Esquimalt Lagoon

Here's another scene I have not visited since the early summer and now the leaves are turning on the far side of Esquimalt Lagoon where Hatley Castle is just visible. I wanted to try out some new extension tubes that enable one to use an ordinary lens as if it were a macro and shoot close-ups. To the right is a sample - there's lots of this Gumweed (Grindelia integrifolia) growing all along the shore of the lagoon,

Puget Sound Gumweed (Grindelia integrifolia)

In yesterday's photo of Whiffen Spit you can see some yellow flowers scattered here and there on both sides of the trail. Above is a close-up of this hardy wild flower, Puget Sound Gumweed (Grindelia integrifolia). If you look closely at the buds just below the flower you can see some gooey, milky, sticky latex. I suspect the plant exudes this substance for protection from pests and predators. In any case it is the reason the numerous species of this plant are called Gumweed. Though everything else is dried up and brown this "weed" provides a welcome bit of color.