Tag Archives: BC

More Than Sculpture

10/12/2019 svseekins Leave a comment

A new public art installation is just a few blocks away at Cedar Hill Rec Centre.

Earth Drums, Saanich, public art, Carey Newman, Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC, Pacific Northwest — photo by SVSeekins

Three squared totem poles mark a junction in the walking trail.
But these poles are more than just sculpture. They’re hollow boxes suspended on posts – –
box drums!
GIANT box drums!
How cool is that? Interactive art!

At the official opening, the artist, Carey Newman, said a few words about these Earth Drums. Then he introduced his brother to play a First Nations’ composition created especially for these drums.

After years of living on the West Coast, I recognize the raven on the tallest pole. The frog, on the shortest pole, is also recognizable. It’s tougher seeing the wolf on the 3rd pole, but eventually, I catch on.

The audience at the Official Opening was appreciative. I wanted to play with the drums right then, but shyness made me decide to come back when the crowd had thinned.

Yesterday the sun was shining & I explored the different tones of each instrument. Hikers seemed curious & interested in the dynamic installation, too. Its placement is a blatant invitation to play. Can anyone resist?

Then a gaggle of pre-schoolers surrounded the poles. A low burble of music ensued. 🙂 No, really – – it was music. The pitch was low enough… the frenzy actually became a pulse. It was more like music than any Christmas drum-set I ever played. (The neighbours need not worry.)

There’s some lovely public art in Greater Victoria. I’m glad my municipality (Saanich) promotes it. I’m especially pleased Carey Newman has the vision & skill to bring this kind of magic to our neighbourhood.

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Other Public Art I Like:

garden visits, public art, Uncategorized

Smile Of The Day 2

05/27/2019 svseekins Leave a comment

Strathcona Park, on Vancouver Island, is known for its mountain vistas & fantastic hiking trails. Although my knees no longer allow me to wander from valley to alpine so easily, there are still trails I use each time we camp at Ralph River. It’s a place of active living.

Accessibility Symbol Sign, Vancouver Island Island Victoria BC Pacific Northwest — photo by SVSeekins

That’s why I had to smile when I came across some new accessibility symbols around the campground. The revamped signs evoke active living, too. This is certainly more in line with some folks I’ve known who live lives with chairs. There’s no slowing them down.

Until now, it hadn’t occurred to me how the older accessibility symbol was so static & relaxed. Yes, if someone using a wheelchair is camping at Ralph River, she/he is not the static & relaxed type. 🙂

Strathcona Park, BC, Ralph River Campground, garden Vancouver Island Island Victoria BC Pacific Northwest — photo by SVSeekins

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garden visits, months 04-06: spring, natives, perrennials

Wild Yellow Violets

04/12/2019 svseekins 1 Comment

It is on a spring walk through Goldstream Park that we spot wild yellow violets.

So tiny!
But so precious!
(It’s very rare for me to catch sight of this native wildflower.)

It was SM who spotted them. Once we saw the first one, we noticed a few more further along the trail.

These are Viola glabella, AKA yellow wood violet, stream violet, pioneer violet, or smooth yellow violet.

They enjoy the moist woodlands of the Pacific Northwest & are even found along Asia’s Pacific Northeast.
🙂
I wonder how many more names they have there?

Last year I finally saw the endangered yellow montane violet (Viola praemorsa) at Playfair Park. It has fuzzy leaves & prefers Garry oak meadows. This trailside violet is definitely not it.

viola glabella, stream violet, pioneer violet, yellow wood violet, smooth yellow violet, wild yellow violets, garden Victoria BC Pacific Northwest — photo by SVSeekins

There’s another similar yellow violet, Viola pubescens, but it’s native to the eastern side of our continent. It’s definitely not this one either.

I first encountered yellow wood violets in a municipal campground in Washington State. Perhaps that patch was more mature, or further into it’s growing season because it was a larger clump.

Maybe it was bigger because it had a bit more sunshine? (Our walk at Goldstream Park was through lots of tall trees.)

I can easily imagine wanting some yellow wood violets in our own (dry) woodland garden if we weren’t tending a meadow of the western dog violet (Viola adunca).

Another friend (PS) has yellow wood violets in her irrigated woodland garden. They’re doing well & are slowly spreading between the other perennials. The challenge is sharing ground with the more persistent & dry tolerant western dog violet. They look so similar that it’s only when a dog violet blooms (purple) that PS digs it out, giving the yellow violets priority. It’s a longterm strategy. I have my fingers crossed for her.

On second thought, maybe I could find an isolated, shady spot in our yard where there are no dog violets & enough moisture…

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