Remembering a warmer season

Now that we are in the midst of a cold blast of arctic air and real winter here on the west coast, here is a photo of one of the beaches facing English Bay in Vancouver. The photo was taken in early August during the height of our summer here in British Columbia. Perhaps this will serve as a distraction from all the snow and cold that we are currently having. There will be more about the beaches, from Kitsilano, Jericho, Locarno and Spanish Banks Beaches to Point Grey Beach soon. Meantime, enjoy this diversion!

More photos from along the seawall

After the pride parade this past Sunday I went on a walk along the seawall starting at Sunset Beach in Vancouver's West End. The first three photos were taken at English Bay's 1st beach, though these were taken while the parade was on. Later in the afternoon the beaches were crowded with people enjoying the sun, fresh air and warm temperatures.

The photo above shows ferns on a rock face along the seawall between the 2nd and 3rd beaches. And below, the 3rd beach was crowded as opposed to the beaches of the morning.

At Siwash Rock I saw a cruiseship exiting the 1st Narrows at Burrard Inlet and entering English Bay. Then in the pic below I took a series of photos of the wave action on the rocks along the seawall. The ones posted are likely the best and I could spend hours watching the water do its thing plus the seaweed flowing back and forth in the rushing water.

There is a barnicle and seaweed encrusted rock in the photo above and below you can see the water rushing away from the seaweed encrusting another rock.

There is colour in all sorts of places such as above the 3rd beach. The palm trees and bright flowers make the scene look like it is in a more tropical setting!

Yet another scene of 3rd beach above and then some timber found along the wall further down toward the 2nd beach. You'll notice the driftwood coming to good use on the beaches.

Flowers, both wild and domestic, have fascinated me since my early childhood and so have the insects, birds and animals that frequent them. The above pic shows a bumblebee (Bombus ssp) at work doing its thing. Then Canada geese are everywhere such as the ones flying overhead at Sunset Beach.

The last few photos show more bees at work, and even a wasp, among the flowers that grace the walkways at strategic places. Hope you have enhoyed this glipse into nature! - Volker

Scenes along the seawall at Vancouver's Stanley Park

There are lots of ships and other watercraft to see while walking along the seawall at Vancouver's Stanley Park but there are other things of interest as well such as a crow pecking amongst the seaweed washed up on the sand, people gathered on a beach like English Bay's 3rd Beach or ferns and other plants growing on a cliff face along the seawall. Then on a warm, sunny day there will be lots of other people doing the same thing: biking, running, walking or skateboarding! So if you ever get the chance, take advantage and enjoy!!! - Volker

Spring Colour Everywhere

Sunday afternoon was so warm and sunny that I decided to go into Vancouver to enjoy the weather. A lot of other people were out with the same idea as you can see by the crowd at the main beach at English Bay. As people entered the beach area from the street they were greated by a colourful planting of tulips complete with an underplanting of forget-me-nots. The photo below gives you an idea of the colourful display. And yes, those are fan palms in the planters! The temperatures were very summer-like and worth getting out to experience.

Below is a close-up shot of the colour. I hope it helps perk up your day.

Scotch broom is also in bloom everywhere. It starts blooming about two weeks earlier than in London in southwestern Ontario. A member of the legume family it makes an excellent nitrogen fixer in your garden. The scent from the blooms carries far when the plant is in flower.

Not everyone looks up but this is the rock face on the western end of Stanley Park facing English Bay. I am standing on the seawall. The photo below shows a couple of crows flying overhead. When the weather and the wind is co-operating, you might even see eagles soaring overhead.

The fresh green growth is really shooting out on the larch trees since I was last in the park two weeks ago as can be seen in the image below.

There is a never ending show of colour it seems when viewing the display from the rhododendrons as can be seen in the last two photos.

Hopefully you have enjoyed the colourful floral display. If you live in the Vancouver area, perhaps you might consider coming out to see the colour while it lasts.