https://www.ipernity.com/tag/293827/keyword/2446467 https://cdn.ipernity.com/p/101/C3/7B/293827.buddy.jpg https://www.ipernity.com/tag/293827/keyword/2446467 Wed, 13 May 2026 00:32:42 +0000 Wed, 13 May 2026 00:32:42 +0000 https://www.ipernity.com https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/45807634 tag:ipernity.com,2017-11-08,doc-45807634 Wed, 08 Nov 2017 18:42:41 +0000 2017-09-27T14:44:16-07:00 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/293827/45807634"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/76/34/45807634.44516f5f.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Not a good photo, but I wanted to add it to my Insects album, as I get out and see so few insects of any kind these days. Not sure of the ID for this one - could it be a Black Meadowhawk (female?)? Seen at Maclean Pond, Kananaskis, on 27 September 2017.<br /> <br /> This was a day of exploring the Springbank to Allen Bill Pond area. Friend Gayle is busy getting petition forms out to people, in connection with the proposed dam that will be built in one of these two areas. She asked me if I would like to go with her to take a closer look at these totally different areas. The Springbank area would suffer greatly if a dam was built and another major flood occurs. A lot of farmland that has been in families for generations in some cases. The second area that is being considered for a dam is not far from Bragg Creek, and would involve a lot of forested land. From Springbank, we drove south as far as Allen Bill Pond on Highway 66/Elbow Falls Trail before turning round to go back to Bragg Creek. Allen Bill Pond used to be a very popular fishing spot, but it was totally destroyed by the dreadful flood of 2013, when it was filled with gravel deposited by the river. <br /> <br /> I hadn't followed any of this dam business, though it has apparently been going on for quite a long time - maybe two or three years? I'm also not someone who deals with petitions, but it was really interesting to see the enormous stretch of land that would end up being affected by the construction of a dam.<br /> <br /> "The Springbank Off-stream Reservoir, or Springbank Project, is a dry reservoir that will store water temporarily during a flood. It will work in tandem with the Glenmore Reservoir in Calgary. Together, the combined storage capacity would accommodate water volumes equal to the 2013 flood."<br /> <br /> Springbank Off-stream Reservoir conceptual animation (August 2017)<br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/lNP5dKTiJ0Y" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">youtu.be/lNP5dKTiJ0Y</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/documents/Springbank-LocationMap-2016.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.transportation.alberta.ca/documents/Springbank-Locati...</a><br /> <br /> Thanks so much for the trip, Gayle! I didn't know most of the Springbank area before, but I was quite familiar with the Bragg Creek area. Going for lunch in Bragg Creek was a good idea and nice to stop and have coffee before heading for home. It was such glorious weather, too, and the fall colours just amazing. With rain and snow in the forecast for four days, our timing was good. Loved your Roses, Gayle, and what a delight to see the clusters of mushrooms growing at the base of one of your trees! Many thanks for the tomatoes, carrots and apples from your garden, too - a real treat.</div> Dragonfly - Black Meadowhawk? <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/293827/45807634"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/76/34/45807634.44516f5f.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Not a good photo, but I wanted to add it to my Insects album, as I get out and see so few insects of any kind these days. Not sure of the ID for this one - could it be a Black Meadowhawk (female?)? Seen at Maclean Pond, Kananaskis, on 27 September 2017.<br /> <br /> This was a day of exploring the Springbank to Allen Bill Pond area. Friend Gayle is busy getting petition forms out to people, in connection with the proposed dam that will be built in one of these two areas. She asked me if I would like to go with her to take a closer look at these totally different areas. The Springbank area would suffer greatly if a dam was built and another major flood occurs. A lot of farmland that has been in families for generations in some cases. The second area that is being considered for a dam is not far from Bragg Creek, and would involve a lot of forested land. From Springbank, we drove south as far as Allen Bill Pond on Highway 66/Elbow Falls Trail before turning round to go back to Bragg Creek. Allen Bill Pond used to be a very popular fishing spot, but it was totally destroyed by the dreadful flood of 2013, when it was filled with gravel deposited by the river. <br /> <br /> I hadn't followed any of this dam business, though it has apparently been going on for quite a long time - maybe two or three years? I'm also not someone who deals with petitions, but it was really interesting to see the enormous stretch of land that would end up being affected by the construction of a dam.<br /> <br /> "The Springbank Off-stream Reservoir, or Springbank Project, is a dry reservoir that will store water temporarily during a flood. It will work in tandem with the Glenmore Reservoir in Calgary. Together, the combined storage capacity would accommodate water volumes equal to the 2013 flood."<br /> <br /> Springbank Off-stream Reservoir conceptual animation (August 2017)<br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/lNP5dKTiJ0Y" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">youtu.be/lNP5dKTiJ0Y</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/documents/Springbank-LocationMap-2016.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.transportation.alberta.ca/documents/Springbank-Locati...</a><br /> <br /> Thanks so much for the trip, Gayle! I didn't know most of the Springbank area before, but I was quite familiar with the Bragg Creek area. Going for lunch in Bragg Creek was a good idea and nice to stop and have coffee before heading for home. It was such glorious weather, too, and the fall colours just amazing. With rain and snow in the forecast for four days, our timing was good. Loved your Roses, Gayle, and what a delight to see the clusters of mushrooms growing at the base of one of your trees! Many thanks for the tomatoes, carrots and apples from your garden, too - a real treat.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/39231606 tag:ipernity.com,2015-08-01,doc-39231606 Sat, 01 Aug 2015 14:53:45 +0000 2015-07-31T14:41:29-06:00 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/293827/39231606"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/16/06/39231606.be17b4b6.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="181" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Note: this photo is NOT my "main" (i.e. very last to be uploaded) photo out of the three I've posted this morning. I uploaded this and the previous shot first and then uploaded the main image (Echinacea flower) separately, to see if that makes any difference. I did try doing it a couple of times this way weeks ago and seem to remember that there was something I didn't like with the result, but can't for the life of me remember what it was, ha. Hopefully, Flickr (or something else) won't change the order of the way you see my photos displayed! <br /> <br /> Usually, I don't bother to take scenery shots at Maclean Pond, as I don't find it to be that photogenic. However, I Took this photo yesterday, 31 July 2015, as each one of those tiny white specks in the water is a pretty little Water Crowfoot flower. I've added a macro shot of a single, tiny flower in a comment box below.