Pacific Paradise... in Canada?!

Bali High... or Ucluelet, BC?

Now that tropical destinations are off the table for many Canadians due to the continuing pandemic, these hearty palm trees and BCs stunning scenery near Ucluelet will have to substitute.

The colour of fall

A fall tree glows in the sun...

Here on the West Coast we don't get the colourful fall foilage that the rest of the country back east does. We have to make do with the odd tree here and there... mostly everything here is just shades of brown and dull yellow.

Petrified

Walking through a forest recently, this black-and-white tree stump stood out in the otherwise colourful foilage. I examined it closer. On the surface it appeared to be turning to stone of some sort. I'm not an any sort of authority on biology though so I couldn't even guess at the cause of this unusual process.

Tree lined

A cooling canopy of leaves...

A cathedral of trees over a street in Parksville glows with the afternoon sun.

To boldly grow...

Sticking out like a sort thumb...

I really have to get out and walk around the neighbourhood more.

Following on from this post about strange local flora, I recently discovered this bizarre looking tree. Deep red-purple colour and mixed textures make it seem like something out of Star Trek to me.

No idea what it is...

Exotic

Victoria's eye-catching flowers on display...

The current COVID crisis which has closed many attractions and events across Vancouver Island has severely curtailed photo opportunities. I've taken to hiking local trails to find interesting subject material.

This flower is one I haven't seen before. I've no idea if it's native or something imported. It resembles some of the flowers that we saw in Costa Rica about a decade ago.

The Tree of Life

Brilliants shades of green...

We were walking along Parksville's boardwalk. The sun was low in the west. We passed under this tree. I glanced up and was struck by how it positively glowed on the sunlight.

Lavender fields forever

A field of rich purple and green...

During a recent camping trip to nearby Salt Spring Island, we paid a visit to a lavender farm. Did you know that there are three broad kinds of lavender?

French lavender is used in the creation of beauty products. It's the one that you probably think of when you think of the flower.

English lavender is used in cooking.

Spanish lavender is used mostly as a cross pollinator. It's a pale white/yellow colour, not the traditional purple that you normally associate with lavender.

Prince would approve...