Tag Archives: Okanagan Valley

nature, Photography, Wine

Wine Country

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The Okanagan Valley is a major producer (among other things) of wine. There are 186 separate wineries; many of them have attached restaurants and small hotels or B and Bs, as well. So it’s entirely appropriate to see a sculpture such as this in one of Penticton’s parks!

A fun tribute to one of the Okanagan’s major sources of income.

As you can imagine, tourists visit the valley not only for the sun, beaches, hiking and sailing, but also for the wineries and restaurants. In the last 40 or so years, quite a food culture has sprung up around the wine industry, which is completely natural of course, and includes wine bottle sculptures!

Grape vines near Penticton

Happy Tuesday.

nature, Photography

Little Quail

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Quail are ubiquitous here in the Okanagan Valley. I often see them racing around, their cute little comma-shaped head feathers arriving ahead of them.

The male is on the left and the female on the right.

Although they can fly, they are amazingly fast runners and when chicks are nearby, the adults will suddenly burst into flight, distracting potential predators away from the little ones.

They are extremely social and live in family groups of 20 or more birds. They don’t migrate for the winter but will congregate in coveys of up to 100 birds to keep warm since at 25 cm, (10 inches) they are very small.

They are portrayed extensively on the art work of this area and there’s even a winery named after them.

Greetings from the quail of the Okanagan Valley!