Category: Community Blog

The tour bus on Boultbee Road on Sept. 24 was not lost; it was heading to Eva and Werner Bechtel’s home. Thirty-two of Werner’s classmates, celebrating their 45th reunion far from their school in Bonndorf at Black Forest in Germany, spent two weeks discovering our half of the province with a train ride through the Rocky Mountains and tours through museums and heritage sites. Twenty-four members of the group chose to enjoy an afternoon tea, at Lac des Roches hosted by Eva. The students agreed this was their best reunion yet and credited Werner for organizing a spectacular and fun-filled adventure trip. It was one of their previous teachers, Mr. Gut, who was along on the trip and turned the vacation into an educational experience by challenging his 60-year-old students with a pop quiz near the end of the trip about many of the sites they had visited. The next reunion is in five years back in Germany.

Need to know

Gravel dumped east of the rest stop was the beginning of a new approach for a cabin south of the highway, a huge and challenging project to meet safety standards. Blue flagging along the roads indicates where ditches require cleaning prior to next year’s spring runoff to eliminate the road damage experienced last year. Broken Saskatoon limbs along the road and in yards were caused by a hungry bear that ate most of the berries around the lake. It is hoped the free doggie bags will encourage dog walkers to pick up after their pooches.

Disappointing disposal

Illegal dumping of yard waste on public and private land is becoming a problem around the neighbourhood. Piles of grass clippings, tree trimmings and fire ashes have appeared on Crown land and unused private lots and are a disappointing eyesore. Since even the smallest inhabited lots around the lake have wisely been developed with a rustic flavour and include natural bush and visual barriers, it is hard to imagine anyone not finding a small corner of their property to pile and compost their organic garbage or cut up wood waste small enough to feed a small campfire during visits. Hopefully residents will rethink their behaviour and help keep this problem away from our pristine country.

Vibrant colours return

After several years of drab colours on the aspen trees, changing leaves are spectacular right now. Since the leaf miner started removing chlorophyll, aspen leafs have a silvery appearance in the summer, which translated to a brown leaf in the fall. The cold spring weather is credited for the late hatch and reduced destruction by the little white moth and now we are enjoying weeks of vibrant yellows and oranges as each aspen grove picks its own time to transition.

Summer over

A dip in the lake on the sunny and calm afternoon of Sept. 30 was not out of the question, as one neighbour reports, "The water was refreshing and did not take your breath away. " Rain and wind on Oct. 1 had the lake looking less inviting for a swim, but it was snow and the near freezing temperatures on Oct. 2 that convinced our hardiest neighbours to trade in their bathing suits and towels for turtlenecks and toques. Unlike the cold front that hit our area on Sept. 10, this change in weather truly marks the permanency of autumn.

Friends meeting

The annual general meeting of the Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake has yet to be scheduled, but is expected to be in early December.

Sandra Neill, canine companion, Nazko, and travel mate Don Jackson arrived home safely from their river boat trip in the Yukon. Despite a few hair-raising moments involving gravel bars, large rocks and fast moving water, Sandra says she is already contemplating her next northern trip. Don travelled from Australia for this adventure, saw several bears and enjoyed everything there was to experience in our beautiful country. Along the way, he was able to add some antique Canadian licence plates to his growing collection of souvenirs from around the world. It is a relief to have Sandra safely back in her relatively urban home in the Cariboo, compared to the wilds of northern Canada.

Fall drops in early

Anyone who slept in on the morning of Sept. 10 may have missed the first snowfall. The sudden drop in night-time temperatures signalled the beginning of frosty mornings, which are definitely affecting water temperatures and plant life. Gardeners are busy harvesting crops, cleaning out garden plots and greenhouses and filling compost boxes with spent plants. Several visiting grandchildren and their grandmas have been observed still swimming in the lake as the high afternoon temperatures still provide immediate relief from the skin-chilling water, at least for a little while longer.

