I was putting together another “random” photograph post and it turned out 4/5 were from the backyard. A post of backyard photos made sense so you’ll just have to wait for #5.
Kanzan (Kwanzan) Cherry Blossoms
I recently visited Queen Elizabeth Park and Stanley Park in Vancouver and there were crowds of people gathered around the various cherry blossom trees in bloom at the moment. The tree in the backyard blooms later, probably in the first week of May, and I don’t need to deal with any crowds there! This variety is the Kanzan Cherry (Prunus serrulata ‘Kanzan’) which is also known as Kwanzan or Sekiyama. The Kanzan Cherry has deep pink, double-blossoms, and nice fall foliage. The backyard Kanzan tree’s flowers are a lot more ornate than the usual cherry blossoms I see around.
Kanzan (Kwanzan) Cherry Blossom with Leaves (Purchase)
Fireweed Flowers (Chamaenerion angustifolium)
These Fireweed (C. angustifolium) flowers are a favorite of Bumblebees and Hummingbirds in the backyard. Fireweed often takes over in new clearings made by fire (or clear cuts etc), hence the name. C. angustifolium is largely known as Fireweed in North America but is called Great Willowherb in parts of Canada. In Britain and Ireland it is known as Rosebay Willowherb or Bombweed. Other names include Saint Anthony’s laurel. While I was making this photo several years ago a hummingbird buzzed by my head several times as it was not happy I was in its territory. The Fireweed itself seemed unperturbed.
Closeup of Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium) Flowers (Purchase)
Fall-bearing Raspberries
Organic fall-bearing raspberries in the backyard garden. Fall-bearing raspberries are sometimes known as everbearing raspberries because they can be pruned in a selective way in order to bear fruit during both summer and fall. Fall-bearing raspberries bear fruit on the current year’s new canes (primocanes). Raspberries are typically used in raspberry jams, in baked goods, on cereals, and in beverages.
Organic Fall-bearing Raspberry Fruits (Purchase)
Winter Heather Blossoms, Snow, and a Honeybee
In late winter or early spring the Winter Heather blooms in the backyard. There are a few local apiarists with Honeybee hives and the bees show up on good weather days as soon as there are blossom available. This year it snowed quite late in the season, and I made this photo of a honeybee on the flowers surrounded by snow. Not a usual combination in this area!
Honeybee (Apis mellifera) on Winter Heather Flowers in the Snow (Purchase)
For more newly published photographs visit my New Images Gallery in my Image Library.