<br /> <br /> The forecast for this afternoon is 28C, a very slight improvement over yesterday, when it reached 31C. I was out all day yesterday, having a great day with friend, Darlene, going west of the city. We first called in at someone's private property to see if there was any sign of the Red-bellied Woodpecker that had been reported. No luck, but we did see many beautiful Evening Grosbeaks and even more Pine Siskins, plus a Hairy Woodpecker and several other birds. Also, we saw a different Grosbeak, either a female or a juvenile Rose-breasted Grosbeak or Black-headed Grosbeak. Didn't get a chance to look at my photos and crop to get a better look last night. Hopefully, someone will have been able to get the bird identified.<br /> <br /> After this visit, we drove to an area where I had been told that a Great Gray can be seen sometimes (no luck), and then along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66) as far as Maclean Pond, just in time to see an Osprey flying overhead with a large fish in its talons. So few birds to be seen or heard - maybe it was just too hot for them, and by then it was the afternoon, which tends not to be the best time to see birds. We got separated for quite a long time, through miscommunication, probably because when I yelled through the forest "Are you still coming?", it had sounded to Darlene like "I'm coming"! So, she waited for me to reach her and I had assumed that she was following behind me, some distance back. Apparently, both of us called a number of times after that, but we were out of hearing distance. Not a good feeling, each of us concerned about the well-being of the other and each wondering if we were going to have to call in a search party. At 31C, it was feeling mighty hot the whole time, too! When we finally found each other, we knew what we needed after our "ordeal" - an ice-cream, back in Bragg Creek, lol! A great day, Darlene - thanks so much for driving and for all the fun : )</div> Maclean Pond, Kananaskis <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/293827/39231606"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/16/06/39231606.be17b4b6.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="181" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Note: this photo is NOT my "main" (i.e. very last to be uploaded) photo out of the three I've posted this morning. I uploaded this and the previous shot first and then uploaded the main image (Echinacea flower) separately, to see if that makes any difference. I did try doing it a couple of times this way weeks ago and seem to remember that there was something I didn't like with the result, but can't for the life of me remember what it was, ha. Hopefully, Flickr (or something else) won't change the order of the way you see my photos displayed! <br /> <br /> Usually, I don't bother to take scenery shots at Maclean Pond, as I don't find it to be that photogenic. However, I Took this photo yesterday, 31 July 2015, as each one of those tiny white specks in the water is a pretty little Water Crowfoot flower. I've added a macro shot of a single, tiny flower in a comment box below.<br /> <br /> The forecast for this afternoon is 28C, a very slight improvement over yesterday, when it reached 31C. I was out all day yesterday, having a great day with friend, Darlene, going west of the city. We first called in at someone's private property to see if there was any sign of the Red-bellied Woodpecker that had been reported. No luck, but we did see many beautiful Evening Grosbeaks and even more Pine Siskins, plus a Hairy Woodpecker and several other birds. Also, we saw a different Grosbeak, either a female or a juvenile Rose-breasted Grosbeak or Black-headed Grosbeak. Didn't get a chance to look at my photos and crop to get a better look last night. Hopefully, someone will have been able to get the bird identified.<br /> <br /> After this visit, we drove to an area where I had been told that a Great Gray can be seen sometimes (no luck), and then along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66) as far as Maclean Pond, just in time to see an Osprey flying overhead with a large fish in its talons. So few birds to be seen or heard - maybe it was just too hot for them, and by then it was the afternoon, which tends not to be the best time to see birds. We got separated for quite a long time, through miscommunication, probably because when I yelled through the forest "Are you still coming?", it had sounded to Darlene like "I'm coming"! So, she waited for me to reach her and I had assumed that she was following behind me, some distance back. Apparently, both of us called a number of times after that, but we were out of hearing distance. Not a good feeling, each of us concerned about the well-being of the other and each wondering if we were going to have to call in a search party. At 31C, it was feeling mighty hot the whole time, too! When we finally found each other, we knew what we needed after our "ordeal" - an ice-cream, back in Bragg Creek, lol! A great day, Darlene - thanks so much for driving and for all the fun : )</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/35856503 tag:ipernity.com,2014-11-09,doc-35856503 Sun, 09 Nov 2014 13:40:16 +0000 2014-06-12T15:39:37-07:00 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/293827/35856503"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/146/65/03/35856503.9f1ef5c7.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">In the afternoon of 12 June 2014, I drove westwards to the mountains, along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66) as far as Maclean Pond. I did a very slow walk, and was happy when I noticed these tiny mushrooms growing on a fallen, rotting log. The tallest one may have been an inch tall, so you can imagine how small the smallest one was. When I come across fungi that look like these, I'm never completely sure whether they are mushrooms or if they belong to a lichen that grows something very similar. If it is, in fact, a lichen (Lichenomphallia ericetorum), then the following information would apply - yes, it IS the correct ID, thanks to Ken Dies:<br /> <br /> "Lichenomphallia is a genus of lichenized Basidomycetes or club fungi which has spores produced on club-shaped basidia. The lichen fungus resembles a mushroom and the algae are concentrated in special tissues or lobes at the base of the fruiting body. This plant is found in both books on Lichens and books on Mushrooms as Omphalina."<br /> <br /> The previously posted image in a comment box below shows the lichen (Lichenomphallia ericetorum).<br /> <br /> I had hoped to find lots of wildflowers in bloom, but the main plant was the Dandelion, so it was obviously too early after our late spring. Also a very few Shootingstars, one Blue-eyed Grass in bloom, several Valerian flowers, several clusters of Mouse-eared Chickweed, and not much else.