Stream Keepers Course

Today Roy and I drove down island to French Creek for day 1 of a 2-day Stream Keepers Course. The course teaches the basics of stream management, first part of the day being in-class theory and the afternoons spent putting the theory to practice at a nearby stream. Anyone can take it and it's free to members of a stream enhancement or stewardship group. The course is taught by a biologist/consultant who practices in the area, a very knowledgeable guy who has insights and history of the streams and interesting stories of some of the wins and losses as humans attempt to teach Mother Nature how it should be done.


The class stands at stream side as Biologist Dave teaches basics of testing water quality and measuring and recording stream data as a benchmark for changes that occur over time.


Dave checks for undercuts and Roy looks on and records stream depth as measured.

Stream management is really about regular visits and recording of data such as water quality
(temp., clarity, PH level), stream width and depth, plotting of pools and riffles, stream gradient, bank integrity, bank gradient, vegetation, amount of cover and sunlight, type of bottom (silt, gravel) all of this creating a picture of the viability of the stream as a fish habitat. It's about knowing your stream enough to recognize changes or threats to its health. I have to admit my head was close to bursting by the end of the day. This amount of information is overwhelming.
When class ended Roy and I did a quick walk around French Creek Marina, a large bustling fishing harbour.




We found the store that sold fresh fish, bought some halibut for dinner and headed home.
Tomorrow is about fish and other stream dwelling invertebrates...ouch, my head is hurting again.

In Miniature

We met a lot of people during the construction of our home, and had the pleasure of meeting and visiting the home of a roofer in Nanaimo. In addition to his roofing business he and his wife keep, breed and show miniature horses. And they are really small. The tallest is about 32" at the shoulder, not much bigger than a large dog. And like a dog, apparently these miniature horses are very intelligent and trainable to be "seeing-eye horses". Who would have guessed?
Pat and I visited the farm and I got a few pictures of the little guys, a couple with new foals.






Had she been carrying a purse big enough I think Pat might have tried to sneak one out with her. Why not? A miniature horse would fit in perfectly with her menagerie.

Milner Gardens

I haven't posted for a while because we've been very busy with: visitors (brother Bob, Regina, Daniel, Jessie and Brandon), with dinner parties, more visitors (sister Pat), Birthdays (Dad, Roy and Norman) and the usual everyday stuff; shopping for furniture, blinds etc., hanging pictures and ongoing unpacking of boxes and finishing of trim. Yikes!
During all of this Roy and I went on a Sunday morning outing to Milner Gardens in Qualicum Beach. The property was a private homestead but has become a public garden with winding walkways through rhododendron groves, paths through the woodlands, secluded benches with views across the strait, a tea room, souvenir shop etc. Very pretty place to visit in any season.

We Won!

...a nice big roast at the Bowser
Legion Meat Draw on Friday night.
Who says we're losers?

Colour comes to the Rain Forest

It's still cool and wet here but you wouldn't know it by the burst of growth and appearance of flowers these past few weeks. I know spring is also on it's way to the east - you can feel it's coming. Hopefully these pictures will give you strength to hold on for the next few weeks...


A Rhododendron on the lawn down the street and Primulas poking through the debris.


Snowdrops, the first to show (and long past now) and Trillium's growing along the creek.


Crocuses and Hyacinth and a lone Daffodil in Mom's garden.


Daffodils on Ian's lawn, Forsythia and Bluebells.


Heather growing along Joyce's garden path and a sure sign of spring: Skunk Cabbages growing in the woods.

And last but not least...
if the Home Depot says it, then it must be so