https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/album/491183 https://cdn.ipernity.com/p/101/C3/7B/293827.buddy.jpg https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/album/491183 Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:08:24 +0000 Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:08:24 +0000 https://www.ipernity.com https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40703264/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-26,doc-40703264 Sat, 26 Dec 2015 17:23:37 +0000 2010-10-17T15:26:16-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40703264/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/32/64/40703264.d1807e44.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Happy Boxing Day, everyone!<br /> <br /> Just needed something completely different from snow and old barns. Dug deep into my archives and came up with this macro of a leaf tip of a Venus Flytrap plant. A splash of colour feels good today - a sunny day, but with a temperature of -18C (-0.4°F) with a windchill of -24C (-11.2°F).<br /> <br /> This macro shot shows the trap slightly open. I'm not sure why some traps are green and others more yellow, orange or red, but I've had all these colours on one single plant. Perhaps they change colour with age? This leaf tip was somewhere around half to three-quarters of an inch long. <br /> <br /> "The Venus Flytrap, Dionaea muscipula, is a carnivorous plant that catches and digests animal prey—mostly insects and arachnids. Its trapping structure is formed by the terminal portion of each of the plant's leaves and is triggered by tiny hairs on their inner surfaces. When an insect or spider crawling along the leaves contacts a hair, the trap closes if a different hair is contacted within twenty seconds of the first strike. The requirement of redundant triggering in this mechanism serves as a safeguard against a waste of energy in trapping objects with no nutritional value."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_Flytrap" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_Flytrap</a><br /> <br /> David Attenborough looks at how this well known carnivorous plant captures its prey. This short video is from the BBC.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktIGVtKdgwo" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktIGVtKdgwo</a></div> Ready to trap an unwary insect <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40703264/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/32/64/40703264.d1807e44.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Happy Boxing Day, everyone!<br /> <br /> Just needed something completely different from snow and old barns. Dug deep into my archives and came up with this macro of a leaf tip of a Venus Flytrap plant. A splash of colour feels good today - a sunny day, but with a temperature of -18C (-0.4°F) with a windchill of -24C (-11.2°F).<br /> <br /> This macro shot shows the trap slightly open. I'm not sure why some traps are green and others more yellow, orange or red, but I've had all these colours on one single plant. Perhaps they change colour with age? This leaf tip was somewhere around half to three-quarters of an inch long. <br /> <br /> "The Venus Flytrap, Dionaea muscipula, is a carnivorous plant that catches and digests animal prey—mostly insects and arachnids. Its trapping structure is formed by the terminal portion of each of the plant's leaves and is triggered by tiny hairs on their inner surfaces. When an insect or spider crawling along the leaves contacts a hair, the trap closes if a different hair is contacted within twenty seconds of the first strike. The requirement of redundant triggering in this mechanism serves as a safeguard against a waste of energy in trapping objects with no nutritional value."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_Flytrap" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_Flytrap</a><br /> <br /> David Attenborough looks at how this well known carnivorous plant captures its prey. This short video is from the BBC.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktIGVtKdgwo" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktIGVtKdgwo</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40696652/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-23,doc-40696652 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 07:41:24 +0000 2014-07-23T16:19:59-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40696652/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/66/52/40696652.47516140.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">It's very rare that I post my "daily three" very late at night or shortly after midnight. However, this is one of those times, and I will probably have to finish off descriptions, tags, etc. late tomorrow evening. I have to set my two alarm clocks and kitchen timer for about 4:15 am (and it's already just after 1:00 am!). Just hope I don't sleep right through my alarms, as does happen sometimes. Have to be at the meeting place by 6:30 am, ready to spend a very long day travelling to and from the Drumheller area in the Alberta Badlands, east of Calgary. Takes roughly two hours to get there. Think I'd better get off my computer and head for bed! (Later: decided to stay up all night, as I was worried that I would most likely sleep right through my two alarm clocks and a kitchen timer if I tried to get just a couple of hours sleep!).<br /> <br /> After a volunteer shift on 23 July 2014, I wasn't too far away from the Erlton/Roxboro Natural Area, where I was finally going to go on a botany walk. Having been to this location several times before, I knew it was a short, easy, flat trail, and that I could go as far as I wanted and then turn back early, which is what I did. I had missed pretty well all the botany and birding walks the previous few months, which was quite depressing. The main thing I wanted to see were the Nodding / Musk Thistles, as they are my favourite species of Thistle. <br /> <br /> With a couple of hours to "kill", I had spent them at the Reader Rock Garden, which was just a few minutes' drive away from the evening botany walk location.</div> Lily macro <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40696652/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/66/52/40696652.47516140.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">It's very rare that I post my "daily three" very late at night or shortly after midnight. However, this is one of those times, and I will probably have to finish off descriptions, tags, etc. late tomorrow evening. I have to set my two alarm clocks and kitchen timer for about 4:15 am (and it's already just after 1:00 am!). Just hope I don't sleep right through my alarms, as does happen sometimes. Have to be at the meeting place by 6:30 am, ready to spend a very long day travelling to and from the Drumheller area in the Alberta Badlands, east of Calgary. Takes roughly two hours to get there. Think I'd better get off my computer and head for bed! (Later: decided to stay up all night, as I was worried that I would most likely sleep right through my two alarm clocks and a kitchen timer if I tried to get just a couple of hours sleep!).<br /> <br /> After a volunteer shift on 23 July 2014, I wasn't too far away from the Erlton/Roxboro Natural Area, where I was finally going to go on a botany walk. Having been to this location several times before, I knew it was a short, easy, flat trail, and that I could go as far as I wanted and then turn back early, which is what I did. I had missed pretty well all the botany and birding walks the previous few months, which was quite depressing. The main thing I wanted to see were the Nodding / Musk Thistles, as they are my favourite species of Thistle. <br /> <br /> With a couple of hours to "kill", I had spent them at the Reader Rock Garden, which was just a few minutes' drive away from the evening botany walk location.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40696138/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-20,doc-40696138 Sun, 20 Dec 2015 12:51:05 +0000 2015-06-24T17:20:26-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40696138/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/61/38/40696138.28c15bf4.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">After posting quite a few cold, wintry images recently, I thought I'd post a photo of a different subject this morning. <br /> <br /> It is always a joy to see these Himalayan Blue Poppies growing at Reader Rock Garden, and I was happy to find them in bloom on 24 June 2015.<br /> <br /> "Blue Himalayan Poppies are one of the most impressive plants for the shade garden. Plants form a rosette of hairy leaves, bearing large satiny flowers in an amazing shade of true blue. These are not always easy to please, demanding an evenly moist, rich soil and cool woodland conditions. Plants are not long lived, typically flowering in the second or third year, setting seed, then dying out. Gardeners in hot summer climates seldom succeed with these plants, yet they are surprisingly tolerant of cold winter conditions."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.perennials.com/plants/meconopsis-betonicifolia.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.perennials.com/plants/meconopsis-betonicifolia.html</a></div> Himalayan Blue Poppy <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40696138/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/61/38/40696138.28c15bf4.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">After posting quite a few cold, wintry images recently, I thought I'd post a photo of a different subject this morning. <br /> <br /> It is always a joy to see these Himalayan Blue Poppies growing at Reader Rock Garden, and I was happy to find them in bloom on 24 June 2015.<br /> <br /> "Blue Himalayan Poppies are one of the most impressive plants for the shade garden. Plants form a rosette of hairy leaves, bearing large satiny flowers in an amazing shade of true blue. These are not always easy to please, demanding an evenly moist, rich soil and cool woodland conditions. Plants are not long lived, typically flowering in the second or third year, setting seed, then dying out. Gardeners in hot summer climates seldom succeed with these plants, yet they are surprisingly tolerant of cold winter conditions."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.perennials.com/plants/meconopsis-betonicifolia.