Botany Photo of the Day

Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) is seen in the distance, eking out an existence. It is perched on the eroded bottom of the long-gone, ancient Tranquille Lake northwest of present-day Kamloops, British Columbia (Google Maps link centred on the area where this photograph was taken - zoom in for a close-up). This is the 15 000ha Lac Du Bois Grasslands Provincial Park, one of three provincial parks that protect British Columbia grasslands.

Photographed while on a southern ascent of Mara Hill (in the southeast portion of the park) I was struck by the lines of both the near and distant rockforms. The pine appearing in the groove was the icing on the cake.

I wasn't searching for any specific plants, but I did find one I've always wanted to see (I'll feature it tomorrow - it's cool). The point of the trip was to see hoodoos, naturally-formed columns of rock. The hoodoos of this area do not seem to be well-known, perhaps overshadowed by the Deadman's Creek Hoodoos further northwest. I still thought they were impressive, including the one that I've dubbed Rabbit Eating Douglas Fir Hoodoo.

I was planning on using this entry to also highlight the BC Grasslands Blog, but I see that it is being abandoned, and they are pursuing a newsletter instead. Somewhat disappointing.