catkins

Natural Splendour of the Arrow Lakes

/ Peter Klopp / 35 Comments

Wednesday’s Photos

Winter Retreating Slowly from the Arrow Lakes

Last weekend under a bright sunny sky, my wife and I went for a leisurely stroll over the local golf course in search of more signs of spring. More and more patches of green had emerged from under the snow. The Canada geese were honking happily at the sight of some fresh grass. The catkins were ready to blow their pollen into the wind,  buds even on the pine trees were already swelling, and the clouds darkening Ingarsol Mountain added drama to the otherwise cheerful scene. Enjoy.

Natural Splendour of the Arrow Lake

/ Peter Klopp / 30 Comments

Wednesday’s Photos

Awakening of Nature in and around Fauquier

Oregon grapes blooming high above the lake

Oregon Grapes blooming high above the Lake

Catkins ready to pollinate the tiny red flowers of a hazelnut tree

Catkins ready to Pollinate the tiny Red Flowers of the Hazelnut Tree

Tiny, yet so beautiful - thousands of these violets blooming on our yard

Tiny, yet so beautiful – Thousands of these Violets blooming in our Yard

Birds announcing the arrival of spring on every tree

Birds cheerfully announcing the Arrival of Spring on Every Tree

Crocuses receiving their first spring guest in their floral abode

A Crocus receiving its first Spring Guest in its Floral Abode

Natural Splendour of the Arrow Lake

/ Peter Klopp / 30 Comments

Wednesday’s Photos

Hard Evidence for Spring’s Glorious Arrival

After a long and dreary winter, spring has finally arrived. Being four weeks late here in the Arrow Lake region, nature is literally exploding into action. The photos below have all been shot on a single day last week: one at the Fauquier boat dock, two at home, and the other two at the Taite Creek Campsite 10 km south of our small community. Each photo is glorious testimony for the miracle of life through the re-awakening of nature after winter’s long resting period. Enjoy.

IMG_3202BoatDock2

Nature’s Stirring at the Arrow Lake

IMG_2989Violet

Wild Violet showing off its Beauty

IMG_3209HummingBird

Hummingbird on top of a Pruned Maple Tree

IMG_3224Leaf

Tree Branches within a Serrated Leaf

IMG_3220Grass

Fifty Shades of Verdant Grass

Natural Splendour of the Arrow Lake

/ Peter Klopp / 23 Comments

Wednesday’s Photos

In Search for a Sign of Spring

Spring equinox has come and gone, and there is still snow on the ground. In my desperate search for a sign of the elusive Spring, I resorted to all kinds of tricks. Looking for animals, which read Nature’s sign posts much better than we humans can, I discovered the geese pair on the bare patches down at the Fauquier golf course and a robin on our yard pulling out from softening ground the very first earthworm. Taking a shot of the acorn I felt a little bit like I was cheating, since an acorn is a nut maturing in the fall. But it falls to the ground only in the spring to bring forth another tree. Surely. the crocus vigorously pushing through layers of leaves is a sign of spring For the hazelnut flower I had to set my macro setting to less than one cm to capture one of the tiniest flowers in the plant world. Enjoy!

Geese

When will Spring finally come? –  I guess, when the snow will be gone.

hazel nut

Hazelnut Flower

Robin

Robin looking for an Earthworm

acorn

Acorn ready to pop out

Crocus

How does the tender crocus manage to push through the leaves?