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.perennials.com/plants/meconopsis-betonicifolia.html</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40613936/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-15,doc-40613936 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:10:01 +0000 2015-06-21T19:12:39-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40613936/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/39/36/40613936.d4cdd0f6.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">These beautiful Irises were growing in a flower bed at a very popular restaurant that friends Sandy and Heidi and I stopped at, on our way back to Calgary from a three day trip down to Waterton Lakes National Park.<br /> <br /> "With its merging landforms, connected ecoregions and its mild, moist, windy climate, Waterton Lakes National Park is an amazing meeting place for an abundant and diverse collection of vegetation.<br /> <br /> Despite it's small size (505 sq km) Waterton is graced with over 1000 species of vascular plants . Over half of Alberta's plant species are found in this tiny place. The park's four ecoregions - foothills parkland, montane, subalpine and alpine - embrace forty-five vegetation communities. Sixteen of these are considered significant because they are rare or fragile and threatened.<br /> <br /> Waterton also has an unusually high number of rare plants - over 175 are provincially rare (e.g. mountain lady's-slipper, pygmy poppy, mountain hollyhock), and over twenty of these are found only in the Waterton area (e.g. western wakerobin, Lewis' mock-orange, white-veined wintergreen). Over 50 species are rare in Canada (e.g. Bolander's quillwort, Lyall's scorpionweed, Brewer's monkeyflower.)" From Parks Canada website.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/waterton/natcul/natcul1/f.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/waterton/natcul/natcul1/f.aspx</a><br /> <br /> I was so lucky to be invited to join friends Sandy and Heide on a three-day trip to Waterton Lakes National Park, from 19-21 (inclusive) June 2015. We met up with other members of the Alberta Native Plant Council for their annual Botany Alberta weekend. Most people who attended stayed at the Crooked Creek Campground, a 5.6 km drive east of the Waterton Park Gate on Highway 5, but my friends and I stayed at the Crandell Mountain Lodge on the edge of Waterton town. The ANPC people had a list of species that they hoped to find, and they were very successful.<br /> <br /> Our stay down south overlapped the annual Waterton Wildflower Festival, but we came across very few people on our various drives and hikes. Needless to say, I was extremely fortunate to spend three days with people who are very knowledgeable about plants and many other things. This meant that I got to see many wildflower species, including several that were new to me, such as this gorgeous Mariposa Lily. It was one of the flowers that was on my mental Wish List - and there were hundreds of them to be seen! <br /> <br /> Our two main hikes of the weekend were the Bertha Lake Trail as far as the Bertha Falls (on 20 June), and the Crandell Lake Trail (on 21 June). Makes me smile when a described "short, easy hike" in a book or on the Internet turns into a full day of exploration along the trail, taking hours to reach the destination, though returning to the cars in a much shorter time. <br /> <br /> The wind made photographing plants a real challenge, including the beautiful Mariposa Lilies in the meadow along the Hay Barn road. Though I took plenty of photos, I wasn't sure that I would end up with any that were sharp enough. Trying to catch a quick shot when a flower is blowing in and out of the viewfinder is not easy! <br /> <br /> I tried to find a list of plant species in Waterton Park on the Internet, but had no luck. I do have the book, "Wildflowers of Waterton Park" by Jacinthe Lavoie and Ian Wilson, which has an Index of Plant names, but I had hoped to find a list that I could print out.<br /> <br /> Thank you so much, Sandy and Heide, for a great three-day trip in such spectacular scenery, surrounded by amazing nature. The wildflowers were top priority, but I was so happy to see insects, scenery and even a bit of wildlife that included a very distant female Grizzly with a cub from last year and two Black Bears, one of which was along the Crandell Lake trail at the same time we were there. <br /> <br /> Thanks, too, Sandy, for doing all the driving - so much appreciated by Heide and myself! Also have to thank you both for being so thoughtful as far as my limitations go and for your patience in allowing me to take lots of photos! Thanks, Heide, for all the reminders to stay hydrated while hiking!<br /> <br /> Two other people to mention - Arnold, it was so good to see you at the meeting place. Been a long time since our paths crossed. Jerry P. (from Calgary), good to bump into you in Waterton, and thanks so much for telling us about various sightings and even taking us to several of the locations, despite the fact that you had just returned from a major mountain hike that day. Loved seeing the distant Loon lying in the grass at the edge of one of the wetlands.<br /> <br /> Great trip, great company! How lucky I am.</div> Summer Iris display <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40613936/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/39/36/40613936.d4cdd0f6.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">These beautiful Irises were growing in a flower bed at a very popular restaurant that friends Sandy and Heidi and I stopped at, on our way back to Calgary from a three day trip down to Waterton Lakes National Park.<br /> <br /> "With its merging landforms, connected ecoregions and its mild, moist, windy climate, Waterton Lakes National Park is an amazing meeting place for an abundant and diverse collection of vegetation.<br /> <br /> Despite it's small size (505 sq km) Waterton is graced with over 1000 species of vascular plants . Over half of Alberta's plant species are found in this tiny place. The park's four ecoregions - foothills parkland, montane, subalpine and alpine - embrace forty-five vegetation communities. Sixteen of these are considered significant because they are rare or fragile and threatened.<br /> <br /> Waterton also has an unusually high number of rare plants - over 175 are provincially rare (e.g. mountain lady's-slipper, pygmy poppy, mountain hollyhock), and over twenty of these are found only in the Waterton area (e.g. western wakerobin, Lewis' mock-orange, white-veined wintergreen). Over 50 species are rare in Canada (e.g. Bolander's quillwort, Lyall's scorpionweed, Brewer's monkeyflower.)" From Parks Canada website.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/waterton/natcul/natcul1/f.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/waterton/natcul/natcul1/f.aspx</a><br /> <br /> I was so lucky to be invited to join friends Sandy and Heide on a three-day trip to Waterton Lakes National Park, from 19-21 (inclusive) June 2015. We met up with other members of the Alberta Native Plant Council for their annual Botany Alberta weekend. Most people who attended stayed at the Crooked Creek Campground, a 5.6 km drive east of the Waterton Park Gate on Highway 5, but my friends and I stayed at the Crandell Mountain Lodge on the edge of Waterton town. The ANPC people had a list of species that they hoped to find, and they were very successful.<br /> <br /> Our stay down south overlapped the annual Waterton Wildflower Festival, but we came across very few people on our various drives and hikes. Needless to say, I was extremely fortunate to spend three days with people who are very knowledgeable about plants and many other things. This meant that I got to see many wildflower species, including several that were new to me, such as this gorgeous Mariposa Lily. It was one of the flowers that was on my mental Wish List - and there were hundreds of them to be seen! <br /> <br /> Our two main hikes of the weekend were the Bertha Lake Trail as far as the Bertha Falls (on 20 June), and the Crandell Lake Trail (on 21 June). Makes me smile when a described "short, easy hike" in a book or on the Internet turns into a full day of exploration along the trail, taking hours to reach the destination, though returning to the cars in a much shorter time. <br /> <br /> The wind made photographing plants a real challenge, including the beautiful Mariposa Lilies in the meadow along the Hay Barn road. Though I took plenty of photos, I wasn't sure that I would end up with any that were sharp enough. Trying to catch a quick shot when a flower is blowing in and out of the viewfinder is not easy! <br /> <br /> I tried to find a list of plant species in Waterton Park on the Internet, but had no luck. I do have the book, "Wildflowers of Waterton Park" by Jacinthe Lavoie and Ian Wilson, which has an Index of Plant names, but I had hoped to find a list that I could print out.<br /> <br /> Thank you so much, Sandy and Heide, for a great three-day trip in such spectacular scenery, surrounded by amazing nature. The wildflowers were top priority, but I was so happy to see insects, scenery and even a bit of wildlife that included a very distant female Grizzly with a cub from last year and two Black Bears, one of which was along the Crandell Lake trail at the same time we were there. <br /> <br /> Thanks, too, Sandy, for doing all the driving - so much appreciated by Heide and myself! Also have to thank you both for being so thoughtful as far as my limitations go and for your patience in allowing me to take lots of photos! Thanks, Heide, for all the reminders to stay hydrated while hiking!<br /> <br /> Two other people to mention - Arnold, it was so good to see you at the meeting place. Been a long time since our paths crossed. Jerry P. (from Calgary), good to bump into you in Waterton, and thanks so much for telling us about various sightings and even taking us to several of the locations, despite the fact that you had just returned from a major mountain hike that day. Loved seeing the distant Loon lying in the grass at the edge of one of the wetlands.<br /> <br /> Great trip, great company! How lucky I am.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40613922/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-14,doc-40613922 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 15:48:53 +0000 2014-07-23T17:10:42-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40613922/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/39/22/40613922.3387461e.