15 August 2025 – Here we sit, In mid-River.

There’s the Very Big Picture, literally picture, of the River streaming across western North America…

and the Local Big Picture, with its Rainfall Warning & stats…

and its 6-day forecast.

But there’s also the Local Small Picture.

It consists of the literal pictures right here on your balcony, the ones that translate stats & science into nature’s own response, in your personal here-and now.

The horizontal/vertical interplay between your gleaming balcony deck and the appearance of that deck though your rain-splattered glass door…

and the vertical-beyond-vertical of the mist-shrouded city block immediately north of your balcony, further blurred by your glass balcony wall.

There is also — as you step into the rain, to explore — the Balcony Small Picture.

Literally at your feet.

Your Autumn Fern, side view, each frond hung with droplets…

that same Autumn Fern, top view, every shade now moisture-rich…

and the neighbouring Heuchera, always its showy best when droplets glitter on those big fat leaves.

There’s even the Red-winged blackbird and the Dragonfly.

Eastern transplants like yourself, they are forever resident on the vintage garden screen that first looked out across the Bay of Quinte to Prince Edward County in south-eastern Ontario, and now stands guard over East Vancouver, looking north across Burrard Inlet to the mountains.

Fronds arch; droplets gleam; clouds explore the shifting dimensions of grey.

And bird/dragonfly/bullrushes — though made of metal — oh yes, they also dance the rhythms of this great River.