Cotton and Berries

Cottonwood Tree

The fruits have split to release the seeds into the air.
There is "cotton" floating everywhere lately.

I found this rather large airy bundle
not too far from the parent tree.
Soon, it too will be loosened and scattered
by nature's helper, the wind.

Closer view of the silky tufts attached to the seeds,

which are easily dispersed by the wind.

This Cedar Waxwing and a couple of friends

were investigating the Serviceberry shrubs the other day.
It's a little early, but perhaps they're staking a claim.

Ready to pick July/August.

By the Lake

On a recent visit to one of my favourite places in this region of British Columbia I came across several interesting plants that were growing along the lake shore. The first one was the Cottonwood tree with all the lovely fruits hanging from it. It looked tropical, growing as it did, all but in the water. The next one was the Artemisia or Wormwood, common to this particular area. I have seen this plant before at the historic site here and wondered then if Europeans had brought it over and planted it in their gardens. I almost walked by the third plant barely glancing at it because of its similarity to the dandelion. But there was something different about it that caught my inexpert eye, and I came back to have a closer look.

Stuart Lake, Fort St. James
Green Grapes?

No, it's the fruit
of the Cottonwood tree.

Stuart Lake, Fort St. James

Wormwood, a non-native species

It has a camphor-like scent and has been used
to repel fleas and moths.

Stuart Lake, Fort St. James

Western Salsify
Tragopogon dubius
Aster Family

Other common names are
Western Goat's Beard and Wild Oysterplant.
It was introduced from Europe.

This roadside plant with its distinctive flower
(notice the bracts which are a feature of all Salsify species)

is found in every Canadian province
except Newfoundland and the territories.
Considered an invasive plant in some areas.

A Drive to the Beach

Yesterday was so warm and pleasant that, on the spur of the moment, we decided to go to the beach.

Our drive took us north on Highway 27 to Fort St. James, a former fur trading post at the southeast end of Stuart Lake. It has always been a favourite spot for camping and fishing, and we like to bring our visitors here to see the National Historic Park and lake. The highway itself has very little traffic on it. Our destination was Cottonwood Park. The lake and distant hills shimmered in the morning sun, and we couldn't take our eyes off the view before us. The gulls were entertaining, and all in all we had a very relaxing time.

Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis
(pale eyes, yellow bill with black ring, yellowish legs, white spots on black primaries)

A stroll along the shore

An historic church overlooking Stuart Lake

I'm not sure what these crows were doing,
having a bath, getting a drink or just being crows

Cottonwood Trees lining the waterfront

Boats on the water
This large lake is 75 km (47 miles) long

Found: One bright red fishing float

Black Cottonwood

Populus trichocarpa

There is a beautiful cottonwood tree growing beside the path where I walk almost every day. Yesterday I smelled its lovely fragrance for the first time this year - it smells of Spring! It's always this way when its shiny new leaves begin to emerge, and I love to walk by it just to have its wonderful scent to take with me through my day.

The cottonwood is considered a sacred tree by many Native North Americans and is the Lakota sun dance tree. A limb cut crosswise reveals a five-pointed star in the cross section, the "Morning Star".

Sheltering canopy

with dangling catkins;
some have fallen to the ground
in the spring breezes.
New green leaves push forth.

Sturdy limb

Long, pointed folded leaf

atop a grooved branch

Sweet-smelling resin

permeates the air

Young Cottonwood

growing with
several other off shoots
close to the parent tree.

Close-up of the leaf bud

and beautiful stalk

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