<br /> <br /> On the way home, I drove a few of the backroads SW of Calgary, where I photographed a pair of Mountain Bluebirds, a Snipe, a Tree Swallow, a Brewer's Blackbird, and a Black Tern that was perched on a fence post. Usually, when I see Terns, they are flying fast and my camera can't catch them.<br /> <br /> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /> <br /> Our weather took a turn for the worse yesterday evening. After a sunny day, freezing fog developed later evening, just when I had to drive home from part way across the city. It was the annual supper for a group I belong to and it was a very pleasant evening. Always good to catch up with friends. There is a warning that our roads are going to turn into “skating rinks” – never good news. Temperatures will plunge and this afternoon will be -6C with snow all day today and all day tomorrow (Monday). Temperature will be down to -14C on Tuesday, but at least the sun should be shining. I have to drive south of the city today and I’m not looking forward to it. It's -6C as I type at 6:00 am (windchill -12C) and it snowed overnight). I am so not ready for this!!</div> One of my favourite Lichens <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/293827/35856503"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/146/65/03/35856503.9f1ef5c7.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">In the afternoon of 12 June 2014, I drove westwards to the mountains, along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66) as far as Maclean Pond. I did a very slow walk, and was happy when I noticed these tiny mushrooms growing on a fallen, rotting log. The tallest one may have been an inch tall, so you can imagine how small the smallest one was. When I come across fungi that look like these, I'm never completely sure whether they are mushrooms or if they belong to a lichen that grows something very similar. If it is, in fact, a lichen (Lichenomphallia ericetorum), then the following information would apply - yes, it IS the correct ID, thanks to Ken Dies:<br /> <br /> "Lichenomphallia is a genus of lichenized Basidomycetes or club fungi which has spores produced on club-shaped basidia. The lichen fungus resembles a mushroom and the algae are concentrated in special tissues or lobes at the base of the fruiting body. This plant is found in both books on Lichens and books on Mushrooms as Omphalina."<br /> <br /> The previously posted image in a comment box below shows the lichen (Lichenomphallia ericetorum).<br /> <br /> I had hoped to find lots of wildflowers in bloom, but the main plant was the Dandelion, so it was obviously too early after our late spring. Also a very few Shootingstars, one Blue-eyed Grass in bloom, several Valerian flowers, several clusters of Mouse-eared Chickweed, and not much else.<br /> <br /> On the way home, I drove a few of the backroads SW of Calgary, where I photographed a pair of Mountain Bluebirds, a Snipe, a Tree Swallow, a Brewer's Blackbird, and a Black Tern that was perched on a fence post. Usually, when I see Terns, they are flying fast and my camera can't catch them.<br /> <br /> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /> <br /> Our weather took a turn for the worse yesterday evening. After a sunny day, freezing fog developed later evening, just when I had to drive home from part way across the city. It was the annual supper for a group I belong to and it was a very pleasant evening. Always good to catch up with friends. There is a warning that our roads are going to turn into “skating rinks” – never good news. Temperatures will plunge and this afternoon will be -6C with snow all day today and all day tomorrow (Monday). Temperature will be down to -14C on Tuesday, but at least the sun should be shining. I have to drive south of the city today and I’m not looking forward to it. It's -6C as I type at 6:00 am (windchill -12C) and it snowed overnight). I am so not ready for this!!</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/33879545 tag:ipernity.com,2014-07-11,doc-33879545 Fri, 11 Jul 2014 18:25:45 +0000 2014-06-12T15:28:12-06:00 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/293827/33879545"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/144/95/45/33879545.e4162ba9.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">On 12 June 2014, I drove westwards to the mountains, along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66) as far as Maclean Pond. I did a very slow walk, and was very happy when I noticed these tiny fungi growing on a fallen, rotting log. They may have been something like an inch tall. When I come across fungi that look like these, I'm never completely sure whether they are mushrooms or if they belong to a lichen that grows mushroom-like "things". This time, I know it's a Lichen, thanks to Ken Dies' help. I had intended cropping this image to square, but then decided to leave the original, as there are a few interesting things growing from the log, including mosses and Cladonia species.<br /> <br /> "Lichenomphallia is a genus of lichenized Basidomycetes or club fungi which has spores produced on club-shaped basidia. The lichen fungus resembles a mushroom and the algae are concentrated in special tissues or lobes at the base of the fruiting body. This plant is found in both books on Lichens and books on Mushrooms as Omphalina."<br /> <br /> I had hoped to find lots of wildflowers in bloom, but the main plant was the Dandelion, so it was obviously too early after our late spring. Also a very few Shootingstars, one Blue-eyed Grass in bloom, several Valerian flowers, several clusters of Mouse-eared Chickweed, and not much else.<br /> <br /> On the way home, I drove a few of the backroads SW of Calgary, where I photographed a pair of Mountain Bluebirds, a Snipe, a Tree Swallow, a Brewer's Blackbird, and a Black Tern that was perched on a fence post. Usually, when I see Terns, they are flying fast and my camera can't catch them.</div> One busy log <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/293827/33879545"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/144/95/45/33879545.e4162ba9.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">On 12 June 2014, I drove westwards to the mountains, along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66) as far as Maclean Pond. I did a very slow walk, and was very happy when I noticed these tiny fungi growing on a fallen, rotting log. They may have been something like an inch tall. When I come across fungi that look like these, I'm never completely sure whether they are mushrooms or if they belong to a lichen that grows mushroom-like "things". This time, I know it's a Lichen, thanks to Ken Dies' help. I had intended cropping this image to square, but then decided to leave the original, as there are a few interesting things growing from the log, including mosses and Cladonia species.<br /> <br /> "Lichenomphallia is a genus of lichenized Basidomycetes or club fungi which has spores produced on club-shaped basidia. The lichen fungus resembles a mushroom and the algae are concentrated in special tissues or lobes at the base of the fruiting body. This plant is found in both books on Lichens and books on Mushrooms as Omphalina."<br /> <br /> I had hoped to find lots of wildflowers in bloom, but the main plant was the Dandelion, so it was obviously too early after our late spring. Also a very few Shootingstars, one Blue-eyed Grass in bloom, several Valerian flowers, several clusters of Mouse-eared Chickweed, and not much else.