Wildfire impact

A visit with family recently relocated to Peachland followed by a bus trip to Vancouver for her annual girlfriend pajama party was a good plan for Marguerite Neill. The unexpected wildfire in the Trepanier Creek and the evacuation order that ensued changed her return plans significantly. Although her bus was allowed through the highway blockade and Marg was able to get to West Kelowna, her car was stranded at her brother, Allen’s, house inside the evacuation zone. Luckily, after only one night in a local motel, the order was lifted, her car could be retrieved and she could drive back to Lac des Roches. When asked how her brother felt about his recent move to Peachland, Marg replied Allen is still happy with the relocation, but regrets having recently had all his outside windows washed as absolutely everything was coated with a layer of ash –even the inside of Marg’s car.

Work and play

The upcoming Thanksgiving weekend is an opportunity for residents and friends to partake in and watch the annual Boultbee Road horseshoe tournament. Many players and spectators will use down time during of the tournament as an opportunity to prepare their cabins for the winter. Structures may suffer from the affects of heavy snow loads and shifting ice, so it is common for residents to pull property out of the water and build temporary structures over stored items. Residents are once again reminded it is both unlawful and annoying to place private property, such as docks, ramps and boats, on public accesses. Many accesses are used heavily during the winter months for all types of recreational activities on the icy playground, as well as provide access to a year-round water source for firefighting.

Burning bans

Thankfully, burning bans are still in effect in the Cariboo. Yard work that disturbs the top few inches of soil, such as pulling weeds or removing stumps, provides evidence of just how dry the land is. The dew and frost in the mornings does little to add moisture to the ground and lack of rainfall during the latter half of summer has compounded the situation in this area. While small campfires have been allowed throughout the summer, they still could be hazardous if not monitored diligently during these very dry conditions.

There was no doubt among the 40 participants and dozens of spectators at the annual Boultbee Horseshoe tournament, that this year’s Thanksgiving weekend weather was the warmest ever. The tournament champions were in-laws, Tighe Lefebvre and Corina Lefebvre, part-time residents of Boultbee road. Those who opted to watch from the bleachers were thoroughly entertained by the non-stop action and banter that accompany such a large group enjoying a fun-filled family activity. This year was also reported as another injury-free tournament, which is always the goal with our aging population.

Prowling bears

Several bears have been scrounging for food at homes around the lake. Their target is any possible source of food and they have opened a fridge, overturned a barbeque, destroyed a compost bin, rummaged through garbage cans and ransacked an outdoor cooking unit. Extra diligence is required to secure property from nuisance bears.

Boaters enjoy water

Boats are still out on the ice-free water, and fishing success is picking up although most reported catches are of relatively small rainbow trout. Sailing is still an option although the unpredictable and challenging wind that swirls and gusts on the big lake can be even more daunting in autumn when the lake temperature drops below 10 C. Wake boarders and skiers, donned wet suits and enjoyed the last days of appropriate weather for their sport on the warm and sunny Thanksgiving weekend. Recreational equipment is now finally stored away until next year.

Burning allowed

Open burning is finally permitted, but due to the continued dry conditions, limiting burn piles to the size of a campfire is a very good idea. Heavy dew and frost is not adequate protection from wayward sparks and floating embers. We need significant precipitation in the form of rain or snow to make open burning a wise choice for dealing with yard waste.

Green grass lures cattle

Removing the cattle guard at the start of Boultbee Road 10 years ago seemed like a good idea as it had been decades since the old McDonald ranch was actually used for raising cattle by the Boultbee family. It seems the removal may have been premature when a dozen cows traipsed through the yards at the beginning of the road Oct. 6. No damage was reported, although they left their "calling cards" all along the edge of the road.

Look way up

The loss of our loons to the seasonal migration is always a disappointment, as we get so used to their familiar calls from the lake. Monitoring the skies this time of year can be both rewarding and quite thrilling. Since the lake is on a well-used flight path, thousands of birds migrate twice a year. On Oct. 9, it appeared to be a flock of snow geese that flew high over the lake. The late afternoon light shining on their white bellies and moving wings gave the appearance of a sparkling V-shaped diamond against the dark blue sky. Late that evening, anyone lucky enough to be outside and looking up would have witnessed an equally spectacular show of northern lights that filled the entire night sky.