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">An overcast, dreary morning here today, 14 December 2015, Temperature is -5C (windchill -11C). There was s slight dusting of snow overnight. And Flickr is being a real pain this morning - one problem after another.<br /> <br /> Yet again, I'm having to dig into my archives. I've only been able to get out on two walks since the car accident I was involved in (but not at fault) on 28 November 2015, and barely got any new photos. My car has been repaired (damaged heat shield from the impact), my very last overseas Christmas letter was written last night - and now I'm good to go! Just in time for the start of the various Audubon Christmas Bird Counts, too, so hopefully I'll be able to get some new shots. <br /> <br /> Meanwhile, this is a macro of the beautiful, vibrant, red berries of the Baneberry plant, seen here at the Reader Rock Garden on 23 July 2014, but it also grows wild. Some Baneberry plants produce white berries, which are also attractive.<br /> <br /> "All parts of the plant are poisonous. However, accidental poisoning is not likely since the berries are extremely bitter. The berries are the most toxic part of the plant. A healthy adult will experience poisoning from as few as six berries. Ingestion of the berries causes nausea, dizziness, increased pulse and severe gastrointestinal discomfort. The toxins can also have an immediate sedative effect on the cardiac muscle tissue possibly leading to cardiac arrest if introduced into the bloodstream. As few as two berries may be fatal to a child. All parts of the plant contain an irritant oil that is most concentrated within the roots and berries." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actaea_rubra" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actaea_rubra</a><br /> <br /> After a volunteer shift that day, I wasn't too far away from the Erlton/Roxboro Natural Area, where I was finally going to go on a botany walk with a few friends. Having been to that location quite a few times before, I knew it was a short, easy, flat trail, and that I could go as far as I wanted and then turn back early, which is what I did. The main thing I wanted to see there were the Nodding / Musk Thistles, as these are my favourite species of Thistle. They are called a weed, but I love to see them. <br /> <br /> With a couple of hours to "kill" till the botany walk, I spent them at the Reader Rock Garden, which was just a few minutes' drive away from the evening botany walk location.</div> Christmas colours in July <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40613922/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/39/22/40613922.3387461e.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">An overcast, dreary morning here today, 14 December 2015, Temperature is -5C (windchill -11C). There was s slight dusting of snow overnight. And Flickr is being a real pain this morning - one problem after another.<br /> <br /> Yet again, I'm having to dig into my archives. I've only been able to get out on two walks since the car accident I was involved in (but not at fault) on 28 November 2015, and barely got any new photos. My car has been repaired (damaged heat shield from the impact), my very last overseas Christmas letter was written last night - and now I'm good to go! Just in time for the start of the various Audubon Christmas Bird Counts, too, so hopefully I'll be able to get some new shots. <br /> <br /> Meanwhile, this is a macro of the beautiful, vibrant, red berries of the Baneberry plant, seen here at the Reader Rock Garden on 23 July 2014, but it also grows wild. Some Baneberry plants produce white berries, which are also attractive.<br /> <br /> "All parts of the plant are poisonous. However, accidental poisoning is not likely since the berries are extremely bitter. The berries are the most toxic part of the plant. A healthy adult will experience poisoning from as few as six berries. Ingestion of the berries causes nausea, dizziness, increased pulse and severe gastrointestinal discomfort. The toxins can also have an immediate sedative effect on the cardiac muscle tissue possibly leading to cardiac arrest if introduced into the bloodstream. As few as two berries may be fatal to a child. All parts of the plant contain an irritant oil that is most concentrated within the roots and berries." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actaea_rubra" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actaea_rubra</a><br /> <br /> After a volunteer shift that day, I wasn't too far away from the Erlton/Roxboro Natural Area, where I was finally going to go on a botany walk with a few friends. Having been to that location quite a few times before, I knew it was a short, easy, flat trail, and that I could go as far as I wanted and then turn back early, which is what I did. The main thing I wanted to see there were the Nodding / Musk Thistles, as these are my favourite species of Thistle. They are called a weed, but I love to see them. <br /> <br /> With a couple of hours to "kill" till the botany walk, I spent them at the Reader Rock Garden, which was just a few minutes' drive away from the evening botany walk location.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40591234/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-12,doc-40591234 Sat, 12 Dec 2015 18:35:01 +0000 2014-07-23T17:22:48-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40591234/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/12/34/40591234.c5af482d.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This photo is of a Cornflower that I found growing at the Reader Rock Garden on 23 July 2014. Not sure if this is Centaurea dealbata (Persian Cornflower)?<br /> <br /> After a volunteer shift that day, I wasn't too far away from the Erlton/Roxboro Natural Area, where I was finally going to go on a botany walk with a few friends. Having been to that location several times before, I knew it was a short, easy, flat trail, and that I could go as far as I wanted and then turn back early if I was in too much pain, which is what I did. The main thing I wanted to see there were the Nodding / Musk Thistles, as they are my favourite species of Thistle. They are called a weed, but I love to see them. <br /> <br /> With a couple of hours to "kill" till the botany walk, I spent them at the Reader Rock Garden, which was just a few minutes' drive away from the evening botany walk location.</div> Cornflower <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40591234/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/12/34/40591234.c5af482d.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This photo is of a Cornflower that I found growing at the Reader Rock Garden on 23 July 2014. Not sure if this is Centaurea dealbata (Persian Cornflower)?<br /> <br /> After a volunteer shift that day, I wasn't too far away from the Erlton/Roxboro Natural Area, where I was finally going to go on a botany walk with a few friends. Having been to that location several times before, I knew it was a short, easy, flat trail, and that I could go as far as I wanted and then turn back early if I was in too much pain, which is what I did. The main thing I wanted to see there were the Nodding / Musk Thistles, as they are my favourite species of Thistle. They are called a weed, but I love to see them. <br /> <br /> With a couple of hours to "kill" till the botany walk, I spent them at the Reader Rock Garden, which was just a few minutes' drive away from the evening botany walk location.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40589348/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-11,doc-40589348 Fri, 11 Dec 2015 16:59:50 +0000 2015-06-24T17:29:01-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40589348/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/93/48/40589348.acbc02dc.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I'm not sure what caused the "effect" with this flower - or maybe it's just blur? Most times I visit the Reader Rock Garden, it is windy, and it always amazes me that I get any reasonably sharp photos from there. The other thing I'm not sure about is what kind of flower this is - a single Peony? Despite the slightly unpleasant thing it does to my eyes, there was just something I still liked about this photo.<br /> <br /> This photo was taken on 24 June 2015, when I called in at the Reader Rock Garden after a volunteer shift. Really, I should have chosen a warm coloured flower instead of cold white, as it snowed overnight and is heavily overcast and dreary this morning. Temperature is -1C (windchill -5C) and humidity is 93%, and the Fog Advisory continues from yesterday. In other words, it doesn't look or sound very welcoming outside. <br /> <br /> Yesterday, when I picked up my car from being repaired (after the accident I was involved in, but was not at fault), I got a free carwash. (Turned out that the heat shield had been damaged by the impact and that was what was causing the rattling.) Unfortunately, by the time I had run an errand or two, my car windows were fogged up badly and I suspect they may all have a covering of ice on the inside this morning, which will not be good. However, it does feel good to have a drivable car again, thank goodness.</div> Elegant beauty <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40589348/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/93/48/40589348.acbc02dc.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I'm not sure what caused the "effect" with this flower - or maybe it's just blur? Most times I visit the Reader Rock Garden, it is windy, and it always amazes me that I get any reasonably sharp photos from there. The other thing I'm not sure about is what kind of flower this is - a single Peony? Despite the slightly unpleasant thing it does to my eyes, there was just something I still liked about this photo.<br /> <br /> This photo was taken on 24 June 2015, when I called in at the Reader Rock Garden after a volunteer shift. Really, I should have chosen a warm coloured flower instead of cold white, as it snowed overnight and is heavily overcast and dreary this morning. Temperature is -1C (windchill -5C) and humidity is 93%, and the Fog Advisory continues from yesterday. In other words, it doesn't look or sound very welcoming outside. <br /> <br /> Yesterday, when I picked up my car from being repaired (after the accident I was involved in, but was not at fault), I got a free carwash. (Turned out that the heat shield had been damaged by the impact and that was what was causing the rattling.) Unfortunately, by the time I had run an errand or two, my car windows were fogged up badly and I suspect they may all have a covering of ice on the inside this morning, which will not be good. However, it does feel good to have a drivable car again, thank goodness.