SPRING HAS SPRUNG

DAFFODIL ISLET

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

This island has Daffodils on it! They always come up in the Spring. I can only guess that some planted them there? I’ll speculate even further & say they were planted there because someone who loved this area died & close friends planted them………….or at least it makes a good story!
I saw shot gun shells littering the island. Duck hunters use this spot to hunt from.

ROSEBUD

GIBSON’S GARDEN

It was overcast today,so I thought I’d head on over to Ken Gibson’s garden to see how the Rhodo’s were coming along?
The best light to photograph flowers is on a overcast day. Preferably after a bit of a rain too.
Ken’s garden is beginning to show it’s colours! Always so nice to walk among all of his beautiful Rhododendrons!

DONNYBROOK

DAFFODIL VISTA

EASTER DAFFODILS

I always visit this small islet each year when the Daffodil’s are blooming. Not sure who planted them,but there are three small patches of them. This spot is just north of the “Big Tree Trail”on Meares.
Looks like I took a shot of myself too!

RHODO PANO

CHRISTMAS CHEER

This Rhodo is called "Christmas Cheer". Ken tells me it's a tuff rhodo! It'll grow were nothing else will & withstand abuse! Very tough!

RARE RHODODENDRON

This magnificent floral display was grown by Ken Gibson. He planted it when he was 30 years old. He know is 70.
This rare Rhodo comes from NE India originally.( Manipur 8000-9000 feet)
This specimen was very large! I told Ken that If he could get a tall step ladder,that I would do a better shoot for him. I love taking shots of flowers from time to time. They stay put,unlike my animal friends.
The name is “R Macrabeanum” ( Flowering Tree) It’s colour ranges from a light cream to a deep yellow,or a greenish yellow.
Ken has worked for many years with his beloved Rhodo’s & is recognized Nationally for his achievements!
People actually take Bus tours up to Tofino for the soul purpose of visiting Ken’s beautiful garden! That in it’s self,tells you how well known he is in the Rhodo world!
Even his car license plate is “RHODO”.
thanks Ken

It was a unusual day for weather & as a result…….the light. I did take my camera with me out to the beach,but I wasn’t inspired by anything!
I came back into town & than noticed it getting brighter in the west. I came back home & went to the Long Beach Lodge camera. It looks directly west & gives a good idea whats happening with the local weather.
I went to the site & saw the sun was about to come screaming through at sunset! There were rain veils all over the place coming from very dramatic dark clouds! It was going to be a fantastic & unique sunset & I was going to miss it!!
I could only watch & grind my teeth! I hate being caught like this!
Can’t be everywhere. Oh well.
So as a second choice I decided to put up this Rhodo I just shot. With it being the first day of Spring,I thought a flower would be nice!

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

For a second day in a row,the wind was too strong for getting out in my boat! I just rode around trying to find something of interest!
The Tofino Botanical Gardens always has such beautiful flowers!
Spring has arrived when I see the Crocuses popping out!

Lily Pad Flower

Poppy

I didn’t go out in the boat today because of the poor light.
We had cloud cover all day. On days like this,I try to shoot flowers. It’s the only time you can shoot flowers really.
Clouds are Mother Natures diffusing umbrella!They make the light more uniform.
Tomorrow looks poor for light as well but we may have a good sunset?
Fingers crossed!
I shot all of these at the Tofino Botanical Gardens. They always have such beautiful flowers out there!

Iris’s

Poppy & Buttercups

Lupine

Ken Gibson’s Garden

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The light today was very diffused and the only thing I shoot when it’s that way are flowers,forests and nudes!
Ken Gibson has the largest Rhododendron garden you have ever seen! It’s a remarkable achievement and must demand alot of attention.
People come here by the bus loads specifically to walk around Ken’s garden!
The Rhododendron’s are coming into season and they will give a magnificent display for a month or so!
He lives up on 4rth St. and welcomes people onto his property. Bring your camera and remember that the best days to shoot something like this is on overcast days. Maybe even rainy ones?

Cherry Blossoms

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Strathcona and Daffodils

Daffodil Islet and Strathcona

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Somebody planted these here and they always come up each year! I call this rock,Daffodil Islet. It’s just north of the Meares Big Tree trail entrance way.
Normally I do not like to see signs of human activity when I go out in the wilderness! True,it is a domesticated flower but I do not mind it and you just know that somebody planted it there for some reason?
Probably to mark a spot where they buried a friends ashes?

First Dandylion

I may of gotten a shot of the first weed in Canada to stick it’s ugly head up?
While the rest of Canada is in snow,we are already into weeds coming up!
I think I saw a Mosquito the other day as well!
Do they ever go away??

Spring Flowers

The Crocus’s are always the first to get ahead start on the growing season.
I shot these at the Tofino Botanical Gardens.

Spring Has Sprung !

Actually it arrived several weeks ago for me.
I have a little ritual I do each year. It’s not Spring until you see a Robin !
I found these outside the Tofino Botanical Gardens. They have such a beautiful garden that it is a must see in Tofino!

Bull Kelp at Sunset

I went out to Chesterman’s beach and found a few subjects to shoot.

Poppy

I was out in front of the Tofino Botanical Gardens and the poppy’s were on their last legs.

Botanical Flowers

Poppy’s

These two poppy’s were at their peak.

Mixed Flowers

I just liked the different colours of these flowers.

Bull Kelp

I found this Kelp on the beach. It had a nice shiny wet look about it.
It roots on the bottom and has little air pocket buds that help keep it afloat. It reaches for the surface because it needs the sun to grow.
I read old Ship Journals sometimes. The journal of John Boit on board the Columbia was interesting. This ship visited this area back in 1791. They recorded many facts in their journals and one I remember was about this kind of Kelp.
They went into a bay down south of here somewhere and they always check not only the depth,but also the kind of bottom.(sandy,gravel,mud etc)
At any rate,I remember they said that this Kelp was on the surface and they were surprised that the depth was 20 fathoms! A fathom is 6 feet.
That means that the Bull Kelp was 120 feet long! Thats incredible! It was as long as a 12 story building!
You can eat it as well,but I’ll stick to a garden salad thank you very much.
Your garden compost however, loves it.

Tofino Botanical Gardens

The Gardens always have some beautiful flowers and I really enjoy the Poppy’s. I think it’s because of the rich orange they display!

Poppy’s

Spring always seems to truly arrive when these guys poke their heads out.

Tofino Botanical Gardens

I just liked the two different colours surrounded by the sea of green.

Poppy Buds

I found these in a local garden and liked how they were being back lit by the setting sun.

Poppy

The back light made this shot much better.
Many times I simply try to observe closely around me and see whats happening! I take advantage of whats being presented to me,but I have to slow myself down to see it first.

Poppy

The simplicity of this shot ,speaks for it’s self.

Flowers

I came across these little flowers at the Grice bay parking lot. Not sure what kind they are?

White Salal ?

I came across this Salal plant near Earth Mother on Meares Island. I checked with the local biologist and she said that she had never heard of such a thing.
I’m going to go back again this year and look in the same spot and see if it is still producing?