I'm so used to Eastern Canadian winters where most of the landscape turns brown just after Remembrance Day and then is blanketed by white and stays that way until early April, that I marvel that in our damp days of late fall, there are signs of growth and colour to keep the spirits up during the cold midwinter.
We've been targeted recently by some very serious storms resulting in loss of life, livelihoods, infrastructure and investments. It was nice to find the odd days in between the waves of atmospheric rivers, to walk out and seek comfort in the positives that nature offers.
Meteorological note, the term atmospheric river is not a recent description, it, was coined in the 90’s, but local TV weather and radio forecasters always like the more poetic Pineapple Express to describe the warm wet air that funnels up from the South Pacific. It’s a fun descriptor of course, but it belies the violence and dangers inherent in such storms.
Now, BC and Canada is realizing that we need to be much more specific on the threats. There is a current project within the provincial and federal governments to categorize the strengths of these phenomena. Whether it's a scale of 1-5, or colour coded warnings, or def-con descriptors, it's certainly needed to differentiate the normal everyday storms from the ones we need to take seriously.
Ok, here's some photos I took in the last two weeks, looking specifically for new growth in the roadsides around us.
I believe this is a Nandina shrub, if anyone wants to correct me, on this, or any of the following photos please do! There are just too many different plants for my aging eastern Canada gardening mind to learn.
I saw what I thought looked like forsythia blooming in a protected doorway, but our gardening friends in the south west of England who also enjoy temperate winters, tell me it's winter Jasmine, which is blooming in their garden now.
A Magnolia preparing its buds for a short lived showing in the coming spring
My research tells me this might be a Barberry bush, the bright red leaves and equally bright red berries blend together. A welcome sight for birds foraging for winter strength.
Ground cover pushing up new growth.
Dead branches offer Moss a place to thrive.
Ferns of all types and sizes stake out their territory
This ground cover is actually flowering on a north facing slope under tall firs.
Even the Dandelion is optimistic
Thus species of fern dies out but leaves translucent leaves that glow on sunny days.
One last flowering daisy, petals half ripped off by the winds
I know, an odd angle because I was shooting from above, but there are new buds on my faithful Japanese maple
The buds on a rhododendron in our complex
Down by French Creek, an old faithful tub enjoying the autumn rays. Abandoned boats are a large problem on the island, because it costs money to have them scrapped, so people leave them moored and just walk away. They are left to rot for years, and often are ripped from their mooring and wash up on a beach, the removal then becomes the responsibility of the waterfront property owner. Some just leave it for the next storm to carry it elsewhere.
In the middle of the afternoon when the violent weekend storm finally passed over us on its path to the interior where it did the most damage , the clouds lightened and the eagle rested from battling the winds and rain. The skies were all shades of black and blue, and the eagles ruffled feathers contrasted.
And lastly, a video of an errant umbrella in perpetual motion
Remembrance Day in Parksville
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