Movie afternoon

Several ladies on Boultbee Road finally gave up on waiting for a rainy afternoon to enjoy a girl’s movie afternoon. The cold front and wind storm that passed through on Oct. 15 was enough to chase them indoors to enjoy The Notebook with popcorn and refreshments. The next movie viewing will be scheduled in the spring.

Geocaching, a worldwide recreational treasure hunt using GPS (global positioning satellite) technology and written clues, is a popular pastime. Caches, or treasures, placed in the Lac des Roches area attract seekers from everywhere, often using the search as an excuse for both local and long-distance family outings. The Fochuk family of Fort St. John stopped at the McDonald rest stop on its search for local geocaches and Jack, 5, and Julia, 9, were monitoring their hand-held GPS units to provide directional guidance to their parents, Andy and Allison. Andy, who works in mapping, noted that 10 years ago, there was one geocache within 500 miles of Fort St John. "Now, there are 20 sites in the city itself. " Information, clues and site co-ordinates can be found on the Internet by searching "geocaching. "

Firewood permits

Residents still bringing in their winter supply of firewood for heating require free firewood cutting permits available online for both the 100 Mile and nearby Kamloops forest districts. Permits for 100 Mile are now valid for a full year, expiring on Dec. 31. Kamloops permits are valid for a year from the date inserted by the holder. Their websites are www.for.gov.bc.ca/dmh (permits and forms) and www.for.gov.bc.ca/dka/permits/firewoodpermit.htm.

Abundant veggies

Vegetable gardens are flourishing during the late summer heat wave. Creative cooking using summer squash is a popular topic and recipe sharing for monster-sized zucchini is routine. Stir-fried Swiss chard and baked kale chips are popular uses of these two abundant and healthy veggies.

Signs of fall

Shorter days and longer nights of late summer attract many residents otherwise bothered by flies that frequent the area during warm summer days and night. Lake temperatures have been dropping steadily and while discouraging some of the more sensitive swimmers, likely account for the slight improvement of trout fishing success. Lawns and grass fields have only just started to turn to colours other than the lush green we have enjoyed all summer.

Celebration savvy

High spirits of guests to a wedding at the lake on the Labour Day weekend were not deterred by the cool and moist Saturday. Residents have learned over the years that tents and outdoor heaters are a wise choice no matter which month a celebration is planned for at our high altitude.

Hats off to MOTI

Many thanks go out to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) for notable improvements to the area. The McDonald rest stop garbage cans have been well maintained this summer even with the significant traffic and abuse that follows most long weekends. Additional highway hazard signs installed this year seem to account for the decreased occurrence of "close calls" noticed by residents during the summer. Thank you to all those persons responsible for the improvements.

Saddened by berry loss

After losing Saskatoon berries to wildlife this year, it is disheartening to learn the huckleberry crop is also very poor. Berry plants seem to be suffering from some kind of stress as few are lush and healthy looking and some entire patches have little or no berries to offer. We may be forced to harvest those delicate and messy thimbleberries after all.

Doggy duty

Thanks to the anonymous environmentalist who has donated much needed doggie bag dispensers at strategic locations around the lake. The problem of unsightly dog deposits on rural roads and at the rest stop seemed to be growing out of control this summer. This gesture may prompt dog owners to do the right thing and clean up after their pets.