<br /> <br /> On the way home, I drove a few of the backroads SW of Calgary, where I photographed a pair of Mountain Bluebirds, a Snipe, a Tree Swallow, a Brewer's Blackbird, and a Black Tern that was perched on a fence post. Usually, when I see Terns, they are flying fast and my camera can't catch them.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/33714297 tag:ipernity.com,2014-07-04,doc-33714297 Fri, 04 Jul 2014 15:29:34 +0000 2014-06-12T15:01:29-06:00 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/293827/33714297"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/144/42/97/33714297.b3ae148c.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">HAPPY 4th JULY to all Americans, whether at home or overseas!<br /> <br /> A small Canada Violet flower, macro photographed at Maclean Pond, off Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66), Kananaskis, on 12 June 2014. When I did a search for this species on my photostream, nothing showed up. I'm surprised that it has taken me eight years to post a photo, ha.<br /> <br /> "Viola canadensis is more commonly known as Canadian white violet, Canada violet, tall white violet, or white violet. As its name suggests, it is a species of violet which bears white blooms. The flowers are white, with yellow bases and sometimes streaks of purple. The petals are purple tinged on the backside. The leaves are heart shaped, with coarse, rounded teeth. It is native to Canada and the eastern United States. It is threatened or endangered in some areas, and abundant in others." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_canadensis" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_canadensis</a><br /> <br /> The famous, annual Calgary Stampede begins today, with the Stampede Parade taking place downtown this morning. William Shatner (from Star Trek) is our Parade Marshall. No worries about the weather, as it's a beautiful, sunny day today. Temperature is 21°C so far, so not unbearably hot for people who are lining the parade route or taking part in the parade. Yesterday afternoon, we got up to around 32°C, which was too hot for my liking.</div> Canada Violet <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/293827/33714297"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/144/42/97/33714297.b3ae148c.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">HAPPY 4th JULY to all Americans, whether at home or overseas!<br /> <br /> A small Canada Violet flower, macro photographed at Maclean Pond, off Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66), Kananaskis, on 12 June 2014. When I did a search for this species on my photostream, nothing showed up. I'm surprised that it has taken me eight years to post a photo, ha.<br /> <br /> "Viola canadensis is more commonly known as Canadian white violet, Canada violet, tall white violet, or white violet. As its name suggests, it is a species of violet which bears white blooms. The flowers are white, with yellow bases and sometimes streaks of purple. The petals are purple tinged on the backside. The leaves are heart shaped, with coarse, rounded teeth. It is native to Canada and the eastern United States. It is threatened or endangered in some areas, and abundant in others." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_canadensis" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_canadensis</a><br /> <br /> The famous, annual Calgary Stampede begins today, with the Stampede Parade taking place downtown this morning. William Shatner (from Star Trek) is our Parade Marshall. No worries about the weather, as it's a beautiful, sunny day today. Temperature is 21°C so far, so not unbearably hot for people who are lining the parade route or taking part in the parade. Yesterday afternoon, we got up to around 32°C, which was too hot for my liking.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/33652599 tag:ipernity.com,2014-06-29,doc-33652599 Sun, 29 Jun 2014 15:20:42 +0000 2014-06-12T14:44:24-06:00 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/293827/33652599"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/25/99/33652599.9ef70b2a.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A small Wild Strawberry flower, macro photographed at Maclean Pond, off Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66), Kananaskis, on 12 June 2014. Also known as Virginia Strawberry, Common Strawberry, Smooth Wild Strawberry, and Strawberry. Latin synonyms - Fragaria glauca. These native flowers are 12-18mm across, in small clusters. <br /> <br /> "Wild Strawberries bloom from April to June. Flowers are 3/4 inch wide, with five white petals. The petals are attached to a cone-shaped part of the flower. This cone starts off yellow, then later becomes larger, thicker, and redder. This is the "strawberry" part of the Wild Strawberry plant, and it contains dry seeds."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/wild_strawberry.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/wild_strawberry.htm</a></div> Wild Strawberry <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/293827/33652599"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/25/99/33652599.9ef70b2a.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A small Wild Strawberry flower, macro photographed at Maclean Pond, off Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66), Kananaskis, on 12 June 2014. Also known as Virginia Strawberry, Common Strawberry, Smooth Wild Strawberry, and Strawberry. Latin synonyms - Fragaria glauca. These native flowers are 12-18mm across, in small clusters. <br /> <br /> "Wild Strawberries bloom from April to June. Flowers are 3/4 inch wide, with five white petals. The petals are attached to a cone-shaped part of the flower. This cone starts off yellow, then later becomes larger, thicker, and redder. This is the "strawberry" part of the Wild Strawberry plant, and it contains dry seeds."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/wild_strawberry.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/wild_strawberry.htm</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/33652571 tag:ipernity.com,2014-06-28,doc-33652571 Sat, 28 Jun 2014 17:22:38 +0000 2014-06-12T14:40:55-06:00 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/293827/33652571"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/25/71/33652571.00d14d89.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Found this little Shootingstar just off Elbow Falls Trail, at Maclean Pond, in Kananaskis, on 12 June 2014. They are such exquisite wildflowers! Unfortunately, a single flowerhead doesn't quite fit into a macro photo, but I have to balance that with being able to get a soft, blurred background.<br /> <br /> "The genus (Dodecatheon) is largely confined to North America and part of northeastern Siberia. Common names include shooting star, American cowslip, mosquito bills, mad violets, and sailor caps. A few species are grown in gardens for their showy and unique flower display.<br /> <br /> The stamens are thrust out with the sepals bent back. The flowers are pollinated by bees, which grab hold of the petals, and gather pollen by vibrating the flowers by buzzing their wings (buzz pollination). The vibration releases pollen from the anthers." