In the Laces: Wasps, Beetles, and a Snake Tale

Queen Anne's lace is a weed that pops up in the summer in the Okanagan from June onwards. It's delicate white flowers are quite striking and resemble little umbrellas. The flat-topped shallow flower clusters called umbels (word of the day) makes it easy for pollinators with short tongues, especially wasps, to drink nectar. I have … Continue reading In the Laces: Wasps, Beetles, and a Snake Tale

The Ruthless Robber Flies

I have been finding robber flies in a blooming patch of Sulphur cinquefoil, an invasive weed, during my walks. Aptly named, some robber flies are thieves and steal meals from other predators while others are aggressive hunters and rob their victims of life. Most robber fly species are hard working predators and are known to … Continue reading The Ruthless Robber Flies

Bug Buffet

I watched a flock of robins and other birds having a feast under some infested elm trees this week and was pleasantly surprised at how fast and efficient they were at picking up the bugs and how many they could stuff into their beaks. Some of them looked downright comical 😊. A few adult birds … Continue reading Bug Buffet

Happy Spring!

I have been taking in the sights of all the blooms in the valley - what a display! The cherry blossoms were unbelievable this year, as if the trees were making up for last year's lack of blooms caused by the unexpected cold snap. It is wonderful to see the cherry orchards doing so well … Continue reading Happy Spring!