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40589018/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-11,doc-40589018 Fri, 11 Dec 2015 16:59:49 +0000 2015-09-27T11:08:46-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40589018/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/90/18/40589018.9b7fe169.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">It snowed overnight and is heavily overcast and dreary this morning, 11 December 2015. Temperature is -1C (windchill -5C) and humidity is 93%, and the Fog Advisory continues from yesterday. In other words, it doesn't look or sound very welcoming outside. <br /> <br /> Yesterday, when I picked up my car from being repaired (after the accident I was involved in, but was not at fault), I got a free carwash. (Turned out that the heat shield had been damaged by the impact and that was what was causing the rattling.) Unfortunately, by the time I had run an errand or two, my car windows were fogged up badly and I suspect they may all have a covering of ice on the inside this morning, which will not be good. However, it does feel good to have a drivable car again, thank goodness.<br /> <br /> This beautiful Sunflower was growing in Lynn Gratz's garden out at Marsland Basin. Just what is needed today, 11 December 2015, it's such an unpleasant, winter-like day.<br /> <br /> On 27 September 2015, I joined friends on a most enjoyable day of birding east of the city. Below, I have added Howard Heffler's report of the day's sightings, adding that, as usual, there were some species that I didn't see myself. <br /> <br /> We were all delighted to see a huge swarm of Greater White-fronted Geese fly over the wetland at Marsland Basin. In the far distance, we could see a second huge gathering of them, but these didn't fly towards us. People were seeing several Snow Geese mixed in with the flock, but I only spotted them when I had downloaded my photos to my computer. <br /> <br /> It was also nice to see one of the four Badgers in the family that lives on a property adjacent to our friend Lynn's land. On a previous visit, I had been lucky enough to see three of these Badgers. These are so rarely seen.<br /> <br /> "We had 12 people show up for a beautiful day to explore the sloughs east of Calgary. This included a lovely young family visiting from Lac la Biche. It was a bit chilly for the first two stops at the slough on Glenmore Trail and RR 284 and at Chestermere Lake. We then went directly to Marsland Basin when we spent much of our time. Although Lynn and Sue were not at home, we explored their property and listed 38 bird species and had a good look at one member of the badger family that lives on the adjacent property. By now the sun was up, we were all warm and there were a few passerines to add to the waterfowl. A highlight was an estimated 5000 Greater White-fronted Geese flying over. From there we went to the south side of Eagle Lake where we saw a distant murmuration of an (estimated) 10,000 European Starlings. Even from a distance this is a moving sight. Cattleland Slough did not add anything new to the list so we headed for home. Thanks to everyone for their sharp eyes and to Andrew Hart for his listing skills on eBird. The list below includes birds seen by the group and includes birds seen while driving and even the Downy Woodpecker in the Carburn parking lot. The numbers reported are the (best guess) of totals from all sightings. Errors of omission or commission rest with the author….<br /> <br /> Greater White-fronted Goose - 5000<br /> Snow Goose - 8<br /> Canada Goose - 100<br /> Gadwall - 74<br /> American Wigeon - 7<br /> Mallard - 44<br /> Blue-winged Teal - 4<br /> Northern Shoveler - 22<br /> Northern Pintail - 71<br /> Green-winged Teal - 110<br /> Canvasback - 8<br /> Redhead - 6<br /> Ring-necked Duck - 8<br /> Lesser Scaup - 150<br /> Bufflehead - 38<br /> Common Goldeneye - 12<br /> Barrow's Goldeneye - 4<br /> Ruddy Duck - 24<br /> Gray Partridge - 12<br /> Horned Grebe - 21<br /> Eared Grebe - 9<br /> Northern Harrier - 1<br /> Bald Eagle - 2<br /> Red-tailed Hawk - 3<br /> Swainson's Hawk - 1<br /> American Coot - 390<br /> Greater Yellowlegs - 2<br /> Lesser Yellowlegs - 22<br /> Long-billed Dowitcher - 3<br /> Bonaparte's Gull - 36<br /> Franklin's Gull - 42<br /> Ring-billed Gull - 185<br /> Rock Pigeon - 4<br /> Downy Woodpecker - 1<br /> Northern Flicker - 1<br /> Black-billed Magpie - 7<br /> American Crow - 24<br /> Common Raven - 1<br /> Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1<br /> Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2<br /> American Robin - 2<br /> European Starling - 10000<br /> Yellow-rumped Warbler - 8<br /> Wilson's Warbler - 3<br /> Dark-eyed Junco - 5<br /> Savannah Sparrow - 2<br /> Red-winged Blackbird - 8<br /> Yellow-headed Blackbird - 1<br /> Western Meadowlark - 2<br /> Brewer's Blackbird - 2<br /> Common Grackle - 1<br /> Brown-headed Cowbird - 10<br /> American Goldfinch - 1<br /> House Sparrow - 20<br /> <br /> TOTAL: 54 species <br /> Howard Heffler"<br /> <br /> Thanks so much, Dan and Cindy, for driving Darlene and myself there and back! We both greatly appreciated it!</div> Face to the sun <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40589018/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/90/18/40589018.9b7fe169.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">It snowed overnight and is heavily overcast and dreary this morning, 11 December 2015. Temperature is -1C (windchill -5C) and humidity is 93%, and the Fog Advisory continues from yesterday. In other words, it doesn't look or sound very welcoming outside. <br /> <br /> Yesterday, when I picked up my car from being repaired (after the accident I was involved in, but was not at fault), I got a free carwash. (Turned out that the heat shield had been damaged by the impact and that was what was causing the rattling.) Unfortunately, by the time I had run an errand or two, my car windows were fogged up badly and I suspect they may all have a covering of ice on the inside this morning, which will not be good. However, it does feel good to have a drivable car again, thank goodness.<br /> <br /> This beautiful Sunflower was growing in Lynn Gratz's garden out at Marsland Basin. Just what is needed today, 11 December 2015, it's such an unpleasant, winter-like day.<br /> <br /> On 27 September 2015, I joined friends on a most enjoyable day of birding east of the city. Below, I have added Howard Heffler's report of the day's sightings, adding that, as usual, there were some species that I didn't see myself. <br /> <br /> We were all delighted to see a huge swarm of Greater White-fronted Geese fly over the wetland at Marsland Basin. In the far distance, we could see a second huge gathering of them, but these didn't fly towards us. People were seeing several Snow Geese mixed in with the flock, but I only spotted them when I had downloaded my photos to my computer. <br /> <br /> It was also nice to see one of the four Badgers in the family that lives on a property adjacent to our friend Lynn's land. On a previous visit, I had been lucky enough to see three of these Badgers. These are so rarely seen.<br /> <br /> "We had 12 people show up for a beautiful day to explore the sloughs east of Calgary. This included a lovely young family visiting from Lac la Biche. It was a bit chilly for the first two stops at the slough on Glenmore Trail and RR 284 and at Chestermere Lake. We then went directly to Marsland Basin when we spent much of our time. Although Lynn and Sue were not at home, we explored their property and listed 38 bird species and had a good look at one member of the badger family that lives on the adjacent property. By now the sun was up, we were all warm and there were a few passerines to add to the waterfowl. A highlight was an estimated 5000 Greater White-fronted Geese flying over. From there we went to the south side of Eagle Lake where we saw a distant murmuration of an (estimated) 10,000 European Starlings. Even from a distance this is a moving sight. Cattleland Slough did not add anything new to the list so we headed for home. Thanks to everyone for their sharp eyes and to Andrew Hart for his listing skills on eBird. The list below includes birds seen by the group and includes birds seen while driving and even the Downy Woodpecker in the Carburn parking lot. The numbers reported are the (best guess) of totals from all sightings. Errors of omission or commission rest with the author….<br /> <br /> Greater White-fronted Goose - 5000<br /> Snow Goose - 8<br /> Canada Goose - 100<br /> Gadwall - 74<br /> American Wigeon - 7<br /> Mallard - 44<br /> Blue-winged Teal - 4<br /> Northern Shoveler - 22<br /> Northern Pintail - 71<br /> Green-winged Teal - 110<br /> Canvasback - 8<br /> Redhead - 6<br /> Ring-necked Duck - 8<br /> Lesser Scaup - 150<br /> Bufflehead - 38<br /> Common Goldeneye - 12<br /> Barrow's Goldeneye - 4<br /> Ruddy Duck - 24<br /> Gray Partridge - 12<br /> Horned Grebe - 21<br /> Eared Grebe - 9<br /> Northern Harrier - 1<br /> Bald Eagle - 2<br /> Red-tailed Hawk - 3<br /> Swainson's Hawk - 1<br /> American Coot - 390<br /> Greater Yellowlegs - 2<br /> Lesser Yellowlegs - 22<br /> Long-billed Dowitcher - 3<br /> Bonaparte's Gull - 36<br /> Franklin's Gull - 42<br /> Ring-billed Gull - 185<br /> Rock Pigeon - 4<br /> Downy Woodpecker - 1<br /> Northern Flicker - 1<br /> Black-billed Magpie - 7<br /> American Crow - 24<br /> Common Raven - 1<br /> Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1<br /> Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2<br /> American Robin - 2<br /> European Starling - 10000<br /> Yellow-rumped Warbler - 8<br /> Wilson's Warbler - 3<br /> Dark-eyed Junco - 5<br /> Savannah Sparrow - 2<br /> Red-winged Blackbird - 8<br /> Yellow-headed Blackbird - 1<br /> Western Meadowlark - 2<br /> Brewer's Blackbird - 2<br /> Common Grackle - 1<br /> Brown-headed Cowbird - 10<br /> American Goldfinch - 1<br /> House Sparrow - 20<br /> <br /> TOTAL: 54 species <br /> Howard Heffler"<br /> <br /> Thanks so much, Dan and Cindy, for driving Darlene and myself there and back! We both greatly appreciated it!