Paradise Meadows

Paradise Meadows in Strathcona Provincial Park has a number of hiking loops that are excellent for both photography and botanizing. We headed out to Lake Helen Mackenzie today on a family hike and I attempted to squeeze in some photography along the way. Thankfully, Alden our 2 year old, is a slow walker and likes to check things out as …

Cedar Abstract

I prefer to focus on the smaller details and patterns in nature. I admit that I’m not a good landscape photographer. However, I do like looking for abstract images in nature. For me it’s more rewarding to take the time to study an object and to look for the part of a thing that tells the story of the whole. …

Wetland Landscapes

Photography can be challenging at the best of times. Try throwing a 2 year old in a backpack into the mix. “Hold still – Daddy’s trying to take a photo!” You get the picture! Today we took an impromptu walk in Paradise Meadows in Strathcona Provincial Park with both kids in tow (almost 2 year old Alden and 3 month …

Introducing Invasives

An afternoon walk around the Courtenay Estuary revealed almost a dozen of BC’s “least wanted” invasive plant species. These introduced plants are either garden escapees or plants that have been introduced to North America from Eurasia. Over time they spread “naturally” throughout the continent. In bloom were Field Bindweed (Morning Glory)(Convolvulus arvensis), Hedge Bindweed (Calystegia sepium), Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica), …

Thistle Teach You

Some fantastic thistles in bloom this morning while walking the Millard Creek trail in Courtenay, BC. All three are introduced species from Eurasia and grow in disturbed areas like roadside edges, paths and fields. The flowers are quite beautiful in their own right and I’m thinking that planting a “thistle patch” in our flower beds might be a interesting idea! …