Wednesday’s Photos

Natural Splendour of the Arrow Lakes

/ Peter Klopp / 28 Comments

Wednesday’s Photos

Visit to the Burton Flats

Yesterday, the air was crisp after a frosty night. Still, the sun came out with the full brilliant force to warm and light up brilliantly the morning landscape of our beloved Arrow Lakes. A ten-minute drive from Fauquier going north on Highway 6, we visited the so-called Burton Flats. This low-lying area was once productive agricultural land. It got flooded when BC Hydro built a dam near Castlegar. The lake level is so low around this time of the year that one can see how narrow the Columbia River once was. There my wife and I went for a long walk to the original river bank. The following is a small sample that we brought home from our outing. Enjoy.

Natural Splendour of the Arrow Lakes

/ Peter Klopp / 23 Comments

Wednesday’s Photos

Week 3 of Bud Development Study

It is with great regret that spring in our area has so far been coolish during the days and downright chilly during the nights. Consequently, our flowers have been especially slow in showing off their colours. Normally, our cherry trees would be showing off their splendidly shining spring dresses. Yet, their buds are not even swelling yet. My apologies to all my faithful followers that there was not much change in the bud development! Today was the first warm day, and I was able to transplant my lettuce seedlings in our raised garden beds. This was the first day that I was working  outdoors with my coat off. If the weather continues like this. the buds will finally burst open in week 4. Enjoy.

April Week 1 TextApril week 2 Text

Week 3

Rose                                             Lilac                                       Magnolia                                    Azalia

Bonus Video

One of our sons living in Victoria, BC sent me a video that he recorded in his backyard with a crow producing some strange noises I had never heard before. Perhaps some of you specialists of the animal kingdom can tell me, what this mysterious call is all about.

 

Natural Splendour of the Arrow Lakes

/ Peter Klopp / 43 Comments

Wednesday’s Photos

Still in the Grip of Winter

While day time temperatures have been climbing above the freezing mark, there is no real sign of spring except for a few tulips on the south side of our home, where they had come up with a few leaves to test for spring-like conditions. But the longer days adorned by plenty of sunshine and a splendidly blue sky make up for the snow and ice still present in the Arrow Lakes region, Here are the most recent photos of our excursions around the lakeshore. Enjoy.

A-IMG_0176A-IMG_0195A-IMG_0206A-IMG_0207A-IMG_0222

Natural Splendour of the Arrow Lakes

/ Peter Klopp / 22 Comments

Wednesday’s Photos

Canada Geese in Distress

Last Sunday we woke up from the howling of an Arctic blast of cold air, which had brought down the temperature to -6 C. But there was no cloud in the sky and the sun was shining brightly. So my wife and I decided to venture outside for our walk along the lakeshore at the boat dock. The stiff wind blowing from the north whipped up the lake surface and produced giant white caps. We felt like retreating back to our cozy home. But when we saw Canada geese trying to stay warm by sticking their heads into their feathers, we had to take a few photos to document their discomfort and distress. Add to this scene the lack of food which normally is available from the grass on the local golf course, you get a picture of how these poor creatures have to suffer. Let’s hope for the timely arrival of spring!

Asmall-IMG_0089Asmall-IMG_0097Asmall-IMG_0128Asmall-IMG_0134Asmall-IMG_0141

The Natural Splendour of the Arrow Lakes

/ Peter Klopp / 35 Comments

Wednesday’s Photos

Ice Flowers on the Windshield

To all of my blogging friends living in warmer climes: I’d wish I could send you real flowers. But with temperatures much below freezing in the morning all I can offer you are the ice flowers on our car’s windshield. Applying a little bit of imagination, I found feathers, mountain ranges, canyons, and of course delicate flowers.  Enjoy.

A-IMG_0004A-IMG_0009A-IMG_0005A-IMG_0007

The Natural Splendour of the Arrow Lakes

/ Peter Klopp / 34 Comments

Wednesday’s Photos

The Wonders of Ice Crystals

Last Friday my wife and I walked through deep snow down to our favourite spot at the Arrow Lakes. Biene wanted to collect a few more stones for her rock painting, while I was more interested in taking a few more pictures.  From trudging through the snow and perhaps from the aftereffects of a bad cold, I felt so exhausted that I had to sit down at the edge of the forest. When I had sufficiently recovered, I looked at the surrounding walls of snow and discovered the wonderful world of ice crystals, which had formed in the process of alternate melting and freezing. Thus, thanks to my state of exhaustion, I discovered something I would have otherwise overlooked. How many different creatures can you see in these macro images? Enjoy.

A-IMG_1325A-MG_1338A-IMG_1334A-IMG_1340A-IMG_1341A-IMG_1348A-IMG_1351