Clouds and snow are dominating the mountains around Okanagan Lake.
I’m glad the snow is up there and not on the streets. Here, we’re looking at more rain, and I’m fine with that.
Happy Thursday.
Cloudy Lake
Tag Archives: Walks
Sleeping Vines
Shhh … we’re getting our beauty rest …
Happy Wednesday.
#ScenicSaturday 23rd December 2023
My photos in these continuing series show our beautiful world with the aim of encouraging viewers to share them and help save our unique home from …
#ScenicSaturday 23rd December 2023
A beautiful waterfall in the Yorkshire Dales photographed by Stuart Aken. Clicking the link above will take you to his blog where he has posted many more of his gorgeous landscape pictures.
Winter Plant Wonders
I like how these ornamental grasses provide visual interest in the winter – as well as good ground protection for our little quail. They’re such lovely medium brown/light brown colours.
It was also nice to see the red fruit of the barberry bushes. I understand that the city is planning to remove them because they’re invasive and are causing soil issues (they also apparently provide a great place for ticks to hide, too) but in the meantime they’re definitely a bright spot of colour.
I think this could be a type of wheat grass, but I’m not sure. I liked its compact seed configuration as well as how it was undulating in the wind.
I hope you have an enjoyable Saturday.
Mountain Clouds
The Okanagan Valley is surrounded by mountains: there are sub-ranges of the Rockies to the east of us, the Coastal Mountains are to the west of us and the Okanagan range of the Cascade Mountains are to the southwest of us. It’s no surprise then that our valley becomes subject to a lot of cloud and mist, particularly in the winter.
Penticton’s elevation is 385m (1263 ft) and the mountains around us are at least another 700m (2300 ft) higher; mist and cloud are typically trapped by mountain ranges.
I love watching the interplay of cloud and light as it forms, disperses and reforms, all the while playing peek-a-boo with the sun.
Happy Winter Solstice – if you’re in the northern hemisphere, from now forward our days become longer.
Winter Berries
The fruit of this chinaberry tree is very pretty to see during this cloudy, rainy December period.
Their lovely yellow are definitely very welcome bright spots in the overcast.
Despite their loveliness, the berries are actually poisonous to birds, animals and humans. They can be medically processed and used in the treatment of some viruses, but are otherwise of little immediate practical use.
I find this tree beautiful and have often sat under it in the summer while admiring some of the adjacent rose garden. Here’s a picture from mid-September.
The overhang at the top of the above photo is from the chinaberry tree that’s shown in the first three pictures.
Happy Wednesday.
Winter Colours
Although winter doesn’t officially start until December 21, I think we’re close enough to now say that yup, it’s winter. In spite of the date, I’ve been noticing the great colours that are still around; they’re just less prolific.
I hope you have a good day with some colours of your own.
Gullible
While out walking I saw a row of seagulls on a gravel bar near the lake shore.
I liked how their bright white contrasted with the blue of the water and mountains.
They almost look like a row of snowballs, but I’m really glad they’re not!
Our shadows are visible in the watery sunlight. It was only about 5C (41F), but quite windless and there was no precipitation of any kind – especially no white stuff!
Happy Monday.
#ScenicSaturday 16th December 2023
My photos in this continuing series show our beautiful world in the hope they’ll encourage viewers to share them and help save it from human …
#ScenicSaturday 16th December 2023
A beautiful ocean scene in North Devon from Stuart Aken. Thanks for sharing, Stuart.
Retrospective
As we prepare to leave the Caribbean to return to a very rainy Okanagan Valley via an apparently also rainy Toronto, here are a few favourite photos.
Happy Tuesday. I’ll soon be posting from home.
In the Net! - Pictures and Stories of Life 