Natural Splendour of the Arrow Lakes

Wednesday’s Photos

Good News

Hello, my blogging friends around the globe! I am home again, my colon a few inches shorter, and feeling quite well. I will start reading all your new posts today and hand out likes the easy way. After a few more days, I consider writing comments as well. While I was in the hospital, our son Michael took Biene on several excursions into the nearby lakeside parks in the North Okanagan. It was an excellent way of dispelling her worries about me. Next Wednesday, I will publish the photos she took during her hikes with our son. For all of you, who need some cheering up, myself included, here is a bouquet of wild arnica flowers. Enjoy!

Natural Splendour of the Arrow Lake

Wednesday’s Photos

May Impressions from the Kootenays

April showers bring May flowers. We all know the saying. I collected a few photos, which lend support for its general truth. But here at the Arrow Lake I must add the humming birds, which visit our area with the regularity of a clock at the time the trees are beginning to bud. A dramatic cloud formation is nicely rounding off this week’s photo presentation. Enjoy.

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Our Love Affair with Cacti

Hello to all followers of Peter’s blog!

Today you finally get to read and view my contribution about my cacti and their beautiful flowers. For many years now I have been growing cacti. Now let me introduce us with a picture of my wife Edda and me. You can also find us in the Kegler-Tree by clicking here (Chart II – IV). You will notice that looking after pretty flowers is not the only thing we do.

Bild 1 Edda Dieter

First of all let’s start with a picture showing the propagation of these plants. At the end of May in 2012 we visited La Gomera Island. We love the Canary Islands. We already spent some time at Lanzarote and at the more distant island of Madeira. On Gomera Island,  from the golden barrel cactus, Echinocactus grusonii  (1), I collected seeds (2) . Back at home I sowed the seeds and within a few days they were beginning to sprout (3). They had to be thinned out (4). Today we have about 220 cacti up to 10 cm in diameter each (5).

Bild 2 Aufzucht

But now let us look at a few examples of these beautiful flowers.

There are cactus aficionados, who later on devote their love to the growing of orchids. But I find that cacti as plants look more beautiful. We hope that you like the pictures.

We wish Peter and Gertrud lots of fun and success with their blogs!

Greetings from Germany!

Edda and Dieter Barge

Our Yard and Garden in the first Week of Summer

Photo Gallery to Mark the Beginning of Summer

Please note that this post will be the last one, until I resume my work in September. I would like to thank all my followers for their valuable input, most encouraging comments and likes during the first six months of my blog’s existence. For any newcomer dropping in there is a lot of viewing and reading material during the summer break. See you all back in the fall!