Out and About

 

On Friday the little girls had a day off school and I, along with their other grandmother, took them to Butchart Gardens. They have been there so often that they know their way around quite well. Their father grew up on the grounds of the gardens as his father worked there. It's fun to listen to stories from the past.

Beds are planted with lots of things that will bloom soon, but for now it's the structure of the gardens that I admire. And the emerging blooms on the prunus trees. The day was cloudy and the light dull, so the photos are not great. 

The Witch Hazel tree is in bloom and has such a lovely scent to go along with those frilly flowers. 

During February and March one of the restaurant venues at the Gardens is converted into a Spring Prelude - an indoor garden filled with tropical plants as well as spring bulbs and blooming shrubs. I enjoyed the colourful displays. What amazing orchids!

It's early days yet for this indoor garden, but primulas were blooming along with daffodils and a few rhododendrons. 

On Saturday, Valentine's Day, Tim and I decided to go for a hike on the west coast of our island. Mystic Beach is two kilometres from the parking lot, and can be a wee bit challenging in spots. Masses of tree roots line the forest floor. It was so fresh and lovely in the forest with rich scents of humus and mud. Lots of mud. 

We knew the tide was high and we wouldn't be able to walk to the waterfall that spills over the cliff into the ocean below. I dodged a few waves to get close enough to take this photo. Such a magnificent sight accompanied by the ocean's loud roar as waves rolled up and down the sand. The light was silvery and colours washed out by the sun, resulting in a photo that looks almost black and white. 

Sun, clouds, and waves. We ate our picnic lunch perched on a fat driftwood log while watching the foaming waves advance and retreat. A perfect spot. But the time came for us to return and so we turned our back on the water and headed back into the forest. 

This is a fallen tree we had to pass under. As we did I looked up and noticed the tiny fungi growing towards the sun. I turned back and held my camera as high as I could to take the photo. 

The two of us were very likely the eldest people on the trail that day. I am so glad that we are both healthy and strong. I know that could change quickly, but for now, we will do the things we can. Being outside in such beautiful places fills me with energy and delight. 

Thoughts While Hiking

 

Fog covered the landscape on Sunday morning, but by midday it had burned away into intermittent sunshine. Clouds moved in batches across the sky for the rest of the day, with bits of bright light here and there. A spur of the moment outing was planned.

We stopped and picked up some sandwiches on our way to East Sooke Park. There are many trails to choose from, but our favourite is the Coast Trail that winds along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Seascapes and forest scenes provide a wide variety of views to admire. 

Mushrooms are rampant just now. All sorts of fungi dot the forest floor, from the tiniest little buttons to enormous spreading ones. I know little about fungi other than I find their shapes interesting.

Our hike took about three hours, including a stop on a rocky cliff overlooking the water while we ate our sandwiches, and other, shorter stops for photography or simple admiration of the views. This is not a casual walking trail. There's a fair bit of scrambling on rocks, ups and downs, and one must watch out for tree roots sprawling across the path. Or, as in the case above, to duck one's head under a fallen tree.

I was very conscious of my senses as I walked on Sunday. The scent of the decaying forest floor mingled with resinous fir and salty air. Wind whistled in the trees and waves slapped against the shore. Up went my legs as I clambered on rocks where my hand, seeking balance, felt its cold smoothness. I felt strong and very alive. 

Life is a gift. I believe that beyond this life there is another life, rich and full. But what I now know is this fleeting existence on our beautiful Earth. And it is precious. Last week one of our neighbours, a lovely, friendly man who chatted with everyone, was working on his roof, lost his balance, fell, and died three days later in hospital. It's been a shock. His wife is reeling, as are his grown children. Life can change in an instant. I've been thinking of them and praying for them often, as well as offering what practical support we can.

So. Life is precious. And full of curious things, such as the heron in the photo above, standing perfectly balance on a tangle of bull kelp some distance from shore. 

It was good to be outdoors on Sunday. Today, on the other hand, has been a dreich day, dreary and wet. How cozy to be indoors with the fires going, the lights on, and pleasant work to do. I'm puttering away on a few projects for Christmas and hope to begin baking soon. 

Wishing you lovely days of warmth. 

 

A Bit of Spontaneity Does the Soul Good

 

Late Sunday morning the sunshine streamed into the house, warming the living room, casting sharp shadows. It was just too beautiful to stay indoors. We packed up a quick lunch - crackers, cheese, pickles, cucumbers and red pepper strips, plus sliced apples and chocolate. We made a thermos of hot tea and off we went to French Beach, along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. 

The sunshine was mostly obscured by light fog and the wind off the water made us very glad for scarves and jackets and gloves. 

Our thermos of tea was most welcome, too. The thermos is old - Tim bought it in high school, but it's sturdy and works well, and accompanies us on most outings.