During a week-long feeding binge, two hungry black bears have ruined berry picking season for many residents. Flocks of birds are the usual culprits when it comes to stripping a Saskatoon bush of its perfectly ripe berries, but this year black bears were ruthless, breaking the stalks of dozens of well-established bushes that have provided residents with bushels of delicious late summer juicy gems. Little could be done to deter the bears, often observed along the roads and in yards in even the hottest times of the warmest days. They must have provided quite a spectacle for unsuspecting travellers stopping at the McDonald rest stop as significant bear sign was found around the bushes in the fields below the lookout. Although unseen from the road, they are easily observed by those travellers getting out of their vehicles to enjoy the view. Wild raspberries, maturing at about the same time as the Saskatoons, were untouched by the bears but don’t hold the same appeal to the residents, keen on picking and storing berries for the winter eating. The bears haven’t been seen in the area for a while, but may be lured back as the delicate thimble berries growing along the roadsides are beginning to ripen. These sweet and seedy berries are difficult to pick and rarely harvested by residents and the bears are welcome to them.

Warplane performs

On Aug. 12, residents of Lac des Roches and tourists stopping at the rest area got to watch a surprise performance by a vintage aircraft, which had performed at the Vanderhoof International Air Show, on its way back to its home in the Lower Mainland. In his grandfather’s CJ-6 Nanchang, a Chinese-made plane similar to the Harvard used to train Allied fighter pilots in the Second World War, pilot Curtis Mann made a special flyby for the writer, his proud aunt, who waved enthusiastically at Curtiss and his passenger and dad, Barry.

Welcome relief

While many residents are lamenting about the lack of fishing success this month, the lake is getting a lot of use by recreational users. The hot weather in August lured many residents to the lake to cool down. Rarely does the lake remain calm for the entire day and any amount of breeze blowing across the water has a welcome cooling affect. For the couple of stifling days during which there was little air movement, the welcome cool night temperatures due to our high elevation, were enough to revitalize the warm-blooded humans and their pets for the following hot days. Shallow bays are choice locations for boatloads of swimmers keen on a refreshing dip. All kinds of new watercraft and flotation devises are appearing around the lake, including paddleboards and convertible kayaks, which allow users to enjoy the cooling effect of the refreshing water.

Lawful lake use

There is noticeable improvement of boating etiquette with respect to shoreline protection laws. Information distribution may be credited for the improvement, as well as several visits by Conservation Service officers checking for boating and fishing regulation compliance this summer.

Wildlife sightings

Late summer triggers a change in wildlife behaviour. Hummingbird sightings are rare, as they start their southern migration. Ground squirrels have hibernated, accounting for the infrequency of badger sightings. Maturing waterfowl, which have survived the many perils of our wilderness, are becoming difficult to distinguish from their parents until they attempt to fly and give themselves away by their awkward takeoffs and landings.

A beautiful summer day was reason enough for ladies from Boultbee and McCarthy roads to enjoy an English afternoon tea on July 29. Hostess Marguerite Neill poured the first cup of tea for each of the ladies who enjoyed a variety of traditional foods brought by the guests. The mandatory scones, served with Devonshire cream and preserves, were delicious, as were the savory Cornish pasties. The selection of finger sandwiches, such as cucumber, egg salad, asparagus and roasted turkey, were almost too decorative to eat. There were far too many options for dessert pastries and fruit to allow a sampling of each. A special thank-you goes to the many ladies who took the extra effort to prepare gluten-free goodies for a very appreciative neighbour coping with celiac disease.

Night shows

Most residents agree it was a toss up as to which light show was more spectacular on the August long weekend – the fireworks launched from a boat in the big lake, or the lightning bolts that flashed from every direction. Both got a thumbs-up for their entertainment value.

Mushroom hunting

Puffballs and shaggy manes are easily identifiable fungi growing abundantly in our area this time of year. Our fields and forests are filled with a surprising number of highly-prized and delectable fungi for those inspired to learn how to identify and hunt for them. Like bird watching, it is the search for some of the rarer species that enthusiasts find so invigorating. With mushrooms, however, the bonus is you can often eat your find, with due care of course.

Boaters beware

Boaters around the lake have spotted several partially submersed logs. Speed boats, skiers and towable craft are the most at risk and must be mindful of these deadheads, which seem to be moving with the wind and are not flagged.

