Fabulous Ferns
Maidenhair Fern
In the forest, clumps of sword ferns with green, arching fronds seem to leap up from the forest floor. As the fall leaves scatter to the ground, it is heartening to know that the ferns will stay green all winter. In the spring, the new fronds, coiled up as fiddleheads, unfurl in bright new shades of lime-green. The old fronds gradually decay back to the earth, making a rich layer of humus. Continue reading »
The Beauty of Mt. Becher
Slopes of Mt. Becher
Last Sunday, on one of those gloriously sunny fall days, we made a spur of the moment decision to climb Mt. Becher. The trailhead, at the end of Forbidden Plateau Rd, is a short drive from Courtenay. The trail begins with a slog up the old ski hill, alternately known as Wood Mountain.
Things seem frozen in time here, and orange chairlifts dangle motionless in the air. Outbuildings with collapsed roofs, and other rusting equipment are evidence of the abandoned ski operation. All that remains of the lodge, which burned to the ground in 2002, is the cement foundation. Despite these remnants, there are stunning views of the Comox Valley, Georgia Strait and the Coast Mountains. Continue reading »