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodecatheon" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodecatheon</a></div> Shootingstar <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/293827/33652571"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/25/71/33652571.00d14d89.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Found this little Shootingstar just off Elbow Falls Trail, at Maclean Pond, in Kananaskis, on 12 June 2014. They are such exquisite wildflowers! Unfortunately, a single flowerhead doesn't quite fit into a macro photo, but I have to balance that with being able to get a soft, blurred background.<br /> <br /> "The genus (Dodecatheon) is largely confined to North America and part of northeastern Siberia. Common names include shooting star, American cowslip, mosquito bills, mad violets, and sailor caps. A few species are grown in gardens for their showy and unique flower display.<br /> <br /> The stamens are thrust out with the sepals bent back. The flowers are pollinated by bees, which grab hold of the petals, and gather pollen by vibrating the flowers by buzzing their wings (buzz pollination). The vibration releases pollen from the anthers." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodecatheon" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodecatheon</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/33652549 tag:ipernity.com,2014-06-27,doc-33652549 Fri, 27 Jun 2014 13:26:13 +0000 2014-06-12T15:29:36-06:00 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/293827/33652549"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/25/49/33652549.778f4cb4.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">On 12 June 2014, I drove westwards to the mountains, along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66) as far as Maclean Pond. I did a very slow walk, and was very happy when I noticed these tiny mushrooms growing on a fallen, rotting log. They may have been something like an inch tall. When I come across fungi that look like these, I'm never completely sure whether they are mushrooms or if they belong to a lichen that grows something very similar. This time, I know it's a Lichen, thanks to Ken Dies' help. <br /> <br /> "Lichenomphallia is a genus of lichenized Basidomycetes or club fungi which has spores produced on club-shaped basidia. The lichen fungus resembles a mushroom and the algae are concentrated in special tissues or lobes at the base of the fruiting body. This plant is found in both books on Lichens and books on Mushrooms as Omphalina."<br /> <br /> I had hoped to find lots of wildflowers in bloom, but the main plant was the Dandelion, so it was obviously too early after our late spring. Also a very few Shootingstars, one Blue-eyed Grass in bloom, several Valerian flowers, several clusters of Mouse-eared Chickweed, and not much else.<br /> <br /> On the way home, I drove a few of the backroads SW of Calgary, where I photographed a pair of Mountain Bluebirds, a Snipe, a Tree Swallow, a Brewer's Blackbird, and a Black Tern that was perched on a fence post. Usually, when I see Terns, they are flying fast and my camera can't catch them.</div> Fascinating forest find <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/293827/33652549"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/25/49/33652549.778f4cb4.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">On 12 June 2014, I drove westwards to the mountains, along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66) as far as Maclean Pond. I did a very slow walk, and was very happy when I noticed these tiny mushrooms growing on a fallen, rotting log. They may have been something like an inch tall. When I come across fungi that look like these, I'm never completely sure whether they are mushrooms or if they belong to a lichen that grows something very similar. This time, I know it's a Lichen, thanks to Ken Dies' help. <br /> <br /> "Lichenomphallia is a genus of lichenized Basidomycetes or club fungi which has spores produced on club-shaped basidia. The lichen fungus resembles a mushroom and the algae are concentrated in special tissues or lobes at the base of the fruiting body. This plant is found in both books on Lichens and books on Mushrooms as Omphalina."<br /> <br /> I had hoped to find lots of wildflowers in bloom, but the main plant was the Dandelion, so it was obviously too early after our late spring. Also a very few Shootingstars, one Blue-eyed Grass in bloom, several Valerian flowers, several clusters of Mouse-eared Chickweed, and not much else.<br /> <br /> On the way home, I drove a few of the backroads SW of Calgary, where I photographed a pair of Mountain Bluebirds, a Snipe, a Tree Swallow, a Brewer's Blackbird, and a Black Tern that was perched on a fence post. Usually, when I see Terns, they are flying fast and my camera can't catch them.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/33652491 tag:ipernity.com,2014-06-22,doc-33652491 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 10:33:14 +0000 2014-06-12T15:36:07-06:00 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/293827/33652491"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/24/91/33652491.720fcd1d.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A blur, I know, but it's not everyone (or me, before that day) who gets a photo of a Mosquito on a fungus : ) Taken on 12 June 2014, when I drove westwards towards the mountains. I wasn't sure how far along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66) I would get, as I didn't leave till the afternoon. I ended up going to Maclean Pond, which isn't all that far past Bragg Creek. After taking a couple of photos of this, I realized I had been bitten on my finger, either by this Mosquito or one of its friends.<br /> <br /> This is a Lichen, not a mushroom. "Lichenomphallia is a genus of lichenized Basidomycetes or club fungi which has spores produced on club-shaped basidia. The lichen fungus resembles a mushroom and the algae are concentrated in special tissues or lobes at the base of the fruiting body. This plant is found in both books on Lichens and books on Mushrooms as Omphalina."<br /> <br /> I had hoped to find lots of wildflowers in bloom, but the main plant was the Dandelion, so it was obviously too early after our late spring. Also a very few Shootingstars, one Blue-eyed Grass in bloom, several Valerian flowers, several clusters of Mouse-eared Chickweed and one of Calypso Orchids, and not much else.<br /> <br /> On the way home, I drove a few of the backroads SW of Calgary, where I photographed a pair of Mountain Bluebirds, a Snipe, a Tree Swallow, a Brewer's Blackbird, and a Black Tern that was perched on a fence post. Usually, when I see Terns, they are flying fast and my camera can't catch them.</div> The culprit <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/293827/33652491"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/24/91/33652491.720fcd1d.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A blur, I know, but it's not everyone (or me, before that day) who gets a photo of a Mosquito on a fungus : ) Taken on 12 June 2014, when I drove westwards towards the mountains. I wasn't sure how far along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66) I would get, as I didn't leave till the afternoon. I ended up going to Maclean Pond, which isn't all that far past Bragg Creek. After taking a couple of photos of this, I realized I had been bitten on my finger, either by this Mosquito or one of its friends.