Along with a first aid kit, two small rectangles cut from an old blue camping sleeping mat are permanent residents in Tim's backpack. We placed them on one of the many driftwood logs tossed up onto the shore and sat ourselves down, protected from the damp cold. Comfort!

Our lunchtime entertainment was the spectacle of two gulls perched on a log in the heaving water. I almost got seasick watching them. Up and down they went. Sometimes the log disappeared entirely and sometimes the birds themselves were hidden by waves. Up and down, up and down. They drifted closer and closer to shore and finally alighted from the log just before it came ashore onto the rocky beach. 

The woods are wet after all the rain we've had, with many muddy sections on the trail. My eye was caught by the tiny crystal beads clinging to the delicate ferns. 

The beach was strewn with logs of all sizes, tangles of kelp and seaweed. This clutch of small rocks nestled in a driftwood log was placed there by the waves, perhaps for safekeeping.

On our way home we stopped at a place new to us - Sheringham Point Lighthouse. It's been deemed surplus by the government and was destined for demolition until a group of concerned citizens took it on as a preservation project. There is a small park and a short looping trail, as well as a trail down to the lighthouse. A wild and beautiful spot. The lighthouse keeper's house was demolished, but a volunteer told us that they have the original plans and hope to rebuild a replica one day. 

We arrived home not too long before dark, tired and oh, so happy for our hours in the outdoors. 

An October Hike

 

Our unusually warm and sunny days of early October have turned into unusually cold and mostly sunny days of late October. Frosty mornings mean warm coats and gloves, and the occasional scraping of ice from the windshield. How beautiful the sunshine is, and how glorious the colours. 

One of my favourite autumn poems, by George Cooper, begins with 

"October gave a party

The leaves by hundreds came,

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,

And leaves by every name."

It was a party out in the woods today. Crisp and cool, very cool in the shaded forest, but out on the rocky ridges where the sun shone boldly, there was warmth. 

We hiked up and down, but mostly up, until we reached Holmes Peak, overlooking the Saanich Inlet. Here on the ridge we enjoyed the view, and some dark chocolate. 

We came across a hand-carved swing, placed there in memory of a loved one, and a delight for young Sadie. It made me a wee bit nervous as falling off on a forward swing might mean a tumble over the cliff. 

Naturally freshly peeled arbutus trees have such a beautiful pale green colour. The trunk on the left is smooth and bleached by the sun. 

Leaved branches form high along the trunks and reach for the sun, with bright berries that glow against the blue sky. 

It was such a beautiful afternoon, talking, laughing, enjoying the scenery. A gentle wind ruffled the water and provided updrafts for the crows and eagle we saw. 

This morning, from my bedroom window, I watched skein after skein of geese or ducks streaming eastwards from the Sooke Hills. They were a long distance away, dark lines and shapes stretching against the pale sky. It was magical.

Times like these, observing and being in nature, provide relaxation and respite, and a lovely change of pace from the week. And so begins another week, the last in October. Whether you have snow or sun or rain or wind, I wish you the enjoyment of the beauty of this season. 

In the Mountains

 

Have you noticed that Blogger keeps tweaking things on their new edition? Little things, but I think it means they might be listening to bloggers. 

We've been away for a week, not far from home, camping in our little trailer/caravan. Our site was a short walk from the ocean, but we spent most of our time in the mountains, a 30 minute drive away. 

Strathcona Provincial Park is in the middle of Vancouver Island, and has delighted visitors since 1911, making it the oldest provincial park in BC. Many lakes and alpine tarns dot the landscape, along with rivers and streams, meadows and mountain peaks. 

Whisky Jacks, also known as Canada Jays or Grey Jays swoop down at the first sign of food to alight on outstretched hands. This Jay seems to be looking at Tim as if to say, "Where's the food?" 

The blue Stellar's Jay isn't quite as friendly, but forages on the ground and flies into the cover of trees for safety. They are the only crested jays west of the Rocky Mountains. 

We intended to do just a short hike to Lake Helen McKenzie, however, once there, we thought we'd go a bit further. The Kwai Lake Loop is 15.6 kilometres and although we'd begun our hike in the late morning, we estimated that we could do the loop and be back by 5:00 pm. The trail became more challenging as we went on with masses of roots and muddy patches to navigate.

We were surprised to see a ranger station on Forbidden Plateau. It's situated in a beautiful spot with an alpine tarn in front and meadows beyond. A view of the mountains would be visible on a clear day. 

In the winter, the cabin is covered with snow, and to access the cabin for inspection, the maintenance crews digs down to walk directly into the top floor. There are three bedrooms, a common area and small kitchen in the cabin. Every kilometre of the trails is walked by crews at least once a year to keep everything in good repair. 

We sat beside Kwai Lake to eat our lunch of crackers and cheese. A few campers had pitched tents alongside the lake. It's a peaceful and magical spot, full of quiet beauty.

