Trees are often shaped by the wind and weather. Some of the resulting forms range from soft curves to gnarly tangles, but are always interesting to observe.
Category: Trees
Beautiful, and Versatile, Trees
I’ve been noticing trees lately. They are diverse in form. The bark is unique to each species. They are one of the most beautiful, and useful, objects in nature. The way they are planted can provide protection from the wind, or sun.
People intervene, and the wood is used for various purposes. The tree rings reveal growth and weather patterns. Some historical events can be traced through the rings.
How many uses for trees here? box, bench, boat, deck, shed, fence, fuel.
People have used trees for thousands of years to build items of necessity, and also decorative, even humourous things.
And sometimes, someone just does this….
Atlantic Tour Tidbits – Part XII: Cape Breton Island
Our trip to Atlantic Canada was fast coming to an end, with only two days left before heading home to Regina, Saskatchewan. When we left the bed and breakfast at Havre Boucher, Nova Scotia, it was very foggy, but we decided to carry on to Cape Breton Island anyway, and hoping for the mist to clear.
There is a causeway joining mainland Nova Scotia and the Island, so we set off to find it in the fog.
Making our way across the causeway to Cape Breton Island.
A look at the causeway from the Cape Breton side.
What we could see through the misty fog.
Sometimes we couldn’t tell where the ocean ended, and the horizon began.
At last the fog began to lift, and we could see some of the island coastline.
Parts of the coastline were rugged and natural.
Other areas were quite bucolic.
Before leaving the island, we stopped at small gift shop, and information centre. Outside was this monument. The plaque stated that it was erected to the memory of Angus L. MacDonald by the Nova Scotia Association of Scottish Societies. Born in 1890, Angus was the Premier of Nova Scotia for many years, and also served as the Minister of Defense for Naval Services during WWII. He died in 1954.
Inside the Information centre, we were welcomed, not once, but twice!
On display was a model of the Blue Nose, Canada’s famed sailing ship.
Though it had cleared up quite nicely, we ventured to Dieppe, where we would spend one more night before our flight would whisk us away from the Maritimes.
Atlantic Tour Tidbits – Part IX: Hopewell Park
On our early summer trip to Eastern Canada, we were treated to many beautiful sights. Some of the most awesome of these were found at Hopewell Park in New Brunswick. On the way there, we passed the Chocolate (Petitcodiac) River. The Tidal Bore, caused by the Bay of Fundy tides, occurs twice daily. The water in the River rolls back upstream in one wave that can go up to 60 cm (19.5 inches) in height.
Hopewell Park is part of the Fundy region, where the tides can reach up to 15 metres (50 ft), about the height of a four-storey building, twice daily. The tides can rise an amazing 12 vertical feet per hour, so the area has attendants on staff to guide visitors off the ocean floor, out of the coves, and rock caves, when it’s not safe.
The trails are bordered by lush ferns, flowering shrubs, and interesting tree forms.
On some trees is a type of algae that grows in conjunction with lichens.
One of the park’s visitors decided this smiley rock needed some eyes.
Benches are placed along the steep trails in case a little rest is in order.
And here’s just one of the many danger signs in the park.
Driftwood has been used for some interesting displays. Is this one supposed to represent a rake, an anchor, a pick, or what?
Unfortunately, it was too early in the season for these driftwood planters to display any colourful blooms.
The park also had an interpretive centre, some play spots for the kids, and picnic places.
But, the real stars of Hopewell Park are the Hopewell Rocks.
I will feature them in my next post!
