Just because it’s the end of winter doesn’t mean that we can do without some blooms…
Winter clematis is a special treat in February, March and April. Beautiful simple blooms, an intoxicating scent… what else can one ask for?
Golden Winter Sunset – Photo Wednesday
On February 27, I watched the sky turn to gold while listening to a Scarlatti sonata (L33), played by Vladimir Horowitz. A perfect moment.
Colour = Vitamins for a grey day
A jazzed up photo, just because…
It’s grey, outside. Un ciel de plomb, as we say in French. 
So here is the antidote to grey: vitamins for a grey day.
Party Hat – Photo Wednesday
On my errand-running trips to “town” (town means Victoria, on Vancouver Island), I sometimes have a little extra time before I have to head back to the BC Ferries parking lot. And when I do, I love to spend those extra minutes at the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, in Sidney, BC.
This great little aquarium facility is the equivalent of a quick dive in the ocean. Every visit brings a new surprise. This time, it was Mr. Party Man, peeking out of a tank…
I am not sure about the identity of this fish, some sort of sculpin, maybe? When I saw this little guy, I had to get a photo (a bit fuzzy, I used my phone) and capture all that glorious carnival hat thing, that he had going. I assume it’s camouflage. Very jazzy!
Duck Season
Winter time is duck season around Saturna. Duck and other birds spend time around the island, before going back up North… This is a trio of Harlequin ducks males (Histrionicus histrionicus – don’t you love that latin name?), swimming by the rocks. More info about Harlequin Ducks here.
Their paddling leaves nice tracks in the water… Just below the tracks, you can see the circular “dive” of a feeding duck.
These flashy birds (well, the drakes are flashy anyway) are only around our waters during the winter, and return to mainland rivers and streams to breed and feed during the milder months.
I took the photo at the top of this post, of unexplained ripples and wavelets in the water, because it was intriguing. There were no boats nearby…