<br /> <br /> This is a Lichen, not a mushroom. "Lichenomphallia is a genus of lichenized Basidomycetes or club fungi which has spores produced on club-shaped basidia. The lichen fungus resembles a mushroom and the algae are concentrated in special tissues or lobes at the base of the fruiting body. This plant is found in both books on Lichens and books on Mushrooms as Omphalina."<br /> <br /> I had hoped to find lots of wildflowers in bloom, but the main plant was the Dandelion, so it was obviously too early after our late spring. Also a very few Shootingstars, one Blue-eyed Grass in bloom, several Valerian flowers, several clusters of Mouse-eared Chickweed and one of Calypso Orchids, and not much else.<br /> <br /> On the way home, I drove a few of the backroads SW of Calgary, where I photographed a pair of Mountain Bluebirds, a Snipe, a Tree Swallow, a Brewer's Blackbird, and a Black Tern that was perched on a fence post. Usually, when I see Terns, they are flying fast and my camera can't catch them.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/33652475 tag:ipernity.com,2014-06-20,doc-33652475 Fri, 20 Jun 2014 18:37:35 +0000 2014-06-12T15:15:21-06:00 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/293827/33652475"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/24/75/33652475.016a5ed3.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">These small wild orchids can be difficult to photograph, as they grow in the forest, where the light is not good for taking photos. It's always good to see them in the spring, after a long, bitterly cold winter. I remember maybe two or three years ago, I took photos of a small cluster of them surrounded by snow, so I guess they are hardier than they look. Found this one just off Elbow Falls Trail, in Kananaskis, on 12 June 2014. They are such exquisite wildflowers! Unfortunately, a single flowerhead doesn't quite fit into a macro photo, but I have to balance that with being able to get a soft, blurred background.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calypso_" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calypso_</a>(orchid)<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.mountainnature.com/plants/PlantsLatinNameResult.asp?ID=199+" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.mountainnature.com/plants/PlantsLatinNameResult.asp?I...</a></div> Little jewel of the forest <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/293827/33652475"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/24/75/33652475.016a5ed3.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">These small wild orchids can be difficult to photograph, as they grow in the forest, where the light is not good for taking photos. It's always good to see them in the spring, after a long, bitterly cold winter. I remember maybe two or three years ago, I took photos of a small cluster of them surrounded by snow, so I guess they are hardier than they look. Found this one just off Elbow Falls Trail, in Kananaskis, on 12 June 2014. They are such exquisite wildflowers! Unfortunately, a single flowerhead doesn't quite fit into a macro photo, but I have to balance that with being able to get a soft, blurred background.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calypso_" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calypso_</a>(orchid)<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.mountainnature.com/plants/PlantsLatinNameResult.asp?ID=199+" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.mountainnature.com/plants/PlantsLatinNameResult.asp?I...</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/33384703 tag:ipernity.com,2014-06-17,doc-33384703 Tue, 17 Jun 2014 12:52:39 +0000 2014-06-12T15:23:12-06:00 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/293827/33384703"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/47/03/33384703.ea4f0a14.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">It was surprising how few wildflowers were in bloom when I drove W of Calgary on 12 June 2014, just a short way along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66), as far as Maclean Pond. We had a very late spring, so hopefully colourful flowers will be appearing before too long.<br /> <br /> There are two varieties of Coltsfoot that grow in Alberta - Arrow-leaved coltsfoot (Petasites sagittatus) and Palmate coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus var palmatus). I believe that my macro photo is of Arrow-leaved Coltsfoot. I almost always forget to look at the leaves of any plant - such a bad habit! Actually, the leaves of Coltsfoot grow some distance away from the flowers.</div> Arrow-leaved coltsfoot / Petasites sagittatus <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/293827/33384703"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/47/03/33384703.ea4f0a14.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">It was surprising how few wildflowers were in bloom when I drove W of Calgary on 12 June 2014, just a short way along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66), as far as Maclean Pond. We had a very late spring, so hopefully colourful flowers will be appearing before too long.<br /> <br /> There are two varieties of Coltsfoot that grow in Alberta - Arrow-leaved coltsfoot (Petasites sagittatus) and Palmate coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus var palmatus). I believe that my macro photo is of Arrow-leaved Coltsfoot. I almost always forget to look at the leaves of any plant - such a bad habit! Actually, the leaves of Coltsfoot grow some distance away from the flowers.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/33384627 tag:ipernity.com,2014-06-16,doc-33384627 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 15:29:18 +0000 2014-06-12T14:57:47-06:00 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/293827/33384627"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/46/27/33384627.1964d705.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This macro shot of an Early Blue Violet is one of the few wildflower photos I took on 12 June 2014. I was surprised at how few wildflowers were in bloom when I drove W of Calgary, just a short way along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66), as far as Maclean Pond. We had a very late spring, so hopefully colourful flowers will be appearing before too long.<br /> <br /> These fragrant, bluish-purple flowers are up to 2 cm across. "Medicinally, early blue violet was used as a poultice for bruises, and a violet syrup was made to relieve epilepsy, inflamed eyes, insomnia, jaundice, and sore throats. In modern times, violets have been used to colour and flavour medicines."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://plantwatch.fanweb.ca/plant-information/early-blue-violet" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">plantwatch.fanweb.ca/plant-information/early-blue-violet</a></div> Early Blue Violet <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/293827/33384627"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/46/27/33384627.1964d705.