Tag Archives: Walks

nature, Photography

Windy Victoria

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We awoke to a very windy day. The ocean was extremely churned up and lots of surf was being flung about.

With the gale gusting to about 80 km (50 mi) we definitely needed raincoats against the wind-whipped spray.

Although it was windy the temperature was about 9C (48F) and it wasn’t raining, so in a good windbreaker/raincoat, I was comfortable.

I found a group of periwinkle flowers growing in a rock garden next to the ocean, but despite being soaked by seawater they seemed completely unperturbed.

I very much enjoyed watching the surf and listening to its pounding roar – the heart of all life on earth.

Happy Sunday.

nature, Photography

Emerald City

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During the winter in particular, the city of Victoria experiences near rain forest conditions. As you can imagine, that means lots of green.

Because of all the moisture, the moss is particularly well developed.

It ranges from these little yellow bits …

… to these long, luxurious strands …

… and can even envelop whole tree limbs to such an extent that other plants decide to grow in the moss. The thick layer of moss on this tree branch is now providing a home to a fern family.

So not only is the grass still green and many of the plants and shrubs are still vibrant, there is the added and ubiquitous presence of moss and its lovely hue, a distinct counterpoint to the overcast and rain of the season.

Happy weekend.

nature, Photography

December 13’s Friday Fleurday

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Because we’re in Victoria’s very temperate climate right now, we’re seeing lots of late-flowering plants and shrubs that are absolute December delights.

Lots of very pretty, dark pink bell heather flowers everywhere …
… and a closer image.
Aren’t these pretty? I think they are a type of hesperantha, a plant that doesn’t bloom until December – if it’s in the right climate.

Happy Friday.

nature, Photography

Sunny Mountaintops

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For this time of year, we had a rare, beautifully sunny day and later on, the snowy mountaintops were lit by the afternoon sun.

We also had windless conditions with a high of 4C (39F) so it really was lovely. A crisp December day without being too crisp!

Naturally, a sunny day came with a lovely sunset which was much appreciated by all of us damp people!

Happy Tuesday.

nature, Photography

Colours

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Although we still have lots of greenery, it wasn’t until early October that the autumn colours began to appear, highlighted by this very pleasant weather we’re experiencing.

The azalea bushes are gracefully metamorphosing into a lovely deep red.
The white ash trees are beautiful during the summer but in autumn the leaves transform from green to red to yellow. They are a very lovely sight.
Although this photo was taken only a couple of days ago, it looks very summery. It was a bit windy but a few metres from the lake the wind was almost nonexistent; many people were sitting on grass or benches, reading, napping and resting. It was lovely to see.

Happy Thursday.

nature, Photography

August Sampler

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It’s September, and if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, for many there are mixed emotions involved. Some like the arrival of cooler weather and the beautiful autumn colour changes, while others will soon be missing the summer sun. But in the meantime, a look back at August – a very warm August!

August 1 sunset over Okanagan Lake. It was 39C (102F) at 8:44 p.m.
August hydrangea.
I’m so hot! A marmot tries an early morning cool-off before the temperature goes back up!
Mid-August; evenings were becoming a bit more comfortable for strolls along the lake.
Pond lilies are always a delight to see.
Skaha Lake at the south end of town. Penticton is one of two cities in the world that sit between two lakes. The other is Interlaken, Switzerland.
The cool of an early morning walk.

Although I’m sad to see summer coming to a close, I’m happy that I won’t have to be as strategic about choosing a cooler time of day for walks or hikes. As I get older I find that I’m becoming less comfortable with high temperatures. I overheat quickly and take longer to cool off – I’m thinking of walking around with cold packs in my pockets – but that soon won’t be much of an issue. Here, September is a gorgeous month; it’s really the best of both worlds.

I hope your September is enjoyable.

Reblogs

Reblog: #ScenicSaturday August 31st 2024:

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This continuing series of posts depicts our beautiful world, encouraging people to share them and maybe even help save our unique home planet from …

#ScenicSaturday August 31st 2024:

A beautiful picture of the River Wye, Derbyshire, UK, courtesy of Stuart Aken. Please click the link above to view more of Stuart’s lovely nature photos.