Here are some things I’ve seen recently while out for a ramble.
The cute little marmot pups born about six to eight weeks ago are now big enough to come outside of their burrows.
They’re very fluffy, very small and very adorable.
Then I passed a pretty view …
… and another.
Happy Monday.
Lace-leaf maples start their spring with red, lacy leaves that over about the first two months appear to be more autumnish than springy.
Gradually, though, these leaves become a type of russet-green that signals their transition to the full green of spring.
This lace-leaf is about half-way between red and green.
I took the above photo in November, 2024. The lace-leaf in the earlier photos is pictured here in its fire-engine red, autumn garb. Isn’t it spectacular? From this peak, it gradually becomes more and more purple before losing its shrivelled leaves almost completely by February.
This photo from a couple of days ago shows an even more complete transformation to green. Its beautiful cascading shape and incredible colour changes would make it a lovely addition to any garden.
Happy Sunday.
I saw this huge bumblebee searching for nectar in a rhododendron bloom. I had never seen one this large before; it was at least 20mm (0.8 inch) if not more. I wondered how it could possibly fly with that bulky, very heavy body. Although bees do not fly in defiance of the rules of aviation, it sure can seem like it!
After some research, I found that this is a Nevada bumblebee; it is common from Alaska and British Columbia to as far south as California and as far west as New Mexico.
Here is a picture of a more average-sized bumble bee; it was foraging next to the huge Nevada bumblebee and looked like a mini-cooper next to a semi-truck! I’m much more used to seeing these smaller ones, but whether large, small, honeybee or bumblebee, they are extremely important to the heath and welfare of so many of Earth’s plants.
Vive les abeilles! 🐝
Here is a sample of some of the spring glories we have right now.
In Canada, the long Victoria Day weekend is about to start; please enjoy your camping or barbecuing or whatever you might have planned. For everyone else, have a good regular weekend and don’t forget to enjoy the flowers. 💐
We had a heavy, late afternoon shower followed by clearing skies and the fresh scent of spring grass, leaves and flowers.
As everything began to dry off, the sun started to set behind the mountains.
Meanwhile, I found some freshly washed western azaleas to admire …
… blooming profusely with their relatives …
… the rhododendrons.
Happy Wednesday.
The white rhododendrons in one of the city gardens have started to bloom.
Rhododendrons come in many lovely shades but I don’t often see the white ones.
To me, they feel very springy indeed. Fresh and light and tempered by the merest hint of very pale pink, they seem to epitomise the new growing season.
They almost glow in the sun.
Happy rhododendron Saturday.
British Columbia’s provincial flower is the Pacific dogwood …
… which despite the unflattering name is a gorgeous, spring flowering tree with blooms in pink, pinkish-white, white and greenish white.
The “petals” are actually bracts, a type of leaf that forms around the actual blooms which are the tiny circular clusters in the centre.
Although the Pacific dogwood can be found in various shades of pink or pinkish-white, British Columbia’s official flower is the white one.
Right now the flowers can be seen everywhere here, another of the lovely, blooming trees that are so prolific at this time of year.
Happy Friday.
Here’s a little stroll through some of our bloomers from the last three weeks. 🌸
I hope you are enjoying your bloomers, too! 🌼
This year the crabapple trees are literally covered in beautiful, mildly scented blossoms that are a joy to behold.
A nearby public garden has about 20 of these trees.
A recent bit of wind has caused many, many of their petals to start falling and drifting …
… covering the ground and the surface of a nearby pond in a lovely floral carpet.
The bounties of spring are innumerable; a promise of things to come.
Happy Sunday.
A marmot couple …
… and a rhododendron …
… together with some snowflakes … Wait, snowflakes?
Actually, no. These are petals from two rows of crabapple trees!
And finally, a restful view.
We have 28 C (82 F) so it feels more like early summer than spring, but we’re expecting rain, a good thing after our string of warm days. Regardless of the weather, I hope that wherever you are, your day is going well.
In the Net! - Pictures and Stories of Life 