Pics of Spring in Okanagan

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:19 pm

These plants don't seem to mind the cold wind. They say it's spring.

Honeysuckle buds ready to burst:

A little out of focus, but the Boxwood has a couple of new leaves!

One of my fav trees...a grafted weeping Larch...it's all of 4 feet tall in 6 years!

Oriental Poppy (the big-as-a-plate orangey/red type)

And a little tongue-in-cheek...the burning pile that started to get into trouble when the wind changed

So I had to hose down the pines at the fenceline to prevent a wildfire

Barb

Alchris · Post by **Alchris** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:34 pm

Your larch is way ahead of mine which isn't even budding yet. Mine has been in the ground 3 years and is only 3' tall. It is the highlight of that area for now. Eventually my yucca rostrata, and Opuntia whipplei, both of which I will get this spring, will become more important.

But for now the larch is the star. I have mine hung on a trellis as it is not big enough to stand on it's own more than 1 1/2' above the ground.

Your man made icicles are cool.

Allen

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:33 pm

That ice doesn't look good. I hope it warms up for you soon. They are predicting temps around the freezing mark here. If I get frost it will be the first time in April since I have been recoerding temps and that is 7 years.

Okanagan desert-palms · Post by **Okanagan desert-palms** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:16 pm

Barb nice pics.The ponderosa pine is my favorite with that ice on it.
John

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:55 pm

Nice shots Barb.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:15 am

Allen don't panic that your larch is budding slowly. Last week mine had just "knobs", and it's really moved along in one week, despite the %#$@* weather. Despite your wanting your yucca and opunitia to be "the stars"...I bet the larch will draw a lot of attention too, especially on a trellis! That'd be a nice pic when needles are on it.

Wes, glad you folks didn't get that bizarre snowfall yesterday morning (Chilliwack and Abbotsford area I rthink?)

The ice on that pine stayed frozen until mid-afternoon, even in full sun!
But...otherwise we would've had NO trees left at the fenceline (my heart's still poundin' over that wind change).
Fortunately no branches broke.

Thanks okanagan desert and admin...(jeez, where is my list with everybody's names on it????)

Sunny with minus 5 C this morning...still a brutally cold wind.
Talked to a Calgarian on the phone yesterday morning, they reported -18 C with the wind chill at 9 a.m.

If this is global warming, I'm shopping for longjohns.

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:28 pm

I avoided the freezing temps and snowfall. I still can say I have no frost in April so far

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:31 pm

Wes thank goodness.
It's supposed to warm up considerably by Thursday.
You "coastal palmers" will be in your glory.
I'll be out of my longjohns I hope.

Barb

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:52 am

Some forecasters are calling for 22 celcius (72f) which would be nice. I have a new garden area planned and need to run a bob-cat to accomplish that task. Good weather always helps at a time like that.
No frost here in Lantzville (north Nanaimo) although very close a few days ago on those clear nights. I did see a minute of wet hail on April 1 (no foolin') around 3 pm! A true sign of spring.

Cheers, Barrie.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:47 am

22 C will be welcome indeed...we'll send some warmth to our Edmonton friends too.
Just clouded over after a sunny start...man it's cold!

Barrie your new garden area...for palms?
A bobcat sure beats a rototiller any day.
Barb

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 5:40 pm

Cool here too Barb (relatively speaking) 10c / 50f and overcast, after a 15c / 59f afternoon yesterday. A sprinkle of rain this morning but a very calm day. I'll take some before and after pics of the work I'm about to undertake.

Cheers, Barrie.

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