Tag Archives: British Columbia

nature, Photography

Japanese Lilacs

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The Japanese lilacs really are trees rather than bushes, unlike the common lilac which is more accurately a flowering woody plant.

Japanese lilac tree

Right now there are a number of Japanese lilac trees blooming in a nearby park.

Lilac blooms

The blooms were in various stages but the trees looked lovely.

The individual flowers look similar to the common lilac but are smaller.

Isn’t late spring (almost summer) wonderful?

Happy longest-day-of-the-year!

Commentary, nature, Photography

Butterfly Beauty

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Penticton is home to the western tiger swallowtail butterfly. They are primarily yellow with black stripes and also some blue sections near the distinctive “swallowtail,” so-called because of their similarity to the swallow family of birds.

I saw this one while walking through the Penticton rose garden.

Unfortunately, their numbers are declining because of pesticide use and measures are being taken in some areas to support them, including raising them from caterpillars.

Happy Monday.

Commentary, nature, Photography

Breakfast, Northern Flicker Style

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While out for my morning walk I saw this northern flicker busily engaged with his breakfast.

I at first wasn’t sure what he was doing – it looked initially like he was digging a hole – but his attention was completely captured.

He was right next to the sidewalk and eventually flew away because someone came too close.

After he left I could see that he had found an ant colony and was feasting on them and their eggs.

Northern flickers will often eat the bugs that are infesting trees, so they actually help them to stay healthy. They will come to your yard if you put out suet and a water source, and will also proceed to feast on any bugs you have lurking around there.

Northern flickers are protected as their numbers have been in decline, so I was happy to see this little guy.

Happy Saturday.

Commentary, nature, Photography

Marmots

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We have a colony of marmots along the rock breakwater at the edge of Okanagan Lake. M and I discovered them on one of our morning walks.

This one was stock still and keeping a close eye on us, ready to give his community a warning if needed.

There were a number of community members about, socialising and eating.

This one has a different colouration, probably because it seems to be younger.

There are quite a few different varieties of marmots, but essentially they are large ground squirrels and are a part of the family sciuridae. This family also includes the famous weather-predicting groundhogs of stage and screen.

This little community has found a great location to call home; it’s just around the bend in the path shown below, where it begins to follow the shoreline.

Happy Wednesday.

Commentary, nature, Photography

Sun Reflection

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We have had quite a bit of rain over the last few days and there have been beautifully lit sunset or sunrise cloud formations.

We’re happy to have the rain as we have also been experiencing very warm days, too, and this keeps our fire risk much lower.

I’m wishing for good soaking rains for Alberta and the other areas of the country that have been severely affected by forest fires.

Happy Tuesday.