nature, Photography

Vineyard Lunch

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Today was a holiday Monday, so M and I did a little vineyard exploration and found a lovely winery restaurant and a good bottle of wine.

This was the view from the winery restaurant deck.

Lunch was delicious, the view was fantastic and we were rewarded with a gaggle of wild roses (also known as sweet briar roses) as we left the grounds. It was a good day.

Very pale pink.
Princess pink wild rose.

It had just rained, and the scent from these roses was heavenly.

Happy Tuesday.

Reblogs

05.22.2023 An Unhappy Frog, a Happy Heron, and Where have I been?

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A few weeks ago I got offered a one photographer show at a local gallery a few miles from here. I really didn’t have anything prepped so have been …

05.22.2023 An Unhappy Frog, a Happy Heron, and Where have I been?

This is a fantastic capture from Stephen Gingold. He’s busy with a show of his photography right now, but there are many great pictures on his blog. I hope you visit.

nature, Photography

Late Spring Rhododendrons

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On yesterday’s walk I saw many rhododendrons. They have almost finished their lifespan, but are still impressively beautiful.

The classic pink rhodos.
So frilly and pretty. A spring gift.
The white rhodos (also known as western azaleas; they are a rhodo sub-species) have a mildly sweet scent.

Happy long weekend Monday.

nature, Photography

Views

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As indicated in yesterday’s post, I have happily arrived back in British Columbia and it looks very much like I won’t be returning to the NWT for any length of time before I retire in a few months from now. So, M and I have been enjoying something of a small celebration which is great because it’s coinciding with the long May weekend.

Okanagan Lake serenity.

We have already taken a few long walks (without mosquitoes!) and have been enjoying the relatively smoke-free weather and lovely temperatures. There have also been regular rain showers which, apart from keeping the hills damp, are also helping to clean the air of smoke particles.

Okanagan Lake is still and calm.

The famous Penticton market is open, people are swimming, the dog beaches are active and so many late spring flowers are blooming. I haven’t experienced the month of May in Penticton for a number of years now, so I am really enjoying this.

Greetings from the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia.

nature, Photography

Blooming Everywhere!

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I am at home in British Columbia where everything is a-bloom.

Common viburnum.
Rue or Basket of Gold
This rue was being used as a ground cover, but it’s beautiful in a hanging pot, too.
Viburnum opulus (aka hydrangeas). This is a sub-species of the plant in the first picture, but it has been hybridized to produce these rich, dense blooms.

Isn’t spring great? Happy Saturday.

nature, Photography

Blue Jay

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This member of the corvid (crows, ravens, magpies) family is a colourfully noisy addition to a back yard, especially if you have some sunflower seeds available.

Although they have very loud voices, they aren’t aggressive birds and they get along well with others. I enjoy watching them fly; their wings are almost like a blue and white kaleidoscope.

And, of course, the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team is named after them. Go Jays!

Sometimes, life is like that.