</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40563070/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-10,doc-40563070 Thu, 10 Dec 2015 16:33:05 +0000 2015-06-24T16:24:35-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40563070/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/30/70/40563070.32a99836.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This photo was taken at the Reader Rock Garden on 24 June 2015, when I called in after a volunteer shift. These early spring flowers are so pretty and I'm always glad when they are still in bloom when I visit the Garden. Unfortunately, we don't get these growing in the wild in Alberta.<br /> <br /> "The Showy Lady's-slipper (Cypripedium reginae), also known as the Pink-and-white Lady's-slipper or the Queen's Lady's-slipper, is a rare terrestrial temperate lady's-slipper orchid native to northern North America.<br /> <br /> Despite producing a large amount of seeds per seed pod, it reproduces largely by vegetative reproduction, and remains restricted to the North East region of the United States and south east regions of Canada. Although never common, this rare plant has vanished from much of its historical range due to habitat loss. It has been a subject of horticultural interest for many years with Charles Darwin who like many, were unsuccessful in cultivating the plant.<br /> <br /> The plant became the state flower of Minnesota in 1902 and was protected by state law in 1925. It is illegal to pick or uproot a Showy Lady's-slipper flower in Minnesota.<br /> <br /> Although this plant was chosen as the provincial flower for Prince Edward Island in 1947, it is so rare on the island that another Lady's-slipper, C. acaule (moccasin flower or pink lady slipper), has replaced it as the province's floral emblem." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypripedium_reginae" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypripedium_reginae</a></div> Pink or Showy lady&#039;s-slipper / Cypripedium reginae <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40563070/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/30/70/40563070.32a99836.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This photo was taken at the Reader Rock Garden on 24 June 2015, when I called in after a volunteer shift. These early spring flowers are so pretty and I'm always glad when they are still in bloom when I visit the Garden. Unfortunately, we don't get these growing in the wild in Alberta.<br /> <br /> "The Showy Lady's-slipper (Cypripedium reginae), also known as the Pink-and-white Lady's-slipper or the Queen's Lady's-slipper, is a rare terrestrial temperate lady's-slipper orchid native to northern North America.<br /> <br /> Despite producing a large amount of seeds per seed pod, it reproduces largely by vegetative reproduction, and remains restricted to the North East region of the United States and south east regions of Canada. Although never common, this rare plant has vanished from much of its historical range due to habitat loss. It has been a subject of horticultural interest for many years with Charles Darwin who like many, were unsuccessful in cultivating the plant.<br /> <br /> The plant became the state flower of Minnesota in 1902 and was protected by state law in 1925. It is illegal to pick or uproot a Showy Lady's-slipper flower in Minnesota.<br /> <br /> Although this plant was chosen as the provincial flower for Prince Edward Island in 1947, it is so rare on the island that another Lady's-slipper, C. acaule (moccasin flower or pink lady slipper), has replaced it as the province's floral emblem." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypripedium_reginae" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypripedium_reginae</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40563034/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-09,doc-40563034 Wed, 09 Dec 2015 16:27:04 +0000 2014-07-23T16:32:59-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40563034/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/30/34/40563034.bd167c1f.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Yet again, I'm having to dig into my archives. I've only been able to get out on two walks since the car accident I was involved in (but not at fault) on 28 November 2015, and barely got any new photos. Today, I have had to cancel another volunteer shift and will have to cancel a dental appointment for tomorrow, just so that I can do things like phoning my Insurance Company. Hoping I don't need to go and report it to the Police. Also need to make an appointment to take my car in to be looked at. Yesterday morning, just as I was arrivng at the meeting place for a morning birding walk, I noticed a slight rattling sound. Then, in the evening, the rattle was much worse, sometimes sounding like one metal piece was scraping against another. Such a pain at any time, but December is a really bad month to be without a drivable car!<br /> <br /> This photo is of a beautiful Lily that I found growing at the Reader Rock Garden on 23 July 2014. Not sure if this is Lilium martagon. It has a tall, central stem, with quite a display of these flowers along it.<br /> <br /> After a volunteer shift that day, I wasn't too far away from the Erlton/Roxboro Natural Area, where I was finally going to go on a botany walk with a few friends. Having been to that location several times before, I knew it was a short, easy, flat trail, and that I could go as far as I wanted and then turn back early, which is what I did. The main thing I wanted to see there were the Nodding / Musk Thistles, as these are my favourite species of Thistle. They are called a weed, but I love to see them. The sun was unfortunately in the wrong direction, so I was only able to get a handful of shots, but better than nothing. <br /> <br /> With a couple of hours to "kill" till the botany walk, I spent them at the Reader Rock Garden, which was just a few minutes' drive away from the evening botany walk location. I love seeing different species of Lily, including this one.</div> Sparkling in the sunlight <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40563034/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/30/34/40563034.bd167c1f.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Yet again, I'm having to dig into my archives. I've only been able to get out on two walks since the car accident I was involved in (but not at fault) on 28 November 2015, and barely got any new photos. Today, I have had to cancel another volunteer shift and will have to cancel a dental appointment for tomorrow, just so that I can do things like phoning my Insurance Company. Hoping I don't need to go and report it to the Police. Also need to make an appointment to take my car in to be looked at. Yesterday morning, just as I was arrivng at the meeting place for a morning birding walk, I noticed a slight rattling sound. Then, in the evening, the rattle was much worse, sometimes sounding like one metal piece was scraping against another. Such a pain at any time, but December is a really bad month to be without a drivable car!<br /> <br /> This photo is of a beautiful Lily that I found growing at the Reader Rock Garden on 23 July 2014. Not sure if this is Lilium martagon. It has a tall, central stem, with quite a display of these flowers along it.<br /> <br /> After a volunteer shift that day, I wasn't too far away from the Erlton/Roxboro Natural Area, where I was finally going to go on a botany walk with a few friends. Having been to that location several times before, I knew it was a short, easy, flat trail, and that I could go as far as I wanted and then turn back early, which is what I did. The main thing I wanted to see there were the Nodding / Musk Thistles, as these are my favourite species of Thistle. They are called a weed, but I love to see them. The sun was unfortunately in the wrong direction, so I was only able to get a handful of shots, but better than nothing. <br /> <br /> With a couple of hours to "kill" till the botany walk, I spent them at the Reader Rock Garden, which was just a few minutes' drive away from the evening botany walk location. I love seeing different species of Lily, including this one.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40555326/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-08,doc-40555326 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 14:06:32 +0000 2014-07-23T17:05:14-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40555326/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/53/26/40555326.6f7bff5d.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">After a volunteer shift on 23 July 2014, I wasn't too far away from the Erlton/Roxboro Natural Area, where I was finally going to go on a botany walk. Having been to this location several times before, I knew it was a short, easy, flat trail, and that I could go as far as I wanted and then turn back early, which is what I did. I'd missed pretty well all the botany and birding walks the previous few months, which was quite depressing. The main thing I wanted to see were the Nodding / Musk Thistles, as these are my favourite species of Thistle. They are called a "weed", but I love to see them. The sun was unfortunately in the wrong direction, so I was only able to get a handful of shots, but better than nothing. <br /> <br /> With a couple of hours to "kill" before the botany walk started, I spent them at the Reader Rock Garden, which was just a few minutes' drive away from the evening botany walk location. This is where I photographed this yellow Giant Scabius flower. I always like to see these Giant Scabius flowers - so crinkly and detailed.</div> Giant Scabius / Cephalaria gigantea <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40555326/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/53/26/40555326.6f7bff5d.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">After a volunteer shift on 23 July 2014, I wasn't too far away from the Erlton/Roxboro Natural Area, where I was finally going to go on a botany walk. Having been to this location several times before, I knew it was a short, easy, flat trail, and that I could go as far as I wanted and then turn back early, which is what I did. I'd missed pretty well all the botany and birding walks the previous few months, which was quite depressing. The main thing I wanted to see were the Nodding / Musk Thistles, as these are my favourite species of Thistle. They are called a "weed", but I love to see them. The sun was unfortunately in the wrong direction, so I was only able to get a handful of shots, but better than nothing. <br /> <br /> With a couple of hours to "kill" before the botany walk started, I spent them at the Reader Rock Garden, which was just a few minutes' drive away from the evening botany walk location. This is where I photographed this yellow Giant Scabius flower. I always like to see these Giant Scabius flowers - so crinkly and detailed.