May 14th, 2026

Twisted Trees and Gnarly Branches

An exposed life isn’t easy. Some old trees in the Okanagan have twisted to survive environmental stress from strong prevailing winds and uneven sun exposure on steep, dry, or rocky terrain. This spiral growth strengthens the trunk, allowing it to flex rather than snap when high winds blow. 

Key Reasons for Twisted Growth:
Wind and Sun: Exposed Okanagan conifers often experience strong winds from the west intensified along slopes or lakefronts. Because the south side of a tree receives more sun exposure (phototropism) over many decades it develops a larger, heavier crown. The westerly winds push against this uneven, heavy canopy encouraging fibres to align diagonally forming a spiral grain, thus forcing the tree to twist as it grows.

Reaction Wood: Some trees growing on steep slopes, rocky outcrops, in unstable soil or having lost a major limb, produce “reaction wood” to rebalance themselves for better resilience resulting in uneven, spiral growth.

Adaptation to Harsh Environments: The Okanagan’s arid climate with hot summers, and dry winters can stress a tree, forcing it to develop these adaptive structural patterns to survive. Along treeline ridges and in upper elevations, constant wind stunts vertical growth and forces a gnarled, twisted “ krummholz ” shape.

Internal Water Distribution and Flexibility: This growth pattern acts as a structural adaptation, strengthening the trunk and improving nutrient distribution. It allows ancient, slow-growing coniferous trees to occasionally survive for centuries. These twisted trunks reveal the tree’s lifetime struggle against harsh environmental factors. It lays down extra wood on one side of the trunk year after year to stay upright. This develops a spiral grain resulting in a gradual twist which acts as a corkscrew, making the tree more flexible and less likely to snap compared to straight-grained trees. Sometimes genetics adds to the effect, or early damage, grazing, or competition for light forces the tree to twist as it reaches upwards. Over decades, that uneven growth creates a twisted trunk rather than a straight column. What looks chaotic is really a series of slow, adaptive growth patterns made over a lifetime. So this dramatic look is actually a sign of resilience and good engineering.

The oldest known native juniper tree in the Okanagan is an iconic, ancient Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus
scopulorum) growing on a remote rocky outcrop in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park. This twisted landmark clings to a rocky hillside overlooking spectacular Kalamalka Lake. It’s cherished for its extreme age (350+ years), resilience, and scenic backdrop. It is a notable landmark for hikers, photographers and artists visiting the park. 

Another amazingly bizarre growth strategy seen in Okanagan conifers are the gnarled branches of “porcupine trees”. Porcupines sometimes climb a tree to “girdle” or strip the bark off around its trunk to eat the sweet and nutritious cambium layer. This stops the transfer of water and minerals up the trunk. But one or two of its highest limbs below the strip may grow up as new leader trunks.

Look for these odd trees when hiking and enjoy finding them. Think about what happened and marvel at their survival adaptations.

 The ancient Rocky Mountain Juniper tree in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park.

-Photo by Amanda Smith.

The gnarliest Ponderosa Pine I’ve ever seen. Porcupines must love it. Plus it grows at the top of a steep slope.

-Photo by Roseanne Van Ee.

Roseanne is a long-time professional naturalist and eco-tour guide who delights in sharing and celebrating our amazing natural environment. Her desire is that you get out to enjoy and understand our fascinating natural world. Roseanne is locally renowned from her many years as a BC Parks naturalist, newspaper columnist, Allan Brooks Nature Centre founder, and environmental & outdoor ed trainer for teachers and leaders and as an ecotour guide. With an extensive background combining Environmental Sciences and Recreation and Education, she shares her wealth of knowledge and skills in helping others to discover our natural world in a fun and informative field trips, summer camps or other public event tours. She is always happy to answer any questions or have a chat about our ecosystems!

January 23rd, 2026

The Subnivean Wilderness

A whole new temporary ecosystem develops every winter wherever snow piles deeply enough to cover plants. It’s the subnivean (under snow) environment. High hills, subalpine mountain environments and northern BC reestablish subnivean worlds every November to April, and sometimes longer. In some places that’s half a year or more.

As snow falls and settles, it bends over grasses, shrubs and even young trees, and piles up on top creating a tunnelled network on the ground. The Earth is always giving off enough warmth to keep the ground air temperature above freezing. Imagine!; it could be -20C or colder outside, but remain a consistent +5C on the ground under the blanket of snow.

Mice and other small mammals live under this downy quilt of snow that shelters them from the cold above. The critters run around through their tunnelled habitat subsisting on lichens, seeds, fungi, plants, and some on stored food. Hawks can’t find the critters, so they migrate, but owls stay and listen. They can hear mice under half a metre of snow and dive down talons first to catch their prey. Coyotes can catch the scent of subnivean rodents. With a fierce pounce they dive into the snow muzzle first.

Snow weasels/ermine enter the subnivean network through holes beside shrubs and tree trunks to catch rodents. Spruce Grouse and Ptarmigans will dive into subnivean air pockets to keep warm, especially at night. By mid February the CO2 levels get high in these passageways and pockets, and the little critters come up and out occasionally for a breath of fresh air. Wouldn’t you know it; that’s just when male owls get busy supplying their ladies with food and furs.

