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?
Category Archives: Photo Wednesday
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.
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!
Goldstream, Quick Water-Photo Wednesday
When you are on Vancouver Island and you have an hour to spare, it’s sooo easy to get lost in the woods…
Near the western suburbs of Victoria, a few kilometers from the big box stores, Goldstream Provincial Park is another world in which to go and do some deep breathing. Allow yourself some time to take in all that velvety green beauty.
After a rain, the Goldstream river just flows. And the sound of it just flows through you!
This reminds me of L’eau vive, a song by Guy Béart. (There is a touching YouTube video of an aging Guy Béart in concert, in which the audience sings most of the song to him…). Those of you who grew up in the same era, in the same place, or in France, are already humming the tune, I know…
Ma petite est comme l’eau, elle est comme l’eau vive
Elle court comme un ruisseau, que les enfants poursuivent
Courez, courez vite si vous le pouvez
Jamais, jamais vous ne la rattraperezLorsque chantent les pipeaux, lorsque danse l’eau vive
Elle mène les troupeaux, au pays des olives
Venez, venez, mes chevreaux, mes agnelets
Dans le laurier, le thym et le serpoletUn jour que, sous les roseaux, sommeillait mon eau vive
Vinrent les gars du hameau pour l’emmener captiveFermez, fermez votre cage à double clé
Entre vos doigts, l’eau vive s’envoleraComme les petits bateaux, emportés par l’eau vive
Dans ses yeux les jouvenceaux voguent à la dérive
Voguez, voguez demain vous accosterez
L’eau vive n’est pas encore à marierPourtant un matin nouveau à l’aube, mon eau vive
Viendra battre son trousseau, aux cailloux de la rive
Pleurez, pleurez, si je demeure esseulé
Le ruisselet, au large, s’en est allé.
Winter-flowering Heather – Photo Wednesday
What a cheerful thing it is, to look at winter-flowering heathers!
There they are, in the grey landscape, hinting that there is hope, that soon the sun will shine for more hours every day… not to worry.
And of course, there is a great deal of greenery pushing up, under the leaf litter, making its way to the light. The winter has been very mild, so far. I will have to don my gloves and get out there for a bit of garden cleaning.