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This macro shot of an Early Blue Violet is one of the few wildflower photos I took on 12 June 2014. I was surprised at how few wildflowers were in bloom when I drove W of Calgary, just a short way along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66), as far as Maclean Pond. We had a very late spring, so hopefully colourful flowers will be appearing before too long.<br /> <br /> These fragrant, bluish-purple flowers are up to 2 cm across. "Medicinally, early blue violet was used as a poultice for bruises, and a violet syrup was made to relieve epilepsy, inflamed eyes, insomnia, jaundice, and sore throats. In modern times, violets have been used to colour and flavour medicines."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://plantwatch.fanweb.ca/plant-information/early-blue-violet" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">plantwatch.fanweb.ca/plant-information/early-blue-violet</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/33384565 tag:ipernity.com,2014-06-16,doc-33384565 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 15:29:18 +0000 2014-06-12T15:04:29-06:00 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/293827/33384565"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/45/65/33384565.de3354bf.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This rather blurry macro shot is of one of several small mushrooms I came across at Maclean Pond, W of Calgary, along Elbow Falls Trail, Kananaskis. This mushroom was at an older stage and I just liked the dark rim and the pattern on the top. Taken on an afternoon drive on 12 June 2014. <br /> <br /> In Calgary, August is said to be the peak of the fungi season. The last two or three years have not been particularly good years as far as fungi go, but the ones that I did see were pretty special. Last year, of course, Alberta's Flood of the Century closed down city natural areas and parks and all of the mountain areas that we would normally go to. This year, our fungi "expert" has just broken his leg in an accident, so unfortunately we will be without his expertise and the two or three fungi forays he has led in the past.</div> A fascinating mushroom cap <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/293827/33384565"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/45/65/33384565.de3354bf.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This rather blurry macro shot is of one of several small mushrooms I came across at Maclean Pond, W of Calgary, along Elbow Falls Trail, Kananaskis. This mushroom was at an older stage and I just liked the dark rim and the pattern on the top. Taken on an afternoon drive on 12 June 2014. <br /> <br /> In Calgary, August is said to be the peak of the fungi season. The last two or three years have not been particularly good years as far as fungi go, but the ones that I did see were pretty special. Last year, of course, Alberta's Flood of the Century closed down city natural areas and parks and all of the mountain areas that we would normally go to. This year, our fungi "expert" has just broken his leg in an accident, so unfortunately we will be without his expertise and the two or three fungi forays he has led in the past.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/33329051 tag:ipernity.com,2014-06-15,doc-33329051 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 14:08:03 +0000 2014-06-12T14:50:23-06:00 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/293827/33329051"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/90/51/33329051.738fafbe.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">On Thursday, 12 June 2014, I drove westwards to the eastern edge of the mountains, along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66) as far as Maclean Pond. I did a very slow walk, finding just a few things to photograph. I was surprised at how few wildflowers were in bloom - this was the only tiny Blue-eyed Grass that I noticed. The main plant was the Dandelion, so it was obviously too early after our late spring. Also found a very few Shootingstars, several Valerian flowers, an occasional cluster of Mouse-eared Chickweed, and not much else.<br /> <br /> I drove home via the backroads SW of Calgary, where I photographed a pair of Mountain Bluebirds, a Tree Swallow, a Brewer's Blackbird, a Black Tern that was perched on a fence post, and a Snipe.</div> Blue-eyed Grass <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/293827/33329051"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/90/51/33329051.738fafbe.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">On Thursday, 12 June 2014, I drove westwards to the eastern edge of the mountains, along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66) as far as Maclean Pond. I did a very slow walk, finding just a few things to photograph. I was surprised at how few wildflowers were in bloom - this was the only tiny Blue-eyed Grass that I noticed. The main plant was the Dandelion, so it was obviously too early after our late spring. Also found a very few Shootingstars, several Valerian flowers, an occasional cluster of Mouse-eared Chickweed, and not much else.<br /> <br /> I drove home via the backroads SW of Calgary, where I photographed a pair of Mountain Bluebirds, a Tree Swallow, a Brewer's Blackbird, a Black Tern that was perched on a fence post, and a Snipe.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/33284925 tag:ipernity.com,2014-06-14,doc-33284925 Sat, 14 Jun 2014 04:52:50 +0000 2014-06-12T15:41:12-06:00 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/293827/33284925"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/49/25/33284925.6196d790.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I've had problems transferring my photos from Flickr to ipernity this past week. They kept appearing in the wrong order, so I've just this minute caught up by uploading them from my computer - takes so much longer to do it this way, copying and pasting all the info. I fell behind and haven't been on ipernity - trying to cut back on computer use because of my painful shoulders, plus having to go to physiotherapy. Now the physio has changed to just one shoulder plus my back, as the intense pain in my back is stopping me going on my birding and botany walks. I guess all the pain is connected, which is really frustrating. My apologies especially to Art, as I have fallen behind with commenting on his beautiful images! <br /> <br /> Yesterday afternoon, 12 June 2014, I drove westwards to the mountains, along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66) as far as Maclean Pond. I did a very slow walk, and was happy when I noticed these tiny mushrooms growing on a fallen, rotting log. The tallest one may have been an inch tall, so you can imagine how small the smallest one was. When I come across fungi that look like these, I'm never completely sure whether they are mushrooms or if they belong to a lichen that grows something very similar. If it is, in fact, a lichen (Lichenomphallia ericetorum), then the following information would apply:<br /> <br /> "Lichenomphallia is a genus of lichenized Basidomycetes or club fungi which has spores produced on club-shaped basidia. The lichen fungus resembles a mushroom and the algae are concentrated in special tissues or lobes at the base of the fruiting body. This plant is found in both books on Lichens and books on Mushrooms as Omphalina."