Black Bears cozily hibernate under snow-covered fallen logs or against tree trunks with large, limber snow-covered branches that eventually close off the den once snow piles up.

Snowshoeing is a marvellous way to encounter this wild winter wonderland. Next time you’re out snowshoeing, see if you can identify the wildlife tracks. Look for subnivean world entry holes beside tree trunks or near bent over, snow-covered shrubs which look like bumps on the undulating snowy landscape. And realize there’s a whole busy community thriving under your trail.

If it’s warm enough, stay still for a few minutes. You may be lucky enough to catch some subnivean comings and goings. Bundle up and enjoy playing winter detective. Kids love this.

A female Spruce Grouse peeks out from a subnivean shelter on Silver Star. 

-Roseanne Van Ee photo

A Black Bear is snuggled under snow covered logs on Silver Star.

-Roseanne Van Ee photo.

October 27th, 2025

Look Up: The Disappearing Night Sky

Head outside tonight and gaze at the sky. Can you see thousands of stars? The Milky Way? A shooting star? Do you remember seeing them as a child? If you still can, you’re among a lucky minority. I was captivated by the night sky growing up in Edmonton during the 1960s-’70s, and later from my acreage on Silver Star Road. But as the resort and city of Vernon grew, the stars slowly disappeared.

For most of human history, our ancestors could look up and see the Milky Way — a brilliant band of light stretching across the heavens. Today, light pollution has erased that view for much of the world. In fact, 80% of Canadians have never seen the Milky Way at all. Since the spread of electric lighting in the 1870s, outdoor illumination has grown at an accelerating pace. Astronomers first raised alarms in the 1970s, when skyglow began interfering with telescopic research. 

Since the 1990s, excess artificial light has been increasing by about 10% every year. While truly dark skies can still be found in remote regions, even those places are threatened. In a typical Canadian suburb, only a few hundred stars are visible out of the roughly 2,500 that should be seen. In cities, more than 95% of stars vanish under the glow of artificial lights. 

What Is Light Pollution?

Light pollution occurs when artificial lighting is excessive, misdirected, or unnecessary. Light that shines upward scatters in the atmosphere, creating a haze known as skyglow. Other sources include glaring streetlights, illuminated billboards, office towers, and over-lit residential areas. Communities often believe brighter lights mean safer streets, but research does not support this. In fact, excessive glare can reduce night vision, obscure hazards, and lower overall safety for drivers and pedestrians.

Impacts on Humans and Wildlife

Preserving the night sky isn’t just an aesthetic issue — it’s essential to the health of ecosystems and people alike. Beyond obscuring the stars, it disrupts the biological clocks of all life on Earth which evolved in balance with the natural day-night cycles of light and darkness.  Artificial light disrupts human sleep patterns and contributes to health problems linked to circadian rhythm disturbance. For wildlife, the impacts are profound:

• Birds: Millions of migrating birds die each year after becoming disoriented by city lights. They circle illuminated areas until exhausted or collide with buildings. I witnessed this in Oregon, where dozens of birds lay dead beneath a lighthouse one morning — a startling reminder of light’s deadly impact.
• Bats: Artificial lighting alters their feeding and flight patterns, sometimes dramatically reducing their activity.
• Insects: Moths, fireflies, and countless other insects are drawn to lamps where they become easy prey. Light interferes with moth reproduction, reduces caterpillar abundance (a vital food source for young birds), and disrupts fireflies’ bioluminescent mating signals.
• Fish: Juvenile salmon are lured into lit areas where predators await, and adults may even rely on star/moonlight for navigation to spawning grounds.
• Turtles: Adult females avoid bright beaches, leaving eggs unlaid. Hatchlings often crawl inland toward artificial lights instead of the water, with fatal results.
• Plants: Artificial light alters plant growth cycles, triggering early budding or flowering. This creates mismatches with the animals that depend on them, disrupting entire ecosystems.

Light pollution can even function as a form of habitat loss. Many animals simply avoid brightly lit areas, shrinking the spaces they can safely inhabit.

Environmental and Climate Costs

Beyond ecological harm, light pollution wastes vast amounts of energy and money. When powered by fossil fuels, this waste also worsens climate change. Unlike air or water pollution, however, light pollution is unique: once lights are turned off, their harmful effects vanish quickly.

Simple Solutions

Light pollution removal is fairly easy, straightforward and highly effective:

• Responsible Lighting: Choose fixtures designed to minimize glare and light spray. Support manufacturers that prioritize dark-sky–friendly designs.
• Shielding: Use downward-facing, shielded lights that illuminate only where needed.
• Dimmers, Timers & Motion Sensors: Control lighting so it’s only on when necessary.
• Color Temperature: Opt for warm-toned lights (such as amber), which are far less disruptive than harsh blue-white LEDs.
• Awareness: Educate others about light pollution and advocate for better lighting practices in your community.

A dark night sky inspires wonder, sustains healthy life and the delicate balances of ecology.  Protecting it is not only possible but surprisingly simple: all it takes is less light.  Take steps to help out.  Saving the Night by Stephen Aitken is an amazing, short but impressive starter book for teens and adults on the importance of night darkness for all life on Earth.  Everyone should read this!  Our library has it.