The Shuswap is a lake and area of British Columbia where we have just spent a holiday week.
 |
| The Thompson river in the Shuswap |
The Shuswap is just north of the better known Okanagan, an area famous for its orchards.
 |
| Cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, plumbs, blueberries - all grown locally |
Some of the local plants are similar to what you find in the east, such as chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) and False Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum recemosum).
Among the endemic plants, one of the most common and most interesting is the Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) which covers much of the forest floor. It produces a berry which is edible, but quite tart. The foliage is used in flower arrangements.
 |
| Oregon grape |
Like at Roche Fleurie, one of the most common trees is the cedar. But, compared to the Eastern cedar (Thuja occidentalis), the Western cedar (Thuja plicata) is much taller.
The way the branches hang is much more elegant in the Western cedar.
 |
| Eastern cedar on the left, Western cedar on the right |
As you would expect, trees are a lot bigger than in the east, even if they do not reach the size of those growing on the Pacific coast.
We were lucky enough to see a skink, an animal we had read about but never seen. They are smaller than a lizard and much slower. That is why we were able to catch this one and take a picture before releasing it. Their tail is sometimes blue, but this one's tail was brown.
 |
| The western skink |
To conclude, a few views of the Shuswap lake which is very large, shaped like the letter H and made up of 4 "arms"
You had a nice holidays, Alain! I've never seen chokecherry but mohonia berry I have in my garden, but I never eat them :)
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful place you have visited!
Chokecherry grows wild all over Canada and I am sure in much of the US. A wine can be made with the fruit.
DeleteI have to walk past cedar trees to visit a friend. The fragrance is a joy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you!
DeleteLike, Nadezda we have that mahonia in the garden but have never eaten the berries. How lucky to find a skink.
ReplyDeleteThe fruit stall had me drooling.
That Mahonia is everywhere in the Shuswap. A very nice plant. As for the fruit, they are marvelous, epecially the cherries of which there were many kinds. The climate is semi-desertic but there seems to be plenty of water to irrigate, so things grow beautifully.
DeleteLooks like a wonderful time, Alain! Your photos are beautiful...and the skink is adorable! :)
ReplyDeleteThat little skink was perhaps the highlight of the trip.
DeleteI've spent a lot of time in the beautiful Shushwap. Plants vary from one valley to the next, from one elevation to the next. It also has the same variation in winter weather.
ReplyDeleteWe used to go regularly as my in-laws had a cottage in Celista. However it was sold a few years ago and this was more or less a farewell trip.
DeleteIt is interesting isn't it how one side of a mountain can be wet and the other very dry. So if you do not like the climate, a half hour drive will take you to a different one!
Looks like a great trip Alain, nice place to visit.
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning part of the continent! Thanks for taking us along on your visit.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous. We have been to parts of British Columbia - Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast. This looks like an area that would be wonderful to visit as well. Interesting observation about the eastern and western red cedar.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a lovely place to visit Alain. I'd never heard of a skink or a chokecherry before, so have learned something new !!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! What an amazing place to spend a holiday. I love the skink, he looks a bit like a newt. The mahonia is familiar in gardens here and it is very invasive, suckering and seeding everywhere.
ReplyDelete