Ralph Mills PhD
@ralphmills.bsky.social
Historical archaeologist, oboe and tenor saxophone player, photographer, runner (slow), 35 years vegan, gardener. Researches nineteenth century miniatures, working class mantelpieces, figurinai, and old railway wagons. Four cats. Saanich, BC 🇨🇦
Playing with the magnifier feature on my iPhone in between removing invasive Scotch Broom in Francis/King Regional Park yesterday. The mosses are wonderful at the moment, and amongst them are tiny toadstools! #fungifriends
December 1, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Playing with the magnifier feature on my iPhone in between removing invasive Scotch Broom in Francis/King Regional Park yesterday. The mosses are wonderful at the moment, and amongst them are tiny toadstools! #fungifriends
November 28, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Changed/improved the scenery a little up in Mill Hill Regional Park this morning by removing invasive Scotch Broom, plus a twig of the day! #fungifriends #Saanich #habitatrestoration
November 21, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Changed/improved the scenery a little up in Mill Hill Regional Park this morning by removing invasive Scotch Broom, plus a twig of the day! #fungifriends #Saanich #habitatrestoration
A long time ago I attended Enfield Primary School, in Adelaide, South Australia. I'm in the centre of the back row of this 1960 photograph of my class, all of whom are in the latter half of their 70s now, but who in those days had dreams to look forward to. #south_australia #enfield
November 20, 2025 at 4:21 AM
A long time ago I attended Enfield Primary School, in Adelaide, South Australia. I'm in the centre of the back row of this 1960 photograph of my class, all of whom are in the latter half of their 70s now, but who in those days had dreams to look forward to. #south_australia #enfield
A few more #fungifriends in the rain.
November 4, 2025 at 11:59 PM
A few more #fungifriends in the rain.
In the gloom of the forests beside Lake Cowichan it was pouring with rain. On a group fungus foray you can't linger too long over photos otherwise you get left behind! And of course I make trouble for myself by wanting to capture the smallest fungi using my iPhone! #fungifriends
November 4, 2025 at 11:59 PM
In the gloom of the forests beside Lake Cowichan it was pouring with rain. On a group fungus foray you can't linger too long over photos otherwise you get left behind! And of course I make trouble for myself by wanting to capture the smallest fungi using my iPhone! #fungifriends
Working on my photos from the fungus foray the other weekend. The heavy rain and lack of light meant that my results are even more amateurish than usual. But in the meantime, I found these just down the garden... #fungifriends
November 4, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Working on my photos from the fungus foray the other weekend. The heavy rain and lack of light meant that my results are even more amateurish than usual. But in the meantime, I found these just down the garden... #fungifriends
It’s black cat day. There are three in this photo.
October 27, 2025 at 11:47 PM
It’s black cat day. There are three in this photo.
Cowichan Lake Fungus Foray day 2. The specimens on display. 165 species identified. Quite the haul. I haven’t had time to look at my photos yet but will post one or two soon…#FungusFriends
October 26, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Cowichan Lake Fungus Foray day 2. The specimens on display. 165 species identified. Quite the haul. I haven’t had time to look at my photos yet but will post one or two soon…#FungusFriends
Went for a stroll around Osoyoos this afternoon, in the breezy #Okanagan valley, looking across the lake to Nk'mip Desert, the so-called "Pocket Desert" (i.e. all that is left), home to, amongst other rare plants and animals, Burrowing Owls and Pallid Bats (a splendid name).
October 13, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Went for a stroll around Osoyoos this afternoon, in the breezy #Okanagan valley, looking across the lake to Nk'mip Desert, the so-called "Pocket Desert" (i.e. all that is left), home to, amongst other rare plants and animals, Burrowing Owls and Pallid Bats (a splendid name).
Jerusalem artichoke showing off in my vegetable patch this afternoon. It’s about 3 m tall!
October 11, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Jerusalem artichoke showing off in my vegetable patch this afternoon. It’s about 3 m tall!
“Farewell to Spring” (Clarkia amoena) a little confused in a corner of my garden today, bidding farewell to late summer!
October 11, 2025 at 4:09 AM
“Farewell to Spring” (Clarkia amoena) a little confused in a corner of my garden today, bidding farewell to late summer!
This is my revenge for being called “carrot top” (amongst other pejorative terms) when a child (I had red hair in those far-off days when I had hair!). #gardening
October 8, 2025 at 9:08 PM
This is my revenge for being called “carrot top” (amongst other pejorative terms) when a child (I had red hair in those far-off days when I had hair!). #gardening
Fungus foray this morning. Not many specimens as it’s been so dry. But found some of my little favourites!
October 3, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Fungus foray this morning. Not many specimens as it’s been so dry. But found some of my little favourites!
My monster! #gardening Never managed to grow a carrot this hefty before.
September 16, 2025 at 10:31 PM
My monster! #gardening Never managed to grow a carrot this hefty before.
Obligatory vacation sunset pic…
September 11, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Obligatory vacation sunset pic…
Last stayed at the Alders Beach Resort on Vancouver Island some 30 years ago. The chalet is still here. Looks like the same chair is still here also! And some of the same paintwork…
September 10, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Last stayed at the Alders Beach Resort on Vancouver Island some 30 years ago. The chalet is still here. Looks like the same chair is still here also! And some of the same paintwork…
The view for the next few days!
September 10, 2025 at 2:02 AM
The view for the next few days!
September 7, 2025 at 12:04 AM
I’ve spent the morning in the garden. At some point I accidentally switched on All Trails and it recorded my route. I managed to cover some 0.5 km in 15 minutes. Worryingly it also shows me apparently hopping over the fence into next doors’ garden and breaking into their house! #gardening #exercise
September 4, 2025 at 6:49 PM
I’ve spent the morning in the garden. At some point I accidentally switched on All Trails and it recorded my route. I managed to cover some 0.5 km in 15 minutes. Worryingly it also shows me apparently hopping over the fence into next doors’ garden and breaking into their house! #gardening #exercise
A sea lion expresses what it feels about my presence in a small boat, bobbing up and down off the south east coast of Vancouver Island yesterday. It didn't seem impressed! #vancouverisland #racerocks
September 1, 2025 at 7:32 PM
A sea lion expresses what it feels about my presence in a small boat, bobbing up and down off the south east coast of Vancouver Island yesterday. It didn't seem impressed! #vancouverisland #racerocks
Not being a birder, nor having super equipment, I'm rather proud of this photo, especially as it was moving fast and zig-zagging about! I think it's a sanderling. Mystic Beach, Vancouver Island.
August 29, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Not being a birder, nor having super equipment, I'm rather proud of this photo, especially as it was moving fast and zig-zagging about! I think it's a sanderling. Mystic Beach, Vancouver Island.
In the greenhouse…
August 24, 2025 at 5:45 AM
In the greenhouse…
Park Patrol: I’m a volunteer Park Steward for CRD Parks. A peaceful wander yesterday along trails in Francis/King Regional park, on Vancouver Island.
August 19, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Park Patrol: I’m a volunteer Park Steward for CRD Parks. A peaceful wander yesterday along trails in Francis/King Regional park, on Vancouver Island.