susan Murray

Please join nature photographer and arborist Susan M. Murray as she takes you on a colourful journey around the world to view some of the most amazing trees on earth! Some of these wonderful trees are giants, a few are dwarves but all are important to the world’s biological diversity. Some are so old or growing in conditions so severe that  their resilience is truly remarkable. Several outstanding local trees will be highlighted in this talk.

Ms. Murray taught horticulture and arboriculture at the post-secondary level from 1979 to 2013 at both BCIT and KPU and is now enjoying her retirement activities. Passionate about plants and photography, Susan has collected thousands of images of plants from around the world, both in their native habitats and in garden settings. Recently, she visited and photographed gardens in Japan and the United Kingdom.

Locally, the Rhododendron and Magnolia collections in Darts Hill Garden Park (DHGP) are favorite photography subjects. Since first touring the garden with Francisca Darts in 1991, Susan has had a keen interest in the plants in the garden and is currently the chair of the DHGP Collection Committee. Susan is also the author of Our Sylvan Heritage, a Guide to the Magnificent Trees of the South Fraser, a full- colour book describing 350 tree species growing along the streets, in the parks and other public spaces of the South Fraser region.

Her most recent publication (2025), available for purchase from the author, is Rhododendron Hybrids and the Trees that Shade Them: A Guide to Darts Hill Garden Park. This easy to use and beautifully illustrated guide features over 200 rhododendron hybrids found in Darts Hill Garden Park and includes over 250 full-colour photographs.