Saturday, December 30, 2006

usnea lichen covered branch

mosses

cranesbill moss, false polytrichum or wet rock moss (not sure which), stepmoss, and some unidentified and lovely maple tree moss


lichens







arbutus




garry oak




evidence of rain

indian pipe, stonecrop, waxberry, and cotoneaster


more evidence of rain

bay, Mycena mushrooms, crocus, licorice ferns, and unidentified mushroom




evidence of storms

arbutus and garry oak

Friday, December 22, 2006

Storms

Well this has been the month of storms, so far. With a few whole days without power (not that we mind), and torrents of rain and wind, it has been exciting. Unfortunately we managed not to witness any of the water spouts that have been seen quite frequently in the sound during the storms. Waterspouts in Howe Sound are very unusual! The trees, already bent and twisted (some downed) by the snow, have been battered horribly, and in many places they have been flattened in groves. Well this is what the earth does before renewal!

Happy midwinter!

topless lodgepole pine


Remember the photo from a few weeks ago with snow? This is the result. The pine will come down, now.

wet rhodo


soggy star magnolia buds


parmelia lichen


jasmine with rain


naked huckleberry branch


douglas fir


Wednesday, December 06, 2006

snow melting, and freezing

We've had temperatures down to -9 during the day, this week. With the windchill I understand it was to -30 at night.

stink currant


sequoia


douglas fir


burrs


Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Snow!

We had a huge snowfall this November, inbetween a series of 3 or 4 big storms, all of which put the power out, sometimes for multiple days. But we have a woodstove with a good cook-top, and fared very well! Actually we quite enjoyed it, except for the trees that were sacrificed to the weight of the snow: a juniper, an arbutus, and the lodgpole pine behind the house. The snow lasted about a week, broke quite a few trees besides our own, and created a winter wonderland, which has thoroughly melted in time for midwinter. :--)

orange quince leaves


star magnolia


inchworm... snow sacrifice