A male rufous hummingbird hovers beside a feeder at the Osoyoos Desert Centre. There were many of these tiny birds around as the centre officially opened for the season on Saturday. They can beat their wings up to 80 times a second, hovering in mid air or even flying backwards. (Richard McGuire photo)
Rufous hummingbirds darted about at feeders and a number of plants were in bloom next to the boardwalk of the Osoyoos Desert Centre, which opened for the season on Saturday.
The centre offered free admission and several guided tours throughout the day — a talk on burrowing owls, a walk discussing predators and walks showing off plants and birds. There was also a photo walk led by Peter Hovestad of the Osoyoos Photography Club with about 20 photographers of all skill levels participating.
Among the plants in bloom were the antelope brush, a shrub growing throughout the 67-acre Desert Centre, which was covered in small, yellow flowers.
Phlox too was abundant, with several varieties ranging in colour from almost white, through shades of pink to a more purple colour.
The indigo-coloured larkspur (delphinium) could also be spotted in clusters growing amidst the antelope brush.
One small, yellow flower looks innocent, but its common name, death camas, suggests it’s not to be messed with. This plant, explained Valerie Blow, restoration co-ordinator, is very toxic. Eating a sufficient amount will kill a human or livestock, while just handling it and then bringing your hand in contact with your mouth can make you quite sick.
Small prickly pear cactus plants hide on the ground, their long spikes ready to grip onto passing people or animals. These don’t bloom until June, when their yellow flowers last only a few days.
For more information about the Osoyoos Desert Centre, visit: desert.org
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
Valerie Blow (left), restoration co-ordinator at the Osoyoos Desert Centre, leads a guided tour where she talks about plants on Saturday as the centre opens for the season. Many desert plants are now in bloom, including the antelope brush behind her. (Richard McGuire photo)
Valerie Blow (right), restoration co-ordinator at the Osoyoos Desert Centre, leads a guided tour where she talks about plants on Saturday as the centre opens for the season. Many desert plants are now in bloom, including the antelope brush behind her. (Richard McGuire photo)
The pink and purple phlox plants are now in bloom at the Osoyoos Desert Centre. Several varieties of phlox can be seen at the centre. (Richard McGuire photo)
The antelope brush is in bloom at the Osoyoos Desert Centre. It is covered in small yellow flowers. (Richard McGuire photo)
The pink and purple phlox plants are now in bloom at the Osoyoos Desert Centre. Several varieties of phlox can be seen at the centre. (Richard McGuire photo)
Valerie Blow (left), restoration co-ordinator at the Osoyoos Desert Centre, leads a guided tour where she talks about plants on Saturday as the centre opens for the season. Many desert plants are now in bloom, including the antelope brush behind her. (Richard McGuire photo)
Indigo-coloured larkspur (delphinium) is in bloom along the boardwalk at the Osoyoos Desert Centre. (Richard McGuire photo)
Valerie Blow, restoration co-ordinator at the Osoyoos Desert Centre, talks about prickly pear cactus, which grows next to the boardwalk. The spines often attach themselves to people’s feet and legs and if they penetrate the skin, the moisture causes the spines to swell and makes them harder to remove, she said. (Richard McGuire photo)
Prickly pear cactus grows next to the boardwalk at the Osoyoos Desert Centre. This variety, which grows locally, is very small, but its spines are long. It doesn’t flower until June, when its yellow flower appears for only a few days. (Richard McGuire photo)
This innocent-looking white and yellow flower, the death camas, growing at the Osoyoos Desert Centre is highly toxic. Eating enough of it can be fatal to humans and livestock and even handling it and then putting your hands in your mouth can make you sick. (Richard McGuire photo)
Several varieties of sagebrush grow at the Osoyoos Desert Centre. (Richard McGuire photo)
A male rufous hummingbird hovers beside a feeder at the Osoyoos Desert Centre. There were many of these tiny birds around as the centre officially opened for the season on Saturday. They can beat their wings up to 80 times a second, hovering in mid air or even flying backwards. (Richard McGuire photo)
A male rufous hummingbird hovers beside a feeder at the Osoyoos Desert Centre. There were many of these tiny birds around as the centre officially opened for the season on Saturday. They can beat their wings up to 80 times a second, hovering in mid air or even flying backwards. (Richard McGuire photo)
A male rufous hummingbird hovers beside a feeder at the Osoyoos Desert Centre. There were many of these tiny birds around as the centre officially opened for the season on Saturday. They can beat their wings up to 80 times a second, hovering in mid air or even flying backwards. Bees were also attracted to the sweet water in the feeder. (Richard McGuire photo)
A man and woman walk along the boardwalk amid flowering antelope brusch at the Osoyoos Desert Centre. The centre opened for the season Saturday with an open house. (Richard McGuire photo)
Peter Hovestad, of the Osoyoos Photography Club, led a photo walk on Saturday at the Osoyoos Desert Centre on its opening day of the season. Shown here, he directs participants to move closer together for a group photo. (Richard McGuire photo)
Peter Hovestad, of the Osoyoos Photography Club, led a photo walk on Saturday at the Osoyoos Desert Centre on its opening day of the season. Shown here, he frames a group shot before getting into the photo himself. (Richard McGuire photo)