Algae bloom

August typically brings the thick blanket of unsightly algae that clings to parts of the shoreline around the lake. Residents have been advised this algae is a sign of good health for the lake; however, it does pose a hazard in many ways. To motorized craft, it can clog water intakes and impede propeller rotation. Kayakers and canoeist will attest that it wraps itself around paddles and rudders making self-propelled watercrafts difficult to maneuovre. Waterfowl avoid it, as should dogs and swimmers, since it impedes movement. Because the algae floats, it picks up impurities as it travels on the lake, which is the source of its unpleasant odour. Removal of floating algae is not considered detrimental to the lake and is an acceptable solution for continued enjoyment of private property.

Wildlife sightings

On Aug. 7, a black bear was spotted at the east end of Boultbee Road and evidence of a bear was found at the west end. It might be the same bear, or there are at least two in the vicinity. Ripening twin and Saskatoon berries are likely drawing the bears back to the area. Evidence of wolf has been reported at the east end of Boultbee and several badgers have been excavating ground squirrel holes all along the hillside. An elk was observed at Birch Lake by longtime residents, confirming these animals are moving back into the area. Several mule deer does are raising their fawns in the relative safety of the Boultbee neighbourhood and are a treat for those residents lucky to witness their movement in the mornings.

After several extremely dry summers in the past decade, the unmistakable drone of fire response aircraft often stirs up strong emotions. Such was the case for several residents on July 12 when a lightning storm, travelling through the North Thompson River Valley, ignited a forest fire on a hill at the east end of Lac des Roches. Several reports of the smoke and flames prompted the immediate response by a spotter plane, followed shortly after by two bombers with fire retardant that appeared to successfully suppress the fire. Strong winds through the following day re-ignited the fire, which prompted two more bombers to attack the fire. Rain showers that night may have assisted with the final extinguishment of the fire. Despite the amount of precipitation we are receiving this year, fires are still a hazard and residents are encouraged to continue their diligent watch of the surrounding areas and report suspected fires to 1-800-663-5555.

Pets on vacation

Several medical emergencies concerning domestic pets on the July long weekend prompted me to advise residents of their options. The Lakeland Veterinary Clinic on Horse Lake Road in 100 Mile House is approximately 45 minutes away by vehicle but is the closest pet-care facility. The office number is 250-395-3110, which will prompt callers to an after-hours emergency number. Poison Control is available through 9-1-1 to assist with pet poisonings.

Roads maintained

Residents are thankful for the grading and applications of dust control to the local roads in mid-July. Smoother roads make for better cycling and decrease the noise from empty boat trailers travelling to and from the boat launch. The dust blown around from those few days of dry weather was making hanging laundry out on the clothesline a bit of a challenge.

Flowers

Sweet-smelling clover has replaced the dandelions as the predominant flowering weed in lawns and seems to be a more acceptable sight to landowners. Wild and domestic flowers are bountiful and thriving in the warm and wet soil found in the yards around the lake. Bog orchids, one of the more fragrant wild flowers, can be found along the forest roads and trails where water pools and in some of the wetter areas close to the lake.

Weed watching

Thistles and burdock were the most concerning invasive plant species treated by the team from Williams Lake in mid-July. Thistles tend to choke out edible grasses and grains that are preferred by domestic and most wild animals. Burdock plants develop large round burs, which become entangled in the hair and fur of animals and affect their ability to keep their coats groomed. Property owners who did not get treatment of invasive plants this year will be at the top of the list for next summer.

Aggressive wildlife

Several doe with fawns are feeding along Boultbee Road and there are many others nearby. Wildlife is unpredictable and can portray aggressive behaviour, which has been witnessed lately. Regardless of their reputation as gentle forest creatures, it is best to keep children, pets and adults a good distance away from deer.

Friends meet

Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake met on July 16 to discuss watershed issues. The society provided input to the Special Committee on Timber Supply Committee, noting the effect logging activity can have on a sensitive and pristine area, such as Lac des Roches. The next scheduled meeting is the annual general meeting in October. Residents are reminded that current memberships expire at the end of August and the new mailing address for renewals is Box 193, Bridge Lake.