From top left to right: Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium), White Bog Orchid (Platanthora dilatata): Middle row: Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatas), Subalpine Daisy (Erigeron peregrinus): Bottom row: Arctic Lupin (Lupinus arcticus), Fringed Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia fimbriata), Menzie's Burnet (Sanguisorba menziesii)

Along the way I stopped to take photos of some of the many wildflowers growing in swaths in the meadows and beside the trail. They are mostly small and delicate, but en masse provide waves of colour in the meadows. 

Wild blueberries are just beginning to ripen and we picked a few as we went along. They grow singly, and it would take a long while to fill a bucket with them. 

Our return path on the loop was much easier than the ascending portion. The trail was longer, but smoother and easier to walk. We passed Lady Lake, Battleship Lake, and a multitude of unnamed tarns like the ones above that lie in natural terraces formed by glacial erosion eons ago. 

We were back at the car shortly before 4:30, quite pleased with our spontaneous long hike. We stopped and picked up food for dinner and enjoyed it thoroughly. Hot showers, a relaxing evening, and we slept well that night. Before retiring we walked out to the ocean once more and caught the evening light illuminating the waves on the point. 

Home again now. Tim is on vacation this week and we're puttering around home, enjoying the relaxing change of pace. 

A Short Jaunt in the Boat

It's a long weekend here in Canada - Victoria Day is the unofficial start of summer. Boats, camping, barbecues - the season is short and we Canadians make the most of it. We took the boat out on her first outing for the season and enjoyed gloriously sunny weather, perfect for hiking, lounging on the boat, and reading. We didn't go far, to Bedwell Harbour off Pender Island.

We decided to come home on Sunday night and arrived around 9 pm. During the night rain began to fall and it's been drizzly all day, so a good move on our part. 

Tim went for a little ride in the dinghy, looking at other boats in the harbour. He's very conscientious about wearing his life jacket, and a hat.

On Sunday afternoon we hiked up Mount Norman. It's a hike we've done a couple of other times, but we've always wandered down some other trails and never found the peak. Not so this time. We arrived at the viewpoint and enjoyed the vast expanses to the south, west, and northwest. The freighter in the above photo is making a sharp course adjustment at Turn Point off Stuart Island where the Canada/USA border also makes a very sharp turn.

Beautiful wildflowers grow on the island, delicate and pale. Already the lack of rain is drying out the forest. I'm glad today has been wet for the ground badly needs the moisture.

I love the warm resinous scent that rises from the forest floor. Now is the time when the evergreens put forth new growth of lime green. 

We packed a little lunch and ate it perched on a rocky shore after descending the mountain. A river otter entertained us by fishing and consuming his lunch while we ate ours. He dove under the water and came up with something in his mouth that required a lot of chewing and then he threw his head back to swallow.

Evening sunset as we arrived back on our island home. 

Linking with Mosaic Monday, hosted by Angie of Letting Go of the Bay Leaf. 

Five on Friday

1. October has shown herself quite changeable, but pleasantly so. A day or two of cloud and rain is followed by several days of clear skies where night time temperatures dip to several degrees above freezing and the sun warms the afternoons with golden light. Who can complain about that? 

In my garden, the dahlias, zinnias, roses, and marigolds continue to bloom prolifically. The fig tree leaves are paling, and drop yellow to the ground to soon curl and shrink into crispy brown clumps.  

Every few days I pick a couple of handfuls of fresh raspberries, so good with our morning yogurt. Kale and Swiss Chard are flourishing. 

2. We celebrated Thanksgiving with a family dinner on Sunday afternoon. Here the three littles are getting ready to eat their pie. When I appeared with the camera, they said, "Happy Thanksgiving" instead of "cheese." For some indecipherable reason, one said it with his eyes closed. 

3. Monday was drizzly and grey. We pulled on our rain gear and drove out to East Sooke Park for a hike along the coast trail. Sea blended mutely into sky. There were a number of fishing boats out on the water, and a few other hikers on the trail, but the peace was palpable.

4. We sat at Beechey Head to eat our lunch of cheese, crackers, vegetables, apples, and chocolate. It feels so luxurious to pour a steaming mug of hot tea in that setting, and it tastes so good. 

While we munched and sipped on our perch high above the water, gulls glided silently below us. A trio of sleek sea lions swam purposefully across our field of vision, intent on some goal. Later, a pair of snub-nosed seals followed them. In the distance a tug pulled along an enormous barge. A whale blew and breached in the distance and then disappeared with a flick of her tail. Waves rushed noisily upon the rocks below, flinging up white spray before dying back into calm.

5. This miniature scene grew in a damaged arbutus tree - three tiny fungi, a bit of moss, and some curls of red bark. Do you think that perhaps the fairies had a party here? 

Like Anne of Green Gables, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." 

How is your October shaping up? 

Linking with Friday Bliss, hosted by Riitta of Floral Passions.