Return to paradise

Wild daisies have taken over whole fields in Saltspring's Duck Creek park, a phenomenon we were able to enjoy after making our first big breakout from Covid isolation in Vancouver. Photo by John Denniston.

I know deer are a pest on Saltspring Island, but they're a different kind of pest than the familiar ones in Vancouver. I'm at the point of appreciating anything different, although the neighbour whose garden this deer was happily munching will probably have another reaction. Photo by John Denniston.

A deer with tiny studs of antlers stood motionless on the road up from the beach, watching us haul bags and boxes out of the truck. Rabbits bounced across our yard, their white rumps flicking saucily at the strangers invading their turf. Quails – mom and pop and about two dozen little ones – carried on their chattering family life, rolling up the hill in their peculiar way, as if they had wheels instead of feet.

After an absence of seven months, thanks to Covid and other factors, John and I finally made it back to Saltspring last week. We weren’t as desperate as a friend who confessed to breaking into tears when she finally got into a car after months of pandemic isolation, but we were still pretty happy to see something beyond our Vancouver back yard.

Yes, we have critters in the city too, and friends and beautiful gardens and lovely places to walk. But after the same-same life many of us have been living during the pandemic, it’s near to paradise to see something different: birds on wheels; a sea-foam field of wild daisies, an up-and-down trail through banks of foxgloves, and a storybook cottage drowned in flowers.

Here are some of the scenes from our recent breakout into paradise:

A hike in Channel Ridge, a hilly area near our place in Vesuvius, gives us a look at a wild area of the island. Plus lots of cardio. Photo by John Denniston.

And these would be? We spotted them on our Channel Ridge hike, but couldn't decide if they were a plant or a mushroom. I've never seen such things in Vancouver. Photo by John Denniston.

Banks of foxgloves lined the path on Channel Ridge. It's unusual to see so many flourishing together. Photo by John Denniston. 

I kept admiring the foxgloves, so John dutifully shot them from various angles. 

Vesuvius beach just down the hill from our place is a swimming and kayaking mecca. Here, John is deciding whether the kayakers are worth shooting. 

Almost behind where John is standing is the Sand Dollar cottage, right across the road from the beach. The flowers in the window-boxes are legendary.

The front of the cottage has a story-book look, and has been featured in artists' paintings.

The beach as seen through wild sweet peas along the waterfront road in Vesuvius.

Another aspect of paradise is finding a good free book along the street. You can never have too many copies of Anthony Trollope's Barchester Towers. Photo by John Denniston.

Fresh locally grown organic strawberries for lunch! This was our first feed of the year, as the Vancouver stores we have access to haven't had many so far this season.

Our Saltspring garden is wilder than Vancouver's, but both have bird baths. Saltspring's was very neglected because of our long absence, but as soon as I cleaned it up and filled it, the birds were there.

We were delighted that a neighbour agreed to mow our lawn while we were away. It meant John didn't have to spend days trying to clear up a jungle.

John in that field of  Duck Creek daisies. It looks like he's in paradise. 

And another bow to the deer. This may have been the same one that watched  us unpack when we first arrived. Photo by John Denniston.