Cariboo District Area L Director Bruce Rattray advises Canada Post will consider changing Area L addresses from Lone Butte to Bridge Lake, Deka Lake or Sheridan Lake if requested by local government. This change would not affect mail delivery itself, but it would change the official “city” designation on the address to a more geographically correct one. It would mean officially changing addresses for those businesses and private residents affected. Bruce needs input from his constituents and is asking for opinions to be sent to him at brattray@cariboord.bc.ca or 250-593-9359.

Busy long weekend

Despite rain showers, the lake was very well used. From most accounts, fishers had great success even though there was a wide range of watercraft using the lake near some of the popular fishing shoals. In just a few warm nights, the lake went from "a little too chilly" to "warm enough" for swimming and the temperature continues to rise with this lovely summer weather.

Be prepared

Operating permit, safety equipment, licences and alcohol seemed to be priority items for the conservation officer who toured around Lac des Roches and checked boaters on July 7. Several infractions were reported; however, they were mostly as a result of poor memories as opposed to intentional disregard of the law. A boater’s operator permit and driver’s licence may be safe, tucked away at the cabin, but its absence from the boat will – at the very least – warrant a warning ticket to the operator. Visits from both conservation officers and RCMP members can be expected throughout the summer at all British Columbia lakes.

Troublesome trees

Regardless of how it came to be librated, the huge spruce tree floating in the middle of Lac des Roches on the July long weekend has been relocated to its final resting place. Our safety-conscious neighbour used his big boat, latched onto the travelling timber and towed it to Snag Bay. There, alongside dozens of other displaced deadfalls, it will provide a new feeding ground for rainbow trout and roosts for waterfowl and birds.

Leaf miners

Finally, the aspen trees around the lake seem to be getting a reprieve from the leaf miner that has been plaguing the area for the last few years. Although there is evidence the little critters have been burrowing in the aspen leaves, there are fewer of them and the damage is minimal. With dark green, healthy looking aspen covering the slopes, we may finally enjoy some brilliant autumn colours this coming fall.

Wildlife watching

Bucks, does and fawns are regularly seen around the lake. The fox and several badgers are moving through the yards along Boultbee Road. Bear sightings had slowed down, but fresh bear scat near the east end of McCarthy Road indicates a bear is nearby. Up to three bald eagles at a time have been observed watching the lake from the tree tops on Carlos’ point and this probably explains why there has been a decrease in the number of waterfowl chicks swimming in the quiet bays nearby.

Lakes, ponds and creeks have been overflowing their banks with the excessive rain that has been falling in the area. For most residents, excessive rainwater is simply an inconvenience since the sloped terrain usually provides good drainage and water runs away from structures and other development. A wet spring however, can provide the best conditions for certain yard work. Poking rocks from grassy areas and pulling grass from rocky areas is much easier when the ground is saturated and loose.

Excessive water

Changing lake levels make daily lakeshore strolls somewhat adventurous, as the terrain keeps changing. Some boggy areas have become too wet to pick through, creeks are too wide to jump over and grounded deadfalls are either too unstable to act as bridges or are gone entirely. Trees and other debris continue to be dislodged by the rising water and travel back and forth in the lake as the wind direction changes. A wayward waterfowl nesting platform that spent two years lodged in the McCarthy Bay is now gone and has yet to be spotted in one of the many shallow bays on the big lake.

Better late than never

Our location and elevation is the reason for a late starting and short summer. The renowned Mayfly hatch occurs in June and July, not May as the name suggests. Our June berries, or Saskatoon berries, were only just flowering in June and are usually ready for picking in late July and August. Once again, our April showers arrived in June. Accompanying cold temperatures slowed the growth of many wild and domestic plants, but with any luck and if the optimistic gardeners in the area are correct, once the heat of summer arrives in July and August, like last year, vegetables and fruits will thrive – late but luscious.

