My Favourite Colour

Wildflowers
Arnica in full bloom

Showy Oregon Grape

I am wondering if this is a Wilson's Warbler?

Bearberry (Kinnikinnick)

These pictures were taken out by the road where trailing mats of bearberry grow at the forest's edge in full sun. The flowers are very tiny, about 4-6 mm, and they bloom from May to June. Its botanical name is Arctostaphylos uva-ursi.

Arctostaphylos - from the Greek, arktos (bear) + staphule (bunch of grapes)

uva-ursi - from the Latin, uva (grape) + ursus (bear)

Kinnikinnick is an Algonquian word meaning "mixture". The dried leaves were mixed with tobacco and used in religious ceremonies.

A Bouquet of Hummingbirds

All's well that ends well. Our freakish snowfall has melted away, and we are back into spring again. There was no damage to the plants and flowers or the hummingbirds.

Rufous and Calliope Hummingbirds

An Arnica flower coming into bloom
This bright, sunny wildflower is very striking
and grows just about everywhere
in the interior of B.C.

Look At What We Woke Up To This Morning!

Snow in May! Highly unusual, even for us! I think it set some kind of record. It seems strange to look out and see all the spring greenery covered in snow.

We were more worried about the hummingbirds than anything else. But, thankfully, they were fine. We have two feeders at the back of the house, and this morning I put up another one at the corner of the greenhouse.

Nature Notes

Friday -

We were invited to walk a fairly new trail on a neighbouring property and decided to go in search of it after lunch. I didn't take my camera because we weren't sure what we were getting ourselves in for. Walking sticks, yes, camera, no, dog, no. It was supposed to be somewhere "along the ridge". Ha, ha, ha! There was no trail that we could see - only a tangle of trees and bush. My husband went ahead and gradually worked his way a little further down the hill where he found a narrow (single file) path. I followed. Very, very nice, with a beautiful view of the lake AND a view of a Bald Eagle's nest. We could see a white head sticking up over the edge. Next time, I'll have my camera with me.

Back at home -

The hummingbirds were zipping around and dodging each other while I stood near the currant bushes. This one looked as though she (not sure which one) wanted to hide and perched on the nylon twine supporting a bush. I really couldn't move too much, so the picture isn't the greatest. Just look at her little feet gripping that twine!

I came across these blue flowers in between the kinnikinnick that grow along the fence by the road. I don't have a name for them, but they look a little like a violet. So tiny!

Rufous Hummingbird

He often sits on a thorny branch of a wild rose bush where he has a good view of the feeder that hangs at the back of the house.

He's my little rose for the moment.

A Spring Evening

I enjoy my early evening walks. It's usually very still and peaceful at that time. The May rains are slowly bringing everything to life again. I'm like a mother hen constantly checking on her brood. By now, I know where to find the familiar woodland plants, and I visit them daily to see how they're doing.

A Dark-eyed Junco was in the front yard when I went out.

Oregon Grape beside the compost bins, a sunny place on most days.

Wild Clematis in bud, along the forest path.

Spring Has Sprung

Saturday

I've been walking past this Cottonwood tree every day lately just to catch a whiff of its wonderful springtime fragrance.

For a time, I watched a busy bee buzzing and foraging among the topmost branches of a willow.

It's great to see the stands of Poplars leafing out again. They are one of our most prolific trees, providing shade for us during the hot summer days.

Sunday

I zoomed in quickly (with my camera) to take this picture of the Mourning Cloak butterfly while it rested for a moment or two on a dry and brittle fireweed stalk. Yesterday, I saw two of them chasing each other, first fluttering closer to the ground, then rising upwards to the sky. They seem to like this open spot where the fireweed grow.

At Home

The Robins are building a nest in a nearby Spruce tree

Willow Catkins

Weathered pine cones and some green

Lilac buds with a peek inside