Winter
January 6, 2011
The Pussy Willows have started to pop out beside the Cunningham Pond near the Petch Bldg!! ... The Indian Plum buds are swelling and almost opening on Bowker Creek Trail; Nodding Onions are up 1-2" in SSMB Courtyard & First Nations Gardens
The Native Plant Garden pond is overflowing the banks along the path again, because of all the rain.
December 24, 2010
Looking for more signs of seasonal change, to see if the plants give any indication of how long winter might last ... Cattail leaves are poking out of the swampy mud 2"-6", Indian Plum leaf buds are turning green
The deer are out browsing - they seem to like Ivy; I also heard two bucks clacking their antlers together, displaying their strength & skill before proceding to browse the ivy together
I discovered a small creek leading into the Bowker Creek headwater pond by the Faculty Club, coming from under the Circle road ... where this creek empties into the pond, a Great Blue Heron poised fishing among the young cattail shoots
I heard a bell in the bush, assuming it was a cat, when a Hawk flew up to an Alder tree branch, before flying off, accompanied by the sound of it's bell (no human handler to be seen ...)
(Click photo for larger image)
Tags: Animals, Birds, Photos, Plants, Place
December 22, 2010
Looking for signs of seasonal change, to see if the plants give any indication of how long winter might last ... Stinging Nettles are starting to grow near the Bowker Creek Trail entrance, Indian Plum leaf buds are swelling, Paper Birch catkins starting to form and lengthen, apparent in silhouette in the dusk sky, & more Witch Hazel blossoms are opening to their full glory
(Click photo for larger image)
December 21, 2010
Winter Solstice: (15:38 PST)
Tags: Sky
December 20, 2010
I was able to get some photos of the Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse, just before the 70 km/hr winds blew the clouds in; Eclipse Begins: Dec 20 - 22:33; Mid Eclipse: Dec 20 - 23:41; Eclipse Ends Dec 21 - 00:17; (A lunar eclipse at time of Winter Solstice is A rare event!)
(Click photos to view larger images)
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Spring
May 12-13, 2017
I participated in another 2017 Fort Rodd Hill BioBlitz adding 245 observations of 105 species
April 24, 2017
For Earth Day, I participated in 2017 Victoria BioBlitz of Garry oak ecosystems, April 21-22, adding 240 observations of 111 species at University of Victoria, Beacon Hill Park & Uplands Park
May 5, 2012
The largest full moon of the year, as it approaches a position closest to the earth.
Tags: Sky
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Summer
July 22, 2014
First Ripe Berries: Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus discolor), Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
Leaf Fall: Red Alder (Alnus rubra), Arbutus (Arbutus menziesii), Bird Cherry (Oemleria cerasiformis), Large-leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)
Tags: Berries, Leaves, Plants
September 9, 2010
Leaves falling: Big-leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum), Red Alder (Alnus rubra); Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) berries almost all red
Tags: Plants
September 3, 2010
Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton americanum) leaves laying down (Bowker Creek); Red Alder (Alnus rubra) leaves turning yellow & dropping
Tags: Place, Plants
September 1, 2010
Almost all Himalyan Blackberries (Rubus discolor) are ripe; Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) berries turning red; Salal (Gaultheria shallom) berries ripe & sweet; Indian Plum (Oemleria cerasiformis) leaves turning yellow & green, and starting to drop
Tags: Plants
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Autumn
December 8, 2010
Heavy rains, flooding foot-worn earthen paths and clogged drains. The ponds in the Native Plant Garden have risen and breached their borders.
Tags: Place, Weather
November 23, 2010
Native Plant Garden Pond is frozen over - someone has thrown large rocks to try breaking through ...
Stark contrast to a few days ago ... as illustrated by a photo today and one in August
(Click photos to view larger images)
November 23, 2010
While I was walking at dusk through the Native Plant Garden, a Barred Owl flew to perch on a nearby branch, watching the small birds peck for seeds on the frozen pond ice and snowy underbrush, seemingly unconcerned by my presence ...
(Click photo to view larger images)
Tags: Birds, Place, Photos, Weather
November 22, 2010
50 km snowy wind gusts; required ice-cleats to get a grip while walking
Tags: Photos, Weather
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