Friends monitoring

In addition to water quality monitoring throughout the summer, members of Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake are a few of the estimated 2,500 volunteers partaking in the annual North American secchi dip in. From June 23 to July 15, water clarity is measured at fresh water lakes, using a specially designed black-and-white secchi disc. Clarity or transparency of fresh water is a key indicator of the health of a lake’s ecosystem. The British Columbia Lake Stewardship Society invites interested volunteers to contact it at info@bclss.org or 1-877-BCLAKES (225-2537) for more information.

Treatment team update

The team from Williams Lake is scheduled to spray invasive plants on private properties around Lac des Roches on July 9-13. Properties must be pre-registered for treatment (1-800-665-1636), and they’re if not attended to this year, it will be automatically added to next year’s schedule.

Chase is on

The Boultbee walkers recount their wildlife sightings when they meet daily. Lately, a common theme with the very active critters is "chasing" – of the usual and somewhat unusual kind. Reports include a crow chasing a ground squirrel; a fox chasing a mouse; a fawn (the size of a kitten) chasing its mother; a swallow chasing a chipmunk; a doe chasing its previous year’s fawn and a badger chasing a ground squirrel. Although not so much a chase, there are several accounts of black bear and white-tailed deer, high-tailing it into the forest when spooked by local trekkers and their dogs.

Simultaneous sightings of several badgers on Boultbee Road on May 30 had residents hopeful they had returned, but it seems the critters may have just been passing through the area, as the sightings ended after a couple of days. Anyone who does witness the movements of badgers or recent evidence at their burrows in the Cariboo Region is encouraged to report their sighting at www.badgers.bc.ca or call 250-398-4671.

Greens galore

A dozen enthusiastic gardeners toured Rosely Farms located above the McDonald rest stop above Lac des Roches on June 3. The sloped terrain on the north side of the lake seems to generate its own micro-climate from the heat that flows upward on the south facing land. Val and Guy Drebet boast a flourishing market garden that does well in our short growing season and may even include fresh corn later this summer. This year, Drebets are supplying produce through the Bridge Lake Store, as well as right from their garden located at the first driveway on Cottage Lane.

Painting on silk

On June 24, Eva Bechtel will hold her third popular class for this unique and surprising painting craft. Eva supplies all the materials for each participant to create their very own wearable piece of art and no experience is necessary. Call Wendy at 250 -593-4538 to register for the one-day class to be held at the Bridge Lake Community School.

Spraying delayed

The Cariboo Regional District has Lac des Roches on its schedule for herbicide treatment of invasive plants growing on private property. The wet weather has pushed the timeline to mid-July, but with so much interest expressed by residents, our area will definitely receive some attention. Natalie Borkowski can still accept applications if there is more interest expressed at 1-800-665-1636.

Keeping wells well

Spring and autumn are typically good times for sanitizing water wells, which removes the build-up of impurities in domestic water systems. A few days of inconvenience during treatment is well worth the improved quality and safety of drinking water. Periodic analysis is necessary to determine the frequency of sanitization appropriate for each well, but a rule of thumb recommended is to test water twice a year. Although the majority of area residences are supplied by lake water, back lots are usually serviced by wells, which need to be maintained.

Friends update

The Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake Society has published and is distributing its annual community newsletter, which will be on its website at www.lacdesroches.org. Note the society has a new mailing address for membership renewal and other correspondence. It is now Box 193; Bridge Lake, B.C. ; V0K 1E0.

Weeds dandy

Despite their many attributes as a nutritional food source, the dandelion plant is an unwelcome weed for most people. Fields and roadsides are blanketed with these bright and beautiful “Cariboo sunflowers. ” I admit I get over-anxious and take the weed whacker to these hardy and prolific plants growing both in our yard and on the boulevard. My brother visited recently and cringed at the sight of all these weeds. He claims to struggle with keeping his city-sized 20- by 30-foot plot of lawn, free of these unwanted plants. He did, however, give me a chuckle, worth repeating. He said, “When I die, bring me back as a dandelion – they seem to be able to live just about anywhere and they never completely die. ” Isn’t that the truth?