Category Archives: Photo Wednesday

Blog, Just Because, Photo Wednesday, Photography

My garden – Photo Wednesday

May 11, 2016 Andree Fredette

Above: it’s the beginning of poppy season in my garden. I have let a wide strip of them colonize a sunny corner, and they reward me year after year.

Longer days, more sunlight, warm weather. This adds up to flowers in the garden. And many jobs every day.

One worker bee, cleaning out the rosemary.

Whenever I step outside, I notice a loud buzzing in the neighbourhood… It comes from the arbutus trees, which are covered in blooms, but also from every plant that is flowering around here. Bees are everywhere. We have no shortage of bees on Saturna Island, I can vouch for that!

Above: a ~~mystery~~ white one that is now multiplying in my rock garden. (Note: a mystery no more, this white cutie is Star of Bethlehem or Ornithogalum umbellatum. Many thanks to Patrick, who helped identify this beautiful spring bloom, and warned of its tendency to multiply vigorously.)

Since we fenced the garden in front, I am discovering new plants… They were either planted by the previous owners, or are wildflowers that now have a chance to bloom (before the fence, the deer and goats would just mow everything to golf-green condition…).

Above: Little blue one, inside the fence ~~mystery~~ (Edit: mystery now resolved: this is Naked broomrape (Orobranche uniflora) a wildflower that appeared in the rock garden. A tiny treasure that is only two inches tall. I have not seen it outside the fence, anywhere on this island, probably due to deer and goat grazing.

Above: rock roses (Cistus) are starting to bloom and will keep going for a month or so. It’s a colourful party by the bird bath.

And I finish with my new “baby”, a rhododendron purchased on a whim. I found a shady spot, and piled a lot of dirt, sea soil, compost, and mulch in a good-sized mound to accommodate the rhodo. Let us hope it survives…

I salute gardeners everywhere, with my very rough-looking hands and questionable fingernails (smile). May your compost bring you good results!

Blog, Photo Wednesday, Photography, Wanderings

Witty’s Lagoon – Photo Wednesday

May 4, 2016 Andree Fredette

Above: Spring wildflowers abound at Tower Point, Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park in Metchosin, close to Victoria on Vancouver Island, BC.

The Haystack Rocks are just offshore and with their cloud crown, the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, supply the backdrop to a lovely sunny afternoon.

These alien-looking blooms are everywhere on Tower Point. Very eye-catching in the afternoon sunlight.

Here is a macro look at the panicles. Anthers like little orbiting planets around the main spike, maturing in sequence from the bottom up… Click on the photo above for a really intimate view!

Here is another shot of these interesting “weeds”…

And then there were the spring classic flowers, the Camas lilies (Camassia quamash). Intense blue!

And Menzie’s Larkspur (Delphinium menziesii)… Bright purple.

After eating my picnic in the flower meadow, I made my way around to the beach at low tide. It’s quite a walk…

Ocean and mountains: that is the view at low tide, from the beach at Witty’s Lagoon, Vancouver Island, BC. The Strait of Juan de Fuca, Race Rocks and the lighthouse in the middle distance, and across the international line, the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. Majestic.

I loved the ridges left in the sand by retreating tides.

Here is a special effects photo close-up.

And besides the dog walkers, there were young boogie boarders, getting to the water’s edge.

And on the way back to my car, the shady trail revealed this treasure, a tall – as yet unidentified by me – flower spike. There was an entire colony of those, almost three feet tall, in the deep shade…

And on May 1st, back at home, this was the sunset moment. A great end to a lovely weekend…

Quand l’heure se fait plus douce…

About Art, Blog, Photo Wednesday, Photography

Flower poetry – Photo Wednesday

April 27, 2016 Andree Fredette

Today, I celebrate spring and mid-week with a trio of flowers.

First, a local wildflower, the fawn lily.

Then, a local garden flower, the echinacea. With visitors.

And finally, something very tropical, from a greenhouse.

Happy midweek.

Blog, Inspiration, Photo Wednesday, Photography

Sunset magic – Photo Wednesday

April 20, 2016 Andree Fredette

Above: from the archives, a particularly moody August sunset from 2009, over Navy Channel, in the Southern Gulf Islands of the British Columbia coast.

Several days in a row this week, the sunsets have been very special. All warm shades, with a little contrast for good measure.

Above, that was on April 18, to the right of the horizon. Golden mellow.

At the same time, all the cool shades were gathered on the left of the horizon…

I started taking pictures of sunsets from my perch on this island right from the get-go. Here is why:

That photo is from December 2005, early days of digital cameras. The pixels are little “rough”, but they do convey the magical quality of the light, and bright colours at sundown. That boat was in a hurry to get home before dark…

But let me show you a few more examples from various seasons, to give you an idea of the range of colours and cloud patterns involved.

One evening, that was the sight: the sky on fire above Pender Island’s forest.

The sky show can be spectacular. I love the light on the water, above.

And clouds can create some truly dramatic effects.

I did mention that I love the sunset reflection in the water. Here is my shot of that liquid gold, rippling after a boat went through the sound.

And there are bonus points if you can observe the sunset from a high vantage point, on a cloudy evening. Big payoff!

I leave you with this “sunset blues” version. Play some Mozart at sunset, it suits the mood.

Blog, Photo Wednesday

Arbutus (madrone) – Photo Wednesday

April 13, 2016 Andree Fredette

Above: Lucky afternoon shot. From his perch on an arbutus high above Fiddler’s Cove, that eagle was keeping an eye on the water.

Arbutus is a fascinating tree because it is constantly changing. Its bark renews itself every year, peeling off old layers to reveal pistachio-green fresh skin.

If they are near your house, you might call them messy trees because they are constantly dropping something on the ground: bark, limbs, waxy flower buds, fruits not eaten by the birds, and dry leaves. Year round. A broom can be handy, to clear a path among the detritus.

Still, they are just beautiful. Have a look.

How is that for visual rhythm?

Another afternoon shot, focusing on the bark, curling and peeling off.

Right now, they are blooming, attracting lots of bees.

A close-up of the flower, which is waxy and heavy for its size (tiny).

Arbutus is a tree of coastal British-Columbia, the only native broadleaf evergreen tree in Canada. Its other common name is madrone, a Spanish word for the strawberry tree, of which arbutus is a close relative.

It likes sunny and dry conditions. Like rocky bluffs.

And in the fall, some years, it produces great crops of tiny fruit that are loved by the birds.

Go hug a tree, it’s good for the soul.

Andrée Fredette