Bloom Time

Spring is my favourite season in the Okanagan.  The orchards are in bloom - cherries, apricots, peaches apples, it is just gorgeous.  Other plants and trees are flowering as well; forsythias, lilacs, maples, willows, Oregon grapes, Saskatoons, chokecherries, and the hillsides are covered with arrowleaf balsamroot (Okanagan sunflowers). Being a bug person, I am always … Continue reading Bloom Time

Enjoying the Sunshine

It has been a very sunny week and a lot of people are out enjoying the sun.  We are, however, not the only ones enjoying the pleasant weather. Our feathered friends and other small creatures are also having their fill. I went for a walk along Munson Pond Park and was surprised at the diversity … Continue reading Enjoying the Sunshine

Feathered Friends II

It has been a while since my last post.  Hope everyone is doing well and staying safe.  I went for a walk along Mission Creek Greenway with a girlfriend last weekend.  It was a beautiful sunny day, not a lot of "greens" and bug activity but we saw some sagebrush buttercups, a few bumble bees, … Continue reading Feathered Friends II

Bugs Go A-Courtin’

We have a lot of bugs around us and one is bound to come across some mating pairs. We saw a few mating pairs of bugs last summer and since it is Valentine’s day, I deem it appropriate to share the pictures and have a chat about some of the courtship behaviours in bugs. Date … Continue reading Bugs Go A-Courtin’

Feathered Friends

I saw a few birds while bugging around and on hikes with my girlfriends this summer. We found birds feasting on bugs and others hunting for bugs. I do not know my birds and would like to thank my birder girlfriend for the education. We went hiking at the Myra Canyon Trestles in Kelowna last … Continue reading Feathered Friends

Giant in the Pond

I went hiking with some girlfriends at Kentucky Lake, in Kentucky-Alleyne Provincial Park two weeks ago. It was a beautiful day and the lake was a sight to behold - amazing turquoise colour. That was my first time at the Kentucky Lake and it was worth it. I was lamenting the fact that it was … Continue reading Giant in the Pond

Praying Mantids

I saw an insect flying clumsily in an alfalfa field a few weeks ago and those who know me will probably guess what I did next – well I followed it until it landed and to my surprise it was a praying mantid. Not the most graceful flier :). The praying mantid gets its name … Continue reading Praying Mantids

Air Show

I saw an awesome display by some dragonflies during my lunch walk yesterday. Dragonflies have beautiful colours, delicate wings and very big eyes.  In some species the eyes meet at the top of the head and they can turn their head 360 degrees.  You have to be quite stealthy approaching them - took me a … Continue reading Air Show

Stink Bug Alley

Talk about a bad stink bug; the brown marmorated stink bug - it has made quite a name for itself and has been called the most destructive, notorious, annoying, ugly etc stink bug. The name is quite a mouthful, I have had people calling it marmalade bug and other names I am not allowed to … Continue reading Stink Bug Alley