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40555320/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-08,doc-40555320 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 14:06:30 +0000 2015-09-21T13:51:11-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40555320/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/53/20/40555320.146aab6d.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Photographed this beautiful tropical flower in the ENMAX Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo, on 21 September 2015. I wasn't sure if it was Brugmansia or the closely related Datura, but several people gave the ID as Datura. After reading the following from Wikipedia, I think this has to be Datura. I photographed one of the fruits from this plant and it did have softly rounded spines on it. All species of Datura are POISONOUS, especially their seeds and flowers.<br /> <br /> "Datura is a genus of nine species of poisonous vespertine flowering plants belonging to the family Solanaceae. They are known as angel's trumpets, sometimes sharing that name with the closely related genus Brugmansia, and commonly known as daturas. They are also sometimes called moonflowers, one of several plant species to be so. Its precise and natural distribution is uncertain, owing to its extensive cultivation and naturalization throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the globe. Its distribution within the Americas and North Africa, however, is most likely restricted to the United States and Mexico in North America, and Tunisia in Africa, where the highest species diversity occurs." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura</a><br /> <br /> "Brugmansia is a genus of seven species of flowering plants in the family Solanaceae. Their large, fragrant flowers give them their common name of angel's trumpets, a name sometimes used for the closely related genus Datura. Brugmansia are woody trees or shrubs, with pendulous, not erect, flowers, that have no spines on their fruit. Datura species are herbaceous bushes with erect (not pendulous) flowers, and most have spines on their fruit. All seven species are listed as Extinct in the Wild by the IUCN Red List." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brugmansia" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brugmansia</a></div> Datura <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40555320/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/53/20/40555320.146aab6d.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Photographed this beautiful tropical flower in the ENMAX Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo, on 21 September 2015. I wasn't sure if it was Brugmansia or the closely related Datura, but several people gave the ID as Datura. After reading the following from Wikipedia, I think this has to be Datura. I photographed one of the fruits from this plant and it did have softly rounded spines on it. All species of Datura are POISONOUS, especially their seeds and flowers.<br /> <br /> "Datura is a genus of nine species of poisonous vespertine flowering plants belonging to the family Solanaceae. They are known as angel's trumpets, sometimes sharing that name with the closely related genus Brugmansia, and commonly known as daturas. They are also sometimes called moonflowers, one of several plant species to be so. Its precise and natural distribution is uncertain, owing to its extensive cultivation and naturalization throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the globe. Its distribution within the Americas and North Africa, however, is most likely restricted to the United States and Mexico in North America, and Tunisia in Africa, where the highest species diversity occurs." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura</a><br /> <br /> "Brugmansia is a genus of seven species of flowering plants in the family Solanaceae. Their large, fragrant flowers give them their common name of angel's trumpets, a name sometimes used for the closely related genus Datura. Brugmansia are woody trees or shrubs, with pendulous, not erect, flowers, that have no spines on their fruit. Datura species are herbaceous bushes with erect (not pendulous) flowers, and most have spines on their fruit. All seven species are listed as Extinct in the Wild by the IUCN Red List." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brugmansia" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brugmansia</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40546034/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-06,doc-40546034 Sun, 06 Dec 2015 16:46:04 +0000 2015-09-29T11:50:41-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40546034/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/60/34/40546034.4926491f.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">On 29 September 2015, I had set my alarm clock for 6:30 am so that I could go on a birding walk with friends. Unfortunately, I didn't read the e-mail carefully enough, so hadn't seen that the meeting place was not where I thought. Of course, no one else showed up where I was, so I took myself off to the Calgary Zoo instead. I had planned on going there after the walk, anyway. This may have been the last time I go to the Zoo until next spring, as they have closed "my" parking lot at the west entrance till April next year. The north entrance is way out of my driving comfort zone, especially the drive back home. One of my favourite things at the Zoo is the butterfly room, but the season is over till around next April.<br /> <br /> I was surprised to see a few Poppies still in bloom - I always love these flowers at every stage, including the hairy buds showing just a glimpse of the beauty within.<br /> <br /> This morning, 6 December 2015, it is 0C (windchill -3C), supposed to get up to 7C this afternoon. Yet another overcast, dreary morning, though the forecast does say sun for this afternoon. Unless the forecast changes, we should be getting snow on three days of this coming week.</div> Time to reveal <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40546034/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/60/34/40546034.4926491f.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">On 29 September 2015, I had set my alarm clock for 6:30 am so that I could go on a birding walk with friends. Unfortunately, I didn't read the e-mail carefully enough, so hadn't seen that the meeting place was not where I thought. Of course, no one else showed up where I was, so I took myself off to the Calgary Zoo instead. I had planned on going there after the walk, anyway. This may have been the last time I go to the Zoo until next spring, as they have closed "my" parking lot at the west entrance till April next year. The north entrance is way out of my driving comfort zone, especially the drive back home. One of my favourite things at the Zoo is the butterfly room, but the season is over till around next April.<br /> <br /> I was surprised to see a few Poppies still in bloom - I always love these flowers at every stage, including the hairy buds showing just a glimpse of the beauty within.<br /> <br /> This morning, 6 December 2015, it is 0C (windchill -3C), supposed to get up to 7C this afternoon. Yet another overcast, dreary morning, though the forecast does say sun for this afternoon. Unless the forecast changes, we should be getting snow on three days of this coming week.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40545692/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-06,doc-40545692 Sun, 06 Dec 2015 16:46:04 +0000 2015-09-12T14:08:28-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40545692/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/56/92/40545692.a51b03d6.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">On 12 September 2015, I drove further than I've ever driven before - a total of 410 km (254 miles). I met my daughter at 9:00 am and we headed northwards, with our main destination being the Bowden Sunflower Maze. She was feeling well enough after her recent hospital stay, to get out for a day trip. <br /> <br /> The quickest route from Calgary is a distance of 96 km (60 miles), but I needed to avoid the main, busy route. Also, the backroads are more pleasant to drive - less traffic and, if one is lucky, the occasional old barn. There was one barn in particular that I had seen last year, that I really wanted to show my daughter and this took us a little out of our way. <br /> <br /> We drove through the town of Olds, stopping briefly to take a couple of photos of the bright orange grain elevator. Going north, we drove the roads to the west of the main Highway 2, and on our return trip we drove the roads to the east of Highway 2. I think this trip really convinced my daughter, more strongly than ever, that sadly she has a mother with almost zero sense of direction! <br /> <br /> "A young sunflower's flower head faces the sun to receive the sunlight it needs for photosynthesis. Heliotropism is the term for a plant's ability to follow the sun. That ability allows a sunflower to move with the sun as it arcs across the sky from east to west; the sunflower's bloom always faces the sun.<br /> <br /> When the sunflower plant matures, the neck of its stem no longer grows, and tracking of the sun's arc ceases. The blooms of most mature sunflowers face east, but some face other directions." From homeguides.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://homeguides.sfgate.com/sunflower-move-73855.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">homeguides.sfgate.com/sunflower-move-73855.html</a><br /> <br /> A very short time lapse video showing how Sunflowers move to face the sun:<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8mr0R3ibPU" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8mr0R3ibPU</a><br /> <br /> This was the first time I had ever been to Bowden and the Sunflower Maze. For years, I had wished we had a field of Sunflowers somewhere within reach, as I had seen so many gorgeous photos taken by other people in various parts of the world. I certainly didn't get photos like those, but I was happy to get the shots I did get. Noticed four or five seedheads that had been turned into a smiling face. The flowers in my photos seem to be facing every possible way, giving a rather messy look! Maybe that's what always happens when the flowers are past their prime? Apparently, this weekend is going to be the last chance to really see the flowers, so we were just in time. This maze at Eagle Creek Farm is apparently the only Sunflower Maze in Canada. There is also an adjoining Corn Maze, but neither of us wanted to walk through that one, thanks to remembering the horror movie, "Children of the Corn"! The farm also has U-pick vegetables and flowers.