British Columbia (BC)

The largest members of this forest are the shaggy-barked western red cedar and the furrowed, dark brown western hemlock.

Found in bogs this early blooming flower generates its own heat, melting the overlying snow and allowing the plant to grow up through the opening. Temperatures within  buds have been recorded as 27 degrees F. warmer than that of the outside air. The plant can reach 30-60 cm in height and its large bright green leaves can reach a size of 60 cm. This plant is considered rare.

Revelstoke

British Columbia is located between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. In 1866, Vancouver Island became part of the colony of British Columbia, and Victoria became the united colony's capital. British Columbia evolved from British possessions that were established in what is now British Columbia by 1871.

Facts & Figures

Admission to Confederation: 1871-07-20                             (7th Province)

Size: 364,764 sq.mi

Capital City: Victoria

'British Columbia': The province's name was chosen by Queen Victoria, when the Colony of British Columbia, became a British colony.

 At the top of the flag is a rendition of the Royal Union Flag, defaced in the centre by a crown, and with a setting sun below, representing the location of the province of British Columbia at the western end of Canada.

Highway 23

Facts & Figures

Netherlands: 16,040 sq.mi

England:       50,301 sq.mi

Skunk Cabbage Boardwalk

Giant Cedars Boardwalk

HW23 runs parallel - first on the right, then on the left shore - to Upper Arrow Lake; you get to the other side by ferry boat, taking us from Shelter Bay to Galena Bay.

During my stay in Revelstoke a couple of nice day trips have been made. I cannot get enough of springs, brooks, waterfalls and wildlife.

Revelstoke holds the Canadian record for snowiest single winter. An incredible 2447 cm of snow fell on Mt.Copeland outside town during the winter of 1971-72. That works out to just over 80 feet of snow. The townsite received 779 cm and snow levels were higher than many roofs around town by more than a few metres.

At home foxes scroll through the gardens but do not touch our plants. At my 'home from home' in Revelstoke deer walk the streets en thus the gardens consist predominantly of lawns.

Canada marked the sesquicentennial of the Confederation in 2017 with free admission to all National Parks where these wonderful bright (Canadian) red bear-chairs popped up.

Revelstoke is located on the banks of the Columbia River  near its confluence with the Illecillewaet River (try to say that three times after having one glass too many). The city was founded in the 1880s at the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR).

Revelstoke is situated in prime black bear and grizzly bear habitat; hence the life size black bear statues in the city center.

The half kilometre long Giant Cedars Boardwalk takes you into the heart of  an inland old growth rainforest with some of the trees over 500 years old!

As you may have gathered from the name, the Skunk Cabbage (Sympiocarpus foetidus) releases a rancid odour when it blooms in late April to early May. The bloom resembles carrion both in odour and appearance. This odour is used to attract pollinators.

LINK: Tuin - Zomer / Garden - Summer

The little stems in the photo on the left are related to the horrible Equisetum arvense in my garden that I cannot get rid of whatever I try.