Spring's promise notwithstanding, and the soft sough of blossomed fragrance present, Enderby underwent a shock of nature in recent days.
Ambitious Beavers, building their own homes and habitats, are said to be the cause of destruction to the Kingfisher Habitat, and the isolation of about two hundred residents due to resulting flooding.
The North Okanagan is as fertile and fragrant as any southern British Columbian locality, and especially at this time of year. It may be a small consolation, to those citizens whose lives have been disrupted by the beavers efforts, to be able to catch the scent of blossoms on a breeze, when debris from nature's havoc has them scrambling to plans B and beyond.
But when I heard the CBC Radio National News this morning at nine a.m. local time, the announcer, perhaps affected unknowingly by the fertile future of fruit and flowers in the North Okanagan Valley, say "Enderberry" as the disaster's location, her mistake conjured up a mystical location filled with fruit tree branches and berry bushes. Enderberry may well be my new mythical name for describing all things North Okanagan.
If you are new to British Columbia, or to its English usage, you might well find the use of this new word, as pronounced by the CBC Radio News presenter, a starting point for your discovering of this lovely part of the Province of British Columbia. Of course, the proper name is Enderby. The announcer said "Enderberry". This difference provides you an opportunity to express the two names in your enunciation exercises, and explore the potential for poetry in the English you are learning today.
Meanwhile, every effort is being made to restore order and services to the people of the affected area. Wishing you well, you Enderberrians; and here's to you!