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.sunmaze.ca/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.sunmaze.ca/</a><br /> <br /> Thanks, Rachel, for spending the day with me - and for all your directions getting us there and back to the city! Lucky we went when we did, as it rained the next few days.</div> Someone just couldn&#039;t resist : ) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40545692/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/56/92/40545692.a51b03d6.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">On 12 September 2015, I drove further than I've ever driven before - a total of 410 km (254 miles). I met my daughter at 9:00 am and we headed northwards, with our main destination being the Bowden Sunflower Maze. She was feeling well enough after her recent hospital stay, to get out for a day trip. <br /> <br /> The quickest route from Calgary is a distance of 96 km (60 miles), but I needed to avoid the main, busy route. Also, the backroads are more pleasant to drive - less traffic and, if one is lucky, the occasional old barn. There was one barn in particular that I had seen last year, that I really wanted to show my daughter and this took us a little out of our way. <br /> <br /> We drove through the town of Olds, stopping briefly to take a couple of photos of the bright orange grain elevator. Going north, we drove the roads to the west of the main Highway 2, and on our return trip we drove the roads to the east of Highway 2. I think this trip really convinced my daughter, more strongly than ever, that sadly she has a mother with almost zero sense of direction! <br /> <br /> "A young sunflower's flower head faces the sun to receive the sunlight it needs for photosynthesis. Heliotropism is the term for a plant's ability to follow the sun. That ability allows a sunflower to move with the sun as it arcs across the sky from east to west; the sunflower's bloom always faces the sun.<br /> <br /> When the sunflower plant matures, the neck of its stem no longer grows, and tracking of the sun's arc ceases. The blooms of most mature sunflowers face east, but some face other directions." From homeguides.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://homeguides.sfgate.com/sunflower-move-73855.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">homeguides.sfgate.com/sunflower-move-73855.html</a><br /> <br /> A very short time lapse video showing how Sunflowers move to face the sun:<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8mr0R3ibPU" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8mr0R3ibPU</a><br /> <br /> This was the first time I had ever been to Bowden and the Sunflower Maze. For years, I had wished we had a field of Sunflowers somewhere within reach, as I had seen so many gorgeous photos taken by other people in various parts of the world. I certainly didn't get photos like those, but I was happy to get the shots I did get. Noticed four or five seedheads that had been turned into a smiling face. The flowers in my photos seem to be facing every possible way, giving a rather messy look! Maybe that's what always happens when the flowers are past their prime? Apparently, this weekend is going to be the last chance to really see the flowers, so we were just in time. This maze at Eagle Creek Farm is apparently the only Sunflower Maze in Canada. There is also an adjoining Corn Maze, but neither of us wanted to walk through that one, thanks to remembering the horror movie, "Children of the Corn"! The farm also has U-pick vegetables and flowers.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.sunmaze.ca/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.sunmaze.ca/</a><br /> <br /> Thanks, Rachel, for spending the day with me - and for all your directions getting us there and back to the city! Lucky we went when we did, as it rained the next few days.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40517778/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-04,doc-40517778 Fri, 04 Dec 2015 16:55:54 +0000 2015-06-24T17:21:21-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40517778/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/77/78/40517778.fde5dc01.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">It is always a joy to see these Himalayan Blue Poppies growing at Reader Rock Garden, and I was happy to find them in bloom on 24 June 2015.<br /> <br /> "Blue Himalayan Poppies are one of the most impressive plants for the shade garden. Plants form a rosette of hairy leaves, bearing large satiny flowers in an amazing shade of true blue. These are not always easy to please, demanding an evenly moist, rich soil and cool woodland conditions. Plants are not long lived, typically flowering in the second or third year, setting seed, then dying out. Gardeners in hot summer climates seldom succeed with these plants, yet they are surprisingly tolerant of cold winter conditions."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.perennials.com/plants/meconopsis-betonicifolia.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.perennials.com/plants/meconopsis-betonicifolia.html</a></div> Himalayan Blue Poppy <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40517778/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/77/78/40517778.fde5dc01.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">It is always a joy to see these Himalayan Blue Poppies growing at Reader Rock Garden, and I was happy to find them in bloom on 24 June 2015.<br /> <br /> "Blue Himalayan Poppies are one of the most impressive plants for the shade garden. Plants form a rosette of hairy leaves, bearing large satiny flowers in an amazing shade of true blue. These are not always easy to please, demanding an evenly moist, rich soil and cool woodland conditions. Plants are not long lived, typically flowering in the second or third year, setting seed, then dying out. Gardeners in hot summer climates seldom succeed with these plants, yet they are surprisingly tolerant of cold winter conditions."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.perennials.com/plants/meconopsis-betonicifolia.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.perennials.com/plants/meconopsis-betonicifolia.html</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40509612/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-03,doc-40509612 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 16:42:42 +0000 2015-09-08T13:14:34-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40509612/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/96/12/40509612.4f490f7d.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This morning, 3 December 2015, is overcast and dreary, so it feels good to see this glowing flower, though I think the sun is now trying to burst through the cloud. Temperature is -3C (windchill -7C), but it's supposed to reach 7C this afternoon. <br /> <br /> I had originally planned on going for a birding walk with friends this morning, but after the agonizing sharp pain that shot through my lower back yesterday and still lingers, I have had to change my plans. I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon, mainly so that there is a record of the car accident I was involved in five days ago - not my fault, thankfully, and I would love to say a few things to the woman driver who made such a dangerous, stupid move! Details at <a href="https://flic.kr/p/BucN9q" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">flic.kr/p/BucN9q</a>. The previous three weeks, I had been walking in somewhat less pain than I have for years, which felt wonderful.<br /> <br /> This photo was taken on 8 September 2015 at the Calgary Zoo. In the morning, I joined a group of friends for a three-hour stroll at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. 38 bird species were seen, though I didn't manage to see any of the tiny, fast-moving Warblers. It was good to see 28 Wood Ducks, but they were far, far away, in an area that is still closed due to devastating flood damage. The Sanctuary had been closed for about two years for this reason and only fairly recently re-opened just a part of the area.<br /> <br /> The Calgary Zoo is very close to the Sanctuary, so after our morning walk, I decided to call in there. I hadn't been for about a year and I really missed going there. Of course, many of the garden flowers were past their prime, but I did find a few that were fit to photograph. <br /> <br /> I knew I wouldn't be able to walk far, having already been walking all morning, but I really wanted to get to the ENMAX Conservatory to see what was going on. I had been longing all summer to see the tropical butterflies and plants. The butterfly season was coming to an end for these tropical beauties, but there were still plenty of them to be seen. Also, the parking lot that I use was going to be closing for the winter and I don't like the drive back home from the north parking area, using Deerfoot Trail, so tend not to go to the Zoo all winter. <br /> <br /> There was so much activity going on at the Zoo on this day. People everywhere, carrying large animals wrapped in white, protective coverings, preparing for the upcoming ILLUMINASIA, Lantern & Garden Festival. Each animal was an individual lantern and there were so many of them. I noticed that several of the real animals in their enclosures were watching all the unaccustomed activity, which made me smile. So, a good day despite the overcast sky, and plenty of photo opportunities.</div> Golden <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40509612/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/96/12/40509612.4f490f7d.