<br /> <br /> Many thanks, Ken, for the ID confirmation - Lichenomphallia ericetorum.<br /> <br /> The previously posted image in a comment box below shows the lichen (Lichenomphallia ericetorum).<br /> <br /> I had hoped to find lots of wildflowers in bloom, but the main plant was the Dandelion, so it was obviously too early after our late spring. Also a very few Shootingstars, one Blue-eyed Grass in bloom, several Valerian flowers, several clusters of Mouse-eared Chickweed, and not much else.<br /> <br /> On the way home, I drove a few of the backroads SW of Calgary, where I photographed a pair of Mountain Bluebirds, a Snipe, a Tree Swallow, a Brewer's Blackbird, and a Black Tern that was perched on a fence post. Usually, when I see Terns, they are flying fast and my camera can't catch them.<br /> <br /> The forecast was for rain last night (which did arrive) and rain today, which is why I went for a drive yesterday. So far this morning, the sky is overcast and dreary and it looks like more rain is coming. Yesterday, while I was photographing the Bluebirds, there was a cold wind blowing and the temperature was only around 10°C.</div> Yesterday&#039;s treat <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/293827/33284925"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/49/25/33284925.6196d790.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I've had problems transferring my photos from Flickr to ipernity this past week. They kept appearing in the wrong order, so I've just this minute caught up by uploading them from my computer - takes so much longer to do it this way, copying and pasting all the info. I fell behind and haven't been on ipernity - trying to cut back on computer use because of my painful shoulders, plus having to go to physiotherapy. Now the physio has changed to just one shoulder plus my back, as the intense pain in my back is stopping me going on my birding and botany walks. I guess all the pain is connected, which is really frustrating. My apologies especially to Art, as I have fallen behind with commenting on his beautiful images! <br /> <br /> Yesterday afternoon, 12 June 2014, I drove westwards to the mountains, along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66) as far as Maclean Pond. I did a very slow walk, and was happy when I noticed these tiny mushrooms growing on a fallen, rotting log. The tallest one may have been an inch tall, so you can imagine how small the smallest one was. When I come across fungi that look like these, I'm never completely sure whether they are mushrooms or if they belong to a lichen that grows something very similar. If it is, in fact, a lichen (Lichenomphallia ericetorum), then the following information would apply:<br /> <br /> "Lichenomphallia is a genus of lichenized Basidomycetes or club fungi which has spores produced on club-shaped basidia. The lichen fungus resembles a mushroom and the algae are concentrated in special tissues or lobes at the base of the fruiting body. This plant is found in both books on Lichens and books on Mushrooms as Omphalina."<br /> <br /> Many thanks, Ken, for the ID confirmation - Lichenomphallia ericetorum.<br /> <br /> The previously posted image in a comment box below shows the lichen (Lichenomphallia ericetorum).<br /> <br /> I had hoped to find lots of wildflowers in bloom, but the main plant was the Dandelion, so it was obviously too early after our late spring. Also a very few Shootingstars, one Blue-eyed Grass in bloom, several Valerian flowers, several clusters of Mouse-eared Chickweed, and not much else.<br /> <br /> On the way home, I drove a few of the backroads SW of Calgary, where I photographed a pair of Mountain Bluebirds, a Snipe, a Tree Swallow, a Brewer's Blackbird, and a Black Tern that was perched on a fence post. Usually, when I see Terns, they are flying fast and my camera can't catch them.<br /> <br /> The forecast was for rain last night (which did arrive) and rain today, which is why I went for a drive yesterday. So far this morning, the sky is overcast and dreary and it looks like more rain is coming. Yesterday, while I was photographing the Bluebirds, there was a cold wind blowing and the temperature was only around 10°C.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/31720113 tag:ipernity.com,2014-04-07,doc-31720113 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 14:42:40 +0000 2012-06-21T14:43:40-06:00 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/293827/31720113"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/141/01/13/31720113.8ae6fa76.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Still using many old photos form my archives, as I'm not taking many new ones and I'm not getting time to look more carefully through my files at the moment.<br /> <br /> This rather glaring image of a Police Car Moth caterpillar was taken on 21 June 2012, when I drove west of Calgary, along Elbow Falls Trail to Maclean Pond. <br /> <br /> "This is a fairly large moth with a wingspan of up to 50 mm. The wings are jet black with large white patches between the black scaled veins. As well, there are two orange patches of hairs on either side of the thorax, right behind the head. It is this colour combination, that of an old style police car, that gives it its name. Larvae are hairy and black with yellow and blue markings. The Police Car Moth is found throughout the province in or near forested areas. Adults fly throughout July and early August."<br /> <br /> From <a href="http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.royalalbertamuseum.ca</a>.</div> Police Car Moth caterpillar <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/293827/31720113"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/141/01/13/31720113.8ae6fa76.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Still using many old photos form my archives, as I'm not taking many new ones and I'm not getting time to look more carefully through my files at the moment.<br /> <br /> This rather glaring image of a Police Car Moth caterpillar was taken on 21 June 2012, when I drove west of Calgary, along Elbow Falls Trail to Maclean Pond. <br /> <br /> "This is a fairly large moth with a wingspan of up to 50 mm. The wings are jet black with large white patches between the black scaled veins. As well, there are two orange patches of hairs on either side of the thorax, right behind the head. It is this colour combination, that of an old style police car, that gives it its name. Larvae are hairy and black with yellow and blue markings. The Police Car Moth is found throughout the province in or near forested areas. Adults fly throughout July and early August."<br /> <br /> From <a href="http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.royalalbertamuseum.ca</a>.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/31614457 tag:ipernity.com,2014-04-03,doc-31614457 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 00:07:10 +0000 2011-06-10T12:02:20-06:00 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/293827/31614457"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/141/44/57/31614457.a486be2c.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I was happy to come across some of these beautiful little Calypso Orchids on 10 June 2011, when I drove out west of Calgary to the forest around Maclean Pond, Kananaskis, off Elbