Colour: Antidote to January Grey

The moist west coast winters can be a little grey, so I've been looking for colour on my walks. Here are a few images to counter the dull skies. These are from two walks -- one downtown and then over to  Fernwood, and the other walking home from a knee x-ray at the Royal Jubilee. I decided my knee can't be too bad if it can get me home!

Part of a mural on a building on North Park Street

Part of an intricate mural on a building in Fernwood, off Cook Street

Continuation of the mural in the above photo.

Another mural in the vicinity of the foregoing one. This one, in North Park, has simpler lines but still stands out with its bold colours.

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North Park mural continued

Off Cook Street near Yates. A bold design for a muralled door.

Street mural, corner of Richardson and Gonzales Streets. This was designed by Brianna Bear, and installed by Jesse Campbell, as part of the Greater Victoria Placemaking Initiative. I posted about a similar installation on Vancouver Street in July. See https://linesfromthecoast.blogspot.com/2022/07/making-places.html

The same street painting, from a different angle. I love how the bright colours seemed to glow in the dull light.

Outside a health practitioner clinic on Richmond Street 

And, a second image from the same health practitioner clinic. I enjoyed how the purple complements the yellow of the first figure, and the way the figures are articulated in their various joints to emphasize the message of movement.

I can always count on finding some bright colour when I go through Chinatown.

Off Centennial Square, transitioning to Chinatown.

In June Victoria celebrated the Year of the Tiger by painting the Chinese zodiac animals on a downtown crosswalk (see image below). Later this month, Chinese New Year welcomes the Year of the Rabbit.

Crosswalk on Government Street at Fisgard

This building always brightens my spirits. (Note the photo is older, from September.)

Mural in the Wharf Street area of downtown. For some reason this makes me think hot sun and Mexico!

While the skies might be dull, nature still has bright colours, even in winter; they are just not so obvious. Here are a few hidden examples.

Mossy stone wall reminding me how bright green can be! The brightest mosses on this wall were low down in the moistest, shadiest spots, out of the reach of the sun.

Yellow lichen growing on a rock wall. Lichen is an amazing life form, composed of layers of both fungus and algae.They grow in harsh environments that are too limiting for other life forms, and use air and rain to obtain their nutrients from their immediate environment. They can shut down their metabolisms during times of extreme drought, heat, and cold and are one of the oldest living organisms on earth. I've seen a rainbow of lichen colours -- red to orange to white and grey-green.

This moss covered boulder is tucked deep in a treed area of Beacon Hill Park, and provided a surprising contrast to the muted tones of the dried leaves.

I hope my brief tour of colour has brightened your day in this time of limited light.