Into the Woods
It’s a pleasant walk around the grounds of Westminster Abbey, Mission, BC.
Kermit the Frog lamented on the difficulties of being green.
It’s not that easy bein’ green
Having to spend each day the color of the leaves
When I think it could be nicer being red or yellow or gold
Or something much more colorful like that
It’s not easy bein’ green
It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things
And people tend to pass you over ’cause you’re
Not standing out like flashy sparkles in the water
Or stars in the sky
It may not be easy being green, but I always feel better when I am surrounded by it.
During our too-brief stay in some smaller communities in Canada’s forested and green British Columbia last July, we took advantage of the wilds on our doorsteps, and walked out into the woods whenever we could.
While staying in Mission, a small city on the north bank of the Fraser River, about 60km inland from Vancouver, we visited the nearby Benedictine monastery of Westminster Abbey.
Westminster Abbey, Mission, BC
The order was established in 1939, and construction of the abbey, church, and seminary, all designed by Norwegian architect, Asbjørn Gåtheat, started at this site in 1953. The monks took up residence the next year.
During the school term, the Abbey is home to the only Anglophone high school seminary in Canada and a college degree program. While we were there, however, the church was padlocked tight, and the grounds were quiet. We saw one small group of visiting religious – perhaps escorted by one of the 30 resident monks.
Orange-Red Berries
A damp climate with plenty of dark, green places, means slugs can usually be found.
The abbey grounds provide a commanding view up the Fraser River Valley.
A group of visitors inspect some of the grounds’ 70 hectares.
Pine Cones
From the Abby, it is not far to Rolley Lake Provincial Park, which – in the words of their own website – “provides a quick escape from urban life”.
Lakeside Loop, around Rolley Lake, provided us with with a delightful walk through more green…
Rolley Lake
A boardwalk section of the Lakeside Loop skirts over wetlands.
Once Were Woods…
Anything could be lurking – it’s like something out of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale!
Mossy Woods
If you get lost, just remember that moss grows denser on the north side of trees.
Spanish Moss
Woods and Clear Waters
Tumbling White Waters
Dead Leaves
More Moss
Rolley Lake is a popular kayaking, swimming and fishing spot.
A few days later, we had the chance to wander some of the seven kilometres of trails that criss-cross Cliff Gilker Park in Roberts Creek, on BC’s Sechelt Peninsula. We walked well-maintained spongy trails through Douglas Fir and Red Cedar trees, climbed stairs, clambered over rocks and crossed charming bridges over Clack and Roberts Creeks.
Small Waterfall, Cliff Gilker Park
Evergreen Trees
Spanish Moss on Lowered Branches
Textures: The Bark of a Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Small Red Berries
Salmonberry – Rubus spectabilis
Even the Mighty Fall!
Cedar and fir both have beautifully straight, tall tree trunks.
Fallen Log and Water Falling
Thanks to Joe Raposo‘s lyrics, Kermit comes to grips with being green:
But green’s the color of Spring
And green can be cool and friendly-like
And green can be big like an ocean
Or important like a mountain
Or tall like a tree
When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why
But why wonder, why wonder?
I am green and it’ll do fine
It’s beautiful!
And I think it’s what I want to be!
I’m glad – because I love it.
Photos: 25July 2012 and 28July2012
gorgeous as always…and moss in the southern hemisphere is thicker on the southern side and moss in itself is a sign of good clean air. 🙂 Moss apparently doesn’t grow in polluted environs 😛
True, Signe, ’tis good air in the beautiful PNW. btw: Where does moss grow on the equator? 😀
[…] gone back to Canada for visits, we’ve searched out little emerald patches of nature (e.g.: Walking in the Green; Tide Pools; Lighthouse Loop; Newcastle Island; “Strong Waters”; Clayoquot Sound; Walks […]