Garry oak trees are known for their longevity but donB次元官网网址檛 last forever, particularly in an urban setting.

A roughly 250-year-old tree from the Jubilee neighbourhood, for example, lives on in a series of vases crafted by Victoria wood turner Peter Hackett.

While not old for its species, the tree suffered root rot. Now wood vases serve as mementos in the home on the land where the tree originally towered, several sold quickly and the remainder are on display in an Oak Bay gallery.

People often find him through his website wanting to commemorate a tree that they lived with for decades. The sapling is almost like family, a fixture for folks, and at the end of the veteran treeB次元官网网址檚 life, people seek a memento.

B次元官网网址淭hey want to see it continue and see that relationship continue,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭his big thing thatB次元官网网址檚 been there for hundreds of years is going to persist. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the reward for me.B次元官网网址�

READ ALSO:

For this particular tree, he found himself with several six-inch slices three or four feet in diameter B次元官网网址� tough to turn into a bowl.

So he envisioned the lovely 13-inch tall vases, with an unusual oval created by working with the wood wet. While he did need to invest in a little bit of equipment it turned out to be worth it, losing very few to cracking as they dried.

ThereB次元官网网址檚 no shortage of wood, between those looking to make use of trees that must come down, landscaper finds and driftwood.

B次元官网网址淭he wood finds me now. ItB次元官网网址檚 not an issue in Victoria and every kind of wood is available.B次元官网网址�

He once turned a piece of red cedar driftwood he aged at 270 to 300 years by counting the growth rings. It struck him that it was only 10 inches across with that many rings.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a story there I donB次元官网网址檛 know,B次元官网网址� Hacket said. B次元官网网址淚t makes you wonder about the stories.B次元官网网址�

READ ALSO:

With his many scraps, Hackett makes B次元官网网址渙ne tree a dayB次元官网网址� in a nod to his awareness of climate change. HeB次元官网网址檚 made 250 so far and theyB次元官网网址檙e popular with both the neighbourhood and the occasional home design expert (one on the Lower Mainland has ordered several).

The vases wound up in The Avenue Gallery after he was discovered during the Fernwood Art Stroll. It took Hackett some time to find the tree and story he found worthy of gallery display.

It was a creative task thatB次元官网网址檚 part of the reason he shifted into wood art in the first place B次元官网网址� after a career as a scientist and research manager.

B次元官网网址淚 wanted to do something using the other side of my brain,B次元官网网址� he said.

READ ALSO:

It took a year of stewing, but he settled on wood carving, which didnB次元官网网址檛 shift into the turning until they moved to Victoria a couple of years later.

One day about five years ago, Hackett told a friend he was interested in wood turning. That friend walked him over to another house in the neighbourhood where a new acquaintance fuelled his addictive new hobby.

He embarked on the B次元官网网址渦niversity of YouTubeB次元官网网址� the next day.

Learn more about the artist at .