Category Archives: Photo Wednesday

Blooming – Photo Wednesday

Spring is about… More dailight, warmth, sunshine. Plants are responding. Nature is exhuberant. My fingernails resemble those of a nine-year old boy… short and dirty… from working in the garden.

Beauty. Indoors or outdoors. Quiet happiness.
Hibiscus blossom, close upFirst: indoors, a hibiscus celebrates sunshine.

Western Coralroot Orchid (Corallorhiza mertensiana)And outdoors, on one of my walks… I came across a lovely orchid: Western Coral-root (Corallorhiza mertensiana).

Death Camas Lily (Zigadenus venenosus)And on another excursion… I found the lovely, but deadly Death Camas Lily (Zigadenus venenosus). Best to admire this one from a distance, no touching, and certainly no ingesting…

East Point on Saturna – Photo Wednesday

This afternoon, I went to East Point for a walk.  Beautiful day, lovely surprises. First, the view, from the cliffside…
View from the cliffside of East Point, Saturna Island, BC, CanadaThen, a close up of gorse (Ulex europeanus), an invasive species brought over a long time ago, and making its way around the islands. Spiny, nasty plant with gorgeous bloom… There has to be a good side to everything, right?
East Point on Saturna Island, Gorse (Ulex europeanus), invasive speciesAnd finally, a jewel on the cliff… Indian paintbrush (Castillejia), native wildflower blooming in the sun on a cliff… It cheered me up no end.
Indian paintbrush, castillejia, wildflower, BC coast

Traffic: Tug Boat Pulling a Log Boom

It’s pretty quiet at the house these days. I have spent a considerable amount of time in my garden, trying to defeat the wilderness which is creeping in from all corners. I already had to mow the grass twice in the garden, a sign of regular rain, and warmer weather…

When I look out over the water, boat traffic remains pretty light. The other day, which was exceptionally sunny, I noticed a tug pulling a log boom. Actually, I heard the tug first, its engine calling it to attention. Then I thought the light was just right for a picture or two…

There you have it: a forest, floating on the ocean, being pulled in a giant lasso (the “boom”), headed for Vancouver, to be loaded onto freighters bound for Asia, most likely. BC exports its trees whole. Saves a few jobs in this province, that’s for sure.On that day, the tug circled up and down Plumper Sound, obviously biding its time, waiting before the crossing of Georgia Strait toward Vancouver. Maybe there is an overflow of trees, log booms awaiting loading. A glut of floating forests in the Port of Vancouver…

Tug and Log Boom, Plumper Sound, BC

Bull Kelp – Photo Wednesday

All around this island, when you stare at the water, you see bull kelp. Starting to grow early in the season. In full bloom, later, during the summer. Almost poking out of the water in early fall. Too tall for low tide!
Bull kelp, Nereocystis (Greek for "mermaid's bladder")
Here is an informal picture of bull kelp (nereocystis luetkeana) floating about in the current. This annual kelp grows to impressive size (90 feet+) in one season, then breaks down and washes up in the most interesting “curls” on the shore, in the fall. 

It creates forests underwater, where countless creatures hide, live and make a living.