Ah, the wildflower report.... Brought to you by - wait for it, all will be revealed later! With the exception of my jaunt up to the peak of Mount Thurston at the beginning of July, I decided against chasing glacier lilies this year. Last year's display on the Pushki Lake trail was so amazing that … Continue reading 2022 in review: Wildflowers
I know, I know - another vignette. I promise there's a hike report coming soon! A couple of weeks ago I stopped in at Camosun Bog, a tiny remnant bog ecosystem on the edge of Pacific Spirit Park, to capture the bog laurel (kalmia) in bloom, having seen some photos on Twitter. The laurel was … Continue reading Vignette: Camosun Bog, 29 May 2022
Most people go to Whytecliff Park for the beach, to scramble over the rocks at low tide to get to Whyte Islet, or to go SCUBA diving in the sheltered bay. And sure, we do enjoy wandering over to the islet - at least when the rock is dry, unlike today. But there's a spot … Continue reading Vignette: Whytecliff Park, 15 May 2022
It's that time of year again when the white fawn lilies (Erythronium oregonum) are blooming and I've been coming to Lighthouse Park every year but two since 2012 to see and photograph them. My favourite place to view the lilies is at Eagle Point, easily reached at the southern end of the Valley of the … Continue reading Photo essay: fawn lilies in Lighthouse Park
The second of my reflective posts was inspired by the Twitter account Wildflowerhour, a wonderful account that highlights the stunning array of wildflowers of the British Isles. I've really enjoyed following them, learning more about native British flowers and even recognizing some relatives of flowers here in BC. It's great therapy! In November, they invited … Continue reading Reflecting on 2019: a favourite find
Let's get this out of the way first. Did I find my ultimate glacier lily patch this year? No, I didn't; that is going to have to wait for another year. But did I find glacier lilies? Oh, you bet, and on a couple of hikes where I wasn't expecting to see them too. The … Continue reading The Great Glacier Lily Quest of 2019
For me, the alpine flower display is truly one of the wonders of the natural world. Over a period of only a few snow-free months, dozens if not hundreds of species flower to produce mesmerizing - and extremely photogenic - carpets of colour. But there's one particular small yellow flower that has caught my eye. … Continue reading Regarding a small yellow flower
Opinion A pleasant and easy little walk in the alpine for sure, albeit not necessarily exciting (and the microwave towers are a bit of an eyesore). The flowers definitely contribute significantly to the enjoyment of this walk, so try and time it as soon after the gravel road opens as possible. It's tricky to catch … Continue reading Paintbrush Trail, 18 Jun 2017
Opinion A short loop in the forest best done when the rhododendrons are in bloom, usually June. I'm not much of a rhododendron fan but, as ever, show me a flower in its natural habitat and I'm all over it :-) So I enjoyed it for what it was, but it's probably not worth stopping … Continue reading Rhododendron Flats, 18 Jun 2017
Some hikes come about as a result of tossing ideas about; some hikes just beg to be done when the time is right. This is one of the latter. With an upcoming trip to the UK where we'd most likely not see a single mountain, I had to satisfy my craving to 1) see glacier … Continue reading Gott Peak, 3 Jul 2010
Being. Outdoors. 