Festive Windows

My last post was on the tranquility of nature at this time of year. For Canadians, though, the time around the solstice is one of merriment and cheer. I'm drawn to look at the season through the eyes of shop-keepers and passers-by. These are a few scenes of windows from downtown Victoria.

This is about as colourful as a window can get! 

From the same store... festive without red and green

A jewelry store with all the sparkle of Christmas, again without the traditional red and green.

This jewelry store has chosen traditional colours in its display, but has built an attractive design based on the hexagon.

One last store jewelry store window, this one monochromatic and elegant .

Murchies has used some heritage toys... of course, with a teapot in the scene.

The teapot is the clue... another scene in Murchies' window.

I liked the emphasis on peace in this store.

Ornament on the Chrismas tree at my optometrist's.

An indigenous themed window

Part of the Rogers Chocolate display. I like the attention to detail in the custom printed ribbon on Rudolph.

Another part of the Rogers window display...an heirloom Santa.

I've featured window displays from the Tuscan Kitchen before. I enjoyed the restrained appeal of this one, with the bright reds and shiny stainless steel complementing the dark greens of the boughs.

The Bay calls this theme "stripes". Soon the original Bay blanket stripes might be forgotten as they become incorporated into many other products.

Hanging over the "stripes" collection is this mannequin in a canoe.

While not a window, the Bay Centre's magic has to be included. I have to think that a child would be captivated by this scene.

A closer view of the Bay Centre's Christmas tree

Wishing you all a festive season rooted in love and friendship.

The Tranquil Season

It's the time of year when nature is resting. There's a calmness and hush to the earth. Here in Victoria skies are muted, and so are colours.

Part of the Christ Church Cathedral complex

Another scene of monochromatic colours, along Vancouver Street

Late November foliage adds some colour to this James Bay house

At this time of year, with the trees barren of leaves, it's easier to appreciate the architecture of trunk and branches, and the texture of bark.

The thicket of conifers at the top of Beacon Hill. The trail winds through the trees so the walker can enjoy the bark close up.

The delicate bark of a birch tree. Birch bark naturally peels off, exposing new bark underneath.

With its leaves gone, this multi-branched, large canopy tree at Beacon Hill Park becomes even more dramatic.

Another Beacon Hill Park tree, devoid of foliage and showing its mossy branches.

Muted colours of a Garry Oak meadow with lichen and moss covered rocks in the foreground. The mosses green up with the fall rains. These were brown in  August.

Burls on a tree in Beacon Hill Park encourage the passer-by to stop and examine the trunk. Burls seem to be associated with some sort of stress on the tree.

 

Bark of the Giant Sequoia has a reddish tone when illuminated by light

In November and December colours are muted in the intertidal zone, as well as inland.

Kelp at the end of its growing season, washed ashore in a late fall storm. This is part of nature's cycle; another season of growth will soon begin.

Amidst the tranquility of late fall's monochromatic colours, nature still gives us small hints of colour.

The bark of an arbutus shines with moisture after a rainfall. Arbutus trees naturally shed the outer layers of bark. Apparently this helps the tree rid itself of mosses, lichens and insects that might harm the tree.

Early morning sun casts an orange glow on this clump of trees along Dallas Road

It's a time of year to slow down, and find stillness in this season when the light is limited. I am ever grateful to be living in this place of quiet streets, abundant trees and kelpy sea.