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This morning, 3 December 2015, is overcast and dreary, so it feels good to see this glowing flower, though I think the sun is now trying to burst through the cloud. Temperature is -3C (windchill -7C), but it's supposed to reach 7C this afternoon. <br /> <br /> I had originally planned on going for a birding walk with friends this morning, but after the agonizing sharp pain that shot through my lower back yesterday and still lingers, I have had to change my plans. I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon, mainly so that there is a record of the car accident I was involved in five days ago - not my fault, thankfully, and I would love to say a few things to the woman driver who made such a dangerous, stupid move! Details at <a href="https://flic.kr/p/BucN9q" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">flic.kr/p/BucN9q</a>. The previous three weeks, I had been walking in somewhat less pain than I have for years, which felt wonderful.<br /> <br /> This photo was taken on 8 September 2015 at the Calgary Zoo. In the morning, I joined a group of friends for a three-hour stroll at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. 38 bird species were seen, though I didn't manage to see any of the tiny, fast-moving Warblers. It was good to see 28 Wood Ducks, but they were far, far away, in an area that is still closed due to devastating flood damage. The Sanctuary had been closed for about two years for this reason and only fairly recently re-opened just a part of the area.<br /> <br /> The Calgary Zoo is very close to the Sanctuary, so after our morning walk, I decided to call in there. I hadn't been for about a year and I really missed going there. Of course, many of the garden flowers were past their prime, but I did find a few that were fit to photograph. <br /> <br /> I knew I wouldn't be able to walk far, having already been walking all morning, but I really wanted to get to the ENMAX Conservatory to see what was going on. I had been longing all summer to see the tropical butterflies and plants. The butterfly season was coming to an end for these tropical beauties, but there were still plenty of them to be seen. Also, the parking lot that I use was going to be closing for the winter and I don't like the drive back home from the north parking area, using Deerfoot Trail, so tend not to go to the Zoo all winter. <br /> <br /> There was so much activity going on at the Zoo on this day. People everywhere, carrying large animals wrapped in white, protective coverings, preparing for the upcoming ILLUMINASIA, Lantern & Garden Festival. Each animal was an individual lantern and there were so many of them. I noticed that several of the real animals in their enclosures were watching all the unaccustomed activity, which made me smile. So, a good day despite the overcast sky, and plenty of photo opportunities.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40496324/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-02,doc-40496324 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 17:32:00 +0000 2015-06-24T16:49:32-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40496324/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/63/24/40496324.4bc44d21.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Couldn't believe my eyes when I went to take a photo of these Poppy seedpods. How easily I could have missed this ring of small beetles. There were others crawling upwards along the stem, too. Not sure what they are - possiby Twice-stabbed Stink Bugs?? Pretty little things. Just wish my photo was as sharp as it should have been. This photo was taken at the Reader Rock Garden on 24 June 2015, when I called in after a volunteer shift.</div> Beetle necklace <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40496324/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/63/24/40496324.4bc44d21.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Couldn't believe my eyes when I went to take a photo of these Poppy seedpods. How easily I could have missed this ring of small beetles. There were others crawling upwards along the stem, too. Not sure what they are - possiby Twice-stabbed Stink Bugs?? Pretty little things. Just wish my photo was as sharp as it should have been. This photo was taken at the Reader Rock Garden on 24 June 2015, when I called in after a volunteer shift.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40488710/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-11-30,doc-40488710 Mon, 30 Nov 2015 17:31:54 +0000 2015-06-24T16:16:01-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40488710/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/87/10/40488710.b0747948.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Despite being a weed, I've only ever seen Orange Hawkweed growing in the wild twice, I believe. This photo was taken at the Reader Rock Garden on 24 June 2015, when I called in after a volunteer shift. I love the colour and the toothed tips of each petal. Provincial Designation: Prohibited Noxious. <br /> <br /> "Native to Eurasia, Orange hawkweed was likely introduced as an ornamental plant because of its showy, fiery orange flowers .... The ancient Greeks believed hawks’ feeding on the sap of hawkweed is what gave them their keen eyesight. Other common names are devil’s paintbrush and red devil."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.invasiveplants.ab.ca/Downloads/FS-OrangeHawkweed.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.invasiveplants.ab.ca/Downloads/FS-OrangeHawkweed.pdf</a></div> Orange Hawkweed <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40488710/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/87/10/40488710.b0747948.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Despite being a weed, I've only ever seen Orange Hawkweed growing in the wild twice, I believe. This photo was taken at the Reader Rock Garden on 24 June 2015, when I called in after a volunteer shift. I love the colour and the toothed tips of each petal. Provincial Designation: Prohibited Noxious. <br /> <br /> "Native to Eurasia, Orange hawkweed was likely introduced as an ornamental plant because of its showy, fiery orange flowers .... The ancient Greeks believed hawks’ feeding on the sap of hawkweed is what gave them their keen eyesight. Other common names are devil’s paintbrush and red devil."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.invasiveplants.ab.ca/Downloads/FS-OrangeHawkweed.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.invasiveplants.ab.ca/Downloads/FS-OrangeHawkweed.pdf</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40474836/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-11-28,doc-40474836 Sat, 28 Nov 2015 14:18:17 +0000 2015-06-24T17:12:37-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40474836/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/48/36/40474836.2d6b1a1b.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This photo was taken on 24 June 2015, when I called in at the Reader Rock Garden after a volunteer shift. Needed this bright splash of colour this morning, before facing the cold weather. I believe this flower is a Painted Daisy / Chrysanthemum coccineum.<br /> <br /> "With delicate, fernlike foliage and showy daisy-like blooms in shades of white, red, purple and pink, Painted Daisy adds striking colors to the garden."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scenecf20.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scenecf20.html</a><br /> <br /> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrethrum" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrethrum</a></div> Vibrant colour to warm us all up <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40474836/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/48/36/40474836.2d6b1a1b.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This photo was taken on 24 June 2015, when I called in at the Reader Rock Garden after a volunteer shift. Needed this bright splash of colour this morning, before facing the cold weather. I believe this flower is a Painted Daisy / Chrysanthemum coccineum.<br /> <br /> "With delicate, fernlike foliage and showy daisy-like blooms in shades of white, red, purple and pink, Painted Daisy adds striking colors to the garden."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scenecf20.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scenecf20.html</a><br /> <br /> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrethrum" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrethrum</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40442056/in/album/491183 tag:ipernity.com,2015-11-25,doc-40442056 Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:10:47 +0000 2015-09-21T14:31:01-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40442056/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/20/56/40442056.3e3091b7.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This photo was taken in the gardens at the Calgary Zoo on 21 September 2015. The ENMAX Conservatory butterfly house display was coming to an end and the beautiful tropical plants were beginning to fade, so I really wanted to get over there while I could. This Poppy was really on its last legs and I usually don't see Poppies quite at this stage. There was just something about it that I liked. <br /> <br /> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poppy" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poppy</a><br /> <br /> It was a good visit and I was happy as can be to finally get a decent photo of the glorious Himalayan Monal (a type of pheasant), and a few Water Lily shots.<br /> <br /> Today, 25 November 2015, the sun is shining, but it's -12C (windchill -17C). Brrr ..... It snowed a bit last night.</div> The beauty of old age <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40442056/in/album/491183"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/20/56/40442056.3e3091b7.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This photo was taken in the gardens at the Calgary Zoo on 21 September 2015. The ENMAX Conservatory butterfly house display was coming to an end and the beautiful tropical plants were beginning to fade, so I really wanted to get over there while I could. This Poppy was really on its last legs and I usually don't see Poppies quite at this stage. There was just something about it that I liked. <br /> <br /> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poppy" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poppy</a><br /> <br /> It was a good visit and I was happy as can be to finally get a decent photo of the glorious Himalayan Monal (a type of pheasant), and a few Water Lily shots.<br /> <br /> Today, 25 November 2015, the sun is shining, but it's -12C (windchill -17C). Brrr ..... It snowed a bit last night.</div> Anne Elliott