The Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary is one of our favourite places to walk. On this sunny Sunday afternoon it was a perfect place for looking over the city. Wooden rail fences keep hikers away from delicate ecosystems.
En route, we spied this woodpecker, on the ground, busily pecking away at something in the grass.
In the shady sections of the trail, fresh ferns look most un-autumn-ish, but are a result of recent rains and cooler temperatures.
The Garry Oak trees in the sanctuary have already lost most of their leaves. I don't find the trees particularly attractive, but they are highly valued and their ecosystem is threatened.
The hill is very rocky with the thinnest layer of soil that quickly dries out in summertime, resulting in dry, golden grasses. Soon, though, with the coming rains, things will green up again.
Grass and rocks against a blue sky. Autumn is full of loveliness.
Going through some picture files recently I saw this collage from two years ago. Many of the same flowers are blooming in my garden this year.
Linking with Mosaic Monday, hosted by Maggie of Normandy Life.
You took us on a lovely walk, the changing season and the beautiful wildlife is perfect. Great mosaic and reassuring that some things are the same.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to put the Christmas Hill Sanctuary on my list of places to visit next time we head out west. Love the flicker that you captured on the ground. Enjoy the week.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a beautiful place to have an afternoon hike. So glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteMeredith
Christmas Hill looks like a very interesting place to hike, great woodpecker capture!
ReplyDeleteHappy Mosaic Monday.
A nice name for the hill. Looks like a great spot for walking about. Hope you have a great first week of October...and you'll have Thanksgiving already in a week!? I sure like the idea of having Thanksgiving in October as opposed to our late November Thanksgiving. I'll still be thankful, though. :)
ReplyDeleteChriistmas Hill seems a fabulous sanctuary. To me the ferns look fresh and beautiful as your flower arrangement. Enjoy your week Lorrie!
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty montage of your walk...
ReplyDeleteChristmas Hill is a beautiful spot.
Hope you have a great week!
What a beautiful place to explore. You take such beautiful photos Lorrie. Autumn colour hasn't arrived here just yet, although I'm seeing hints of it on the tops of trees. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteWendy
Wonderful name for a Nature Sanctuary ... Makes me smile! Autumn is lovely in your part of the world! Your nice portrait of the Flicker makes me slightly green with envy ... Much better than the ones I posted last week or so.
ReplyDeleteLorrie, Those days with perfect weather have to be cherished this time of year. Love the grasses and teacups. Thanks for sharing. Sylvia D.
ReplyDeleteThat would make a good title for a book! And it is a wonderful area to walk. Love your pretty tea cups stacked too. I always get ideas for decor when I visit you. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteLovely collage there at the end of your post, and I really like your header. Autumn seems to have arrived at your place. One of our friendly woodpeckers was pecking away at our fake owl in the garden today. He was working so hard and all for nothing, so the Gardener decided to put the owl to bed for the winter until the garden gets planted again. Obviously it wasn't scaring the woodpecker!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these lovely images from your nature walk, Lorrie. Hard to believe that we're into the 10th month of 2016! Yikes!
ReplyDeleteChristmas Hill Sanctuary would be a favorite spot of mine, too, Lorrie, if I lived close by. What a great picture you took of the woodpecker!
ReplyDeleteI watched the Great British Baking Show, and yes, they would be proud of your cheesecake in your previous post. Me, I'd love to eat it....raspberries are my favorite!
You have some of the nicest places to walk. Was it as chilly as it looks?
ReplyDeleteNice name...Christmas Hill Sanctuary! Beautiful pic's.
ReplyDeleteChristmas Hill Sanctuary looks like an interesting place to hike these autumn days--I'm glad its ecology is being protected for future generations. Your teacup and flowers mosaic is very pretty, Lorrie
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty walk! It looks like a wonderful place to take an autumn hike. Love seeing the woodpecker and your lovely flowers and china. xx Karen
ReplyDeleteLooks like it was a beautiful day with lots of lovey things to spy along the way (even the Garry Oak Trees :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful fall! Love all you share.
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