Somewhere Saturday - Mountain Blues

In July I had a brief visit the the southern Okanagan Valley and spent one delightful afternoon in the mountains above Osoyoos. The lovely blue butterfly above is the first butterfly I have identified using my field guide. It is a Western Tailed-Blue (Cupido amyntula). And occupying the same little mountain dell was a flock of very shy Mountain Bluebirds (Sialia currucoides). I suspect this is a female of the species since the male is more brightly colored.

Last One In's a Rotten Egg

Richter Pass

Here's a view from my recent holiday that never fails to please my eyes, the Richter Pass. The Similkameen Valley runs mostly east and west, roughly parallel and not very distant from the international border with the USA. The nearby Okanagan Valley runs north and south. The Richter Pass connects the two valleys. It is not often this spectacular yellow shade nor are the hills usually so green, effects of an unusually wet spring. These pastures are part of a large cattle ranch, another important agricultural aspect of this area.

Battle Bluff

Local legend has it that an invading native band who had camped on the top of this precipitous bluff were surprised at night when planning an attack on a small fishing village situated on the bank of the river below. All the invaders were forced over the edge except one who was allowed to return to his home village to warn them not to attempt such an attack again.

Prickly Pear (Opuntia fragilis)

These tough little cactus plants are VERY well protected but it's worth risking some inevitable punctures to get close enough to smell the sweet spicy perfume these gorgeous flowers emit. These are Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia fragilis) and were photographed above the Okanagan Valley in Mount Conkle Park.

Prairie Valley

Greetings all from the wonderful southern interior of British Columbia. I know I'm a day late but I had some technical problems to overcome, not to speak of being surrounded by what has to be some of the most beautiful scenery on earth. The above is called Prairie Valley and lies just outside of Summerland, British Columbia. I spent the day in those hills with some friends looking for Bitterroot and Prickly Pear cactus in bloom. I'll be posting photos of those soon. The brightly lit mountain in the background is called Giant's Head.

Nk'Mip Resort

Architecture with a distinctly New Mexican feel about it distinguishes the resort condominiums at Nk'Mip. There's also a swimming pool, conference facilities and a couple of gourmet restaurants as part of the resort complex. While the adobe construction may be faux, it fits very well with the desert environment.

Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre

The vineyard pictured yesterday is part of a larger complex that includes the Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre, which celebrates the local desert ecology and the cultural richness of the Okanagan native people. The striking wall on the right side of the above photo of the award-winning Cultural Centre is made of rammed earth.

Nk'Mip Vineyard

British Columbia has several wine-growing areas now but perhaps the most successful vineyards are those in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys. Here is a view from Nk'Mip (pr. In-Ka-Meep) vineyard and winery - North America's first aboriginal owned and operated winery. It's an extraordinary place carved out of the desert above Osoyoos. I'll share a few more photos of it over the next couple of days.

Old House

Here's another from my summer trip to the dry interior of our province. Back in the hills there's still many old log structures standing, beautifully weathered by time and the elements. Those who built them are long gone, as are their dreams and those who loved them.

Cowboy Country

On my recent holiday trip I visited the Okanagan Valley in the southern interior of British Columbia. The area is classed as a semi-arid desert and I love these sagebrush covered landscapes. This photo was taken on the road leading to the Dominion Astrophysical Radio Observatory at White Lake. While the observatory looks like something out of a science fiction movie, the surrounding countryside pictured above is classic boots and saddle scenery.

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There is a City Daily Photo Blog in this area, Kelowna, BC, with lots of good photos. Well worth a visit.