Category Archives: nature

nature, Photography

Three Lake Views

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We have warmed up substantially and the cold wind and intermittent wet snow flurries have been replaced by more comfortable temperatures, overcast with sunny breaks and drizzle.

I like the look of these cloud striations.

Okanagan Lake is much calmer, the shoreline ice pans have melted and somehow, it’s starting to feel spring-like.

The overcast and drizzle definitely haven’t dampened that sense. Spring showers bring May flowers? Could be, although it’s technically not spring yet.

Through the cloud and drizzle we have had some sunny breaks, and those feel very, very nice. The black spots you can see in the foreground of the picture above is a large group of coots. They overwinter here and another good springish sign is that I think most of them are getting ready to leave although a few will stay to nest.

Happy Monday.

nature, Photography

Heritage Oak

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This is one of the heritage oaks that have been planted in Penticton’s Memorial Park. There are several others, all of which are about 10 – 30 years older than this one, making them approximately 110-130.

The plaque says “This oak tree was planted on July 1, 1937 to commemorate the coronation of George VI. It was presented to Penticton by the Royal Gardeners London.”

All of the trees in this park are very carefully tended and cared for by the city; they all display vaccination tags, especially the lone elm tree. As you may know, Dutch elm disease has been ravaging these incredibly lovely shade trees.

Elm tree (photo courtesy of P. Altini)

Happy Sunday.

nature, Photography

February 21’s Friday Fleurday

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I saw some buds on the ash tree saplings lining one of the city streets! I unfortunately didn’t have any kind of photographic device with me in order to post a picture here, but these little buds were a wonderful sight to see!

Azaleas

In that spirit, I’m posting some spring flower pictures from last year; I hope they brighten your spirits and help you to forget for a bit about the cold, the wet, the snow, and the wind.

Periwinkle
Narcissi
Cyclamen

Happy Friday!

nature, Photography

Walk with Me

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Some scenes from a recent walk.

We had a moisture-laden snowfall that is now melting quickly in our rising temperatures. It’s squishy, sloppy and wet, but completely nothing, of course, compared to what much of the rest of the continent is experiencing. Good luck with that ongoing situation everyone, and I hope winter is finished snowing on you.

Much too wet to sit here …

… but rising temperatures and clearing skies are wonderful to see …

… and hopefully harbingers of springy things to come!

Happy Tuesday.

nature, Photography

Hope …

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… for the very, very beginning of spring?

Fingers crossed! And although I know that February can be temperamental, I take encouragement from the fact that temperatures are up, the wind is down, and the ice encrustments?

Those are starting to melt.

To everyone who lately experienced those huge snowfalls and wicked temperatures, I wish you very prompt blue skies and controlled – because of all that snow – meltings.

Happy Sunday.

nature, Photography

Duck Shrinkage

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The pond that the ducks have been inhabiting all winter is shrinking and shrinking.

If it wasn’t for the fountain, it would be completely closed and the ducks would be hunting for a place to swim and forage as there’s now a lot of ice around the lake edges.

But there’s relief coming since if all goes as predicted, we are supposed to be climbing well above freezing over the next few days. It won’t be long now, duckies!

Happy Saturday.

nature, Photography

A Pause in the Wind

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The wind has finally calmed, taking with it the clear but chilly high pressure system that we’ve experienced over the last few days.

As the wind dissipated, a low moved in bringing somewhat warmer temperatures – the windless conditions definitely contributed to that, too – and lots more cloud again. But the lake has calmed, the ducks and Canada geese are much happier now, and it’s a lot easier to keep your feet if you’re taking a lakeside walk!

Of course, with this low there’s going to be precipitation; we’ll see whether it’s wet snow or rain. This is quite different from February, 2024, when the sun was shining and we were definitely headed toward spring conditions; I’m starting to think that spring 2025 might be much later.

February 13, 2024

Happy pre-Valentine’s.