Album Plants of Alberta 3 from Anne Elliott

Emerging

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 20:42:19 +0000

These newly emerging Pussy Willow catkins at Mt. Lorette area, Kananaskis, were still wearing their little "elfin" caps, LOL. Kind of liked the background - except for the blown-out part at the top : ).

Willow catkin

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 23:55:01 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

Pussy Willow catkin seen out in Kananaskis, at the Golden Eagle Migration Count location near Mt. Lorette.

Prairie Crocus

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:43:04 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

Yesterday, on the way home after a volunteer shift, I called in at Sandy Beach to look for Prairie Crocuses. Though the first one was reported early this year, on 14th March by George Dixon, I hadn't been out to look till yesterday late afternoon. There were a number of clumps of these beautiful flowers, almost all were closed and they looked rather washed out and the worse for wear. Think I only saw two flowers that were actually open like this. Flowers open during the day but close at night. The wind was dreadful - had to be careful not to stand near the edge of the "cliff".

Barely getting on to Flickr the last couple of days! Winter is over (we hope) and so all my botany and birding days are finally here and life turns into one endless, insane period for the next seven or so months. Took myself off to the Zoo for a short while this afternoon, needing to do a bit of walking before a day's walk tomorrow, out of town. Not sure if I'll be able to manage the whole thing (wretched pain!), but I'm really hoping I won't have to miss any of it!

Oh, if anyone happens to read this, we discovered that the Creatures of the Night area at the Zoo, in the Australia House, has closed down (permanently). I am so thankful that I was in there very recently and managed to get my shots of the absolutely beautiful little Red Eyed Tree Frog. Now they are to be seen no more. Phil, that must be so disappointing to you - I know if our positions were reversed, I would have been really disappointed. Who knows, though, maybe they can find some dark little corner to put their very small aquarium? Certainly worth asking about. Good to see you and Jen there : )

Yellow Clematis

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:25:19 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

This Yellow Clematis is one of the worst invasive plants here in Alberta and it has done tremendous damage to the natural areas and parks in the city. An introduced plant from Japan, this semi-woody vine grows May-September. It has a wonderfully bright, attractive flower and gorgeous, silvery-haired seedheads, but it prevents native plants from growing and even strangles and kills huge trees. PLEASE don't plant this in your garden! This particular plant was growing at Shannon Terrace, Fish Creek Park, where it is strangling a huge Spruce tree.

Goldenrod

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 23:24:56 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

This was one of the photos I took (that turned out OK!) up in the mountains yesterday, on a trip to the location near Mt. Lorette, where the Golden Eagles fly during migration. All you see are small specks in the sky, flying just above the mountain peaks. Fascinating, but no good for photos of course. Some people did see several Eagles through a scope, but I was busy wandering nearby, looking for something big enough to photograph : )

Signs of spring

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:32:55 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

These little Pussy Willow catkins look rather blown-out, but that's what I saw in reality : ) Always happy to capture a blurry background, though, when it happens. These were growing out in the mountains, at the location for the Golden Eagle Migration Count near Mt. Lorette. In a nearby bush, I noticed a small bird of some kind that had been skewered on to a branch, presumably by a Northern Shrike. I don't know any other bird that makes kebabs for supper, LOL. I did photograph it, but it's not too photogenic an image : )

Tartarian Honeysuckle

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:51:50 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

These beautiful orange berries belong to Tartarian Honeysuckle. This shrub was introduced from Europe as a garden shrub, but has escaped and become invasive. Grows in moist, wooded areas. Flowers can be pink or white, June-July, and produces red, orange or yellow berries in pairs, 5-7 mm across. These were growing in Weaselhead.

Blazingstar

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:39:47 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

I always find this such a difficult wildflower to photograph - so often, there are only a few of the tiny flowers actually open, creating a very "straggly" plant. This plant had a good number of open flowers on the stem. I usually avoid trying to get photos, but as this was a little better than most I've taken, I wanted to add it to my Plants of Alberta Set. Such a pretty colour.

Bracted Honeysuckle

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:53:38 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

Bracted Honeysuckle is a native member of the Honeysuckle family. This shrub grows in moist, wooded areas, and has unusual, tubular, yellow flowers, June-July. Berries are shiny, purplish black, borne in pairs - very attractive. Berries are inedible, possibly poisonous. This particular shrub was photographed on the Pocaterra Cirque trail, Kananaskis. I've only ever seen this species maybe four or five times.

Canada/Creeping Thistle

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:38:43 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

Most people call this Canada Thistle, but Creeping Thistle is the more accurate name, as this is an introduced plant from Europe. Was lucky to catch a plant with a flower still on it, as most of the ones I see have gone to seed now. This is an invasive plant that has taken over vast areas all over the city, preventing our wonderful native wildflowers from growing. Has become a real problem that needs to be dealt with - somehow!

Fairybells fruit

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:45:59 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

The velvety berries of the Rough-fruited Fairybells plant are dotting the forest with bright red at the moment. These were growing on Erik Butters' ranchland, north west of Calgary, three days ago.

"Fairybells produce velvety red berries 8-10 mm in diameter usually in groups of two or three. As the berries ripen, their colour varies from green, to yellow, orange and finally a bright red colour. They may also display a slightly warted appearance on the surface. They are edible, but mealy and tasteless - better to leave them for the grouse and rodents that find them tasty." From www.mountainnature.com.

Golden Sedge

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:50:28 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

The stems of this species of Sedge grow 5-30 cm tall and are triangular in shape - i.e. you can't roll it between your fingers. This small Sedge, with tiny (1-2 mm long) achenes that turn this beautiful orange colour, is native and grows in moist, open areas. Not easy to notice because of its small size. This one was growing on the Colpitts Ranch, west of Calgary, on 17th September.

One-flowered Wintergreen

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:13:00 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

Usually, when I'm lucky enough to see these small, native wildflowers, they are growing deep in the forest, where the light is awful. I seem to remember that I only found two of these flowers that day at Maclean Pond, Kananaskis (off Elbow Falls Trail, Highway 66), and this one was right on the edge of the forest. I always use a tiny twig or leaf when I want to tilt a flower (unless it's a noxious weed), as oil (?) from the fingers can result in a flower head later being eaten by an animal (?). It is especially important not to touch a rare/less common plant for that reason. This plant, also known as Woodnymph, grows in moist wooded areas, June-July. Each plant has a solitary, fragrant flower that hangs its head. An edible plant, with a high vitamin C content.

Campion

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:42:31 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

This is the attractive flower of Campion, Silene pratensis. It's an introduced (non-native) plant and is a weed. We found it when we went for a walk in the Sikome area of Fish Creek Park yesterday morning.

"White cockle is thought to have been introduced to North America from Europe in the early nineteeth century through contaminated crop seeds. It is now widespread in the northern United States and southern Canada. However, only Washington lists Silene latifolia subsp. alba as a noxious weed. Like many introduced species, it can be found on roadsides and other disturbed areas, but it is also cultivated as an ornamental flower.

It is worth noting that Silene latifolia subsp. alba has been the subject of several taxonomic disputes and has consequently gained a number of scientific names, including Lychnis alba, Silene alba, and Silene pratensis. The name Silene probably comes from the Greek sialon, meaning "saliva". This term is also related to Bacchus' perpetually intoxicated tutor, Silenus, said to often be covered with foam -- much like the secretions found on many members of the pink family." This information was provided below my photo on the UBC (University of British Columbia) Botany Photo of the Day website.

Asparagus

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:31:48 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

Not too thrilling a photo, but I did want to add this wild plant to my Plants of Alberta Set. This particular plant was growing wild at Shagnessy Heights, Calgary, but is also found in other parks and natural areas in the city. Keep your eyes open for the small, orange Asparagus Beetle that is sometimes seen on the plant.

"Asparagus officinalis is a flowering plant species in the genus Asparagus from which the vegetable known as asparagus is obtained. It is native to most of Europe, northern Africa and western Asia. It is now also widely cultivated as a vegetable crop.... It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 100–150 centimetres (39–59 in) tall, with stout larissa stems with much-branched feathery foliage.... The shoots are prepared and served in a number of ways around the world" From Wikipedia.

Wandering Daisy, Erigeron peregrinus

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:41:55 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

This was a fair sized wildflower, seen on the Pocaterra Cirque trail off Highway 40 and on the opposite side of the highway from Ptarmigan Cirque, Kananaskis, on 25th July. I think this was the first time I had seen this plant.

"Erigeron peregrinus is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names subalpine fleabane and wandering daisy.

This wildflower is native to western North America from California to Colorado to Alaska, where it grows in mountain meadows and talus. It is a perennial daisy reaching anywhere from 10 to over 40 centimeters in height. It has hairless to hairy leaves reaching up to 20 centimeters long at the base of the branching stem. The inflorescence has many glandular hairs and one to four flower heads, each one to two centimeters wide. The head has a center of golden yellow disc florets and a fringe of up to 100 ray florets in shades of purple or white." From Wikipedia.

Bracted Lousewort

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:55:40 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

This wild plant was growing along the Gunnery Pass Trail in Kananaskis (off Highway 40) when we went for an all-day hike on Saturday. Usually, when I see this plant, most of the flowers are not yet open. It is a member of the Figwort family, is native, and grows June-August on moist montane slopes.

White Mountain-avens

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:55:43 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

This pretty wildflower was growing up in the mountains at Ptarmigan Cirque two days ago. A member of the Rose family, it grows on alpine slopes June-July. The white flower is 2-4 cm across, has 8-10 hairy sepals, 8 petals, and numerous stamens and pistils. Love to see it growing against the rocks like this.

White Cinquefoil

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:01:30 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

I'm not quite sure why I like White Cinquefoil so much. There is something almost old-fashioned about it - and I love "modern". I don't get to see it very often. I find the individual flowers are really pretty. This plant was growing at Edworthy Park, at the Lawrey Gardens end.

Roses AND diamonds

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:41:48 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

The beauty of nature! Amazing how a photo can turn a couple of little raindrops into a pair of sparkling diamonds : ) There are a lot of wild Roses open now, giving a beautiful colour to the bushes. The flowers are 5-8 cm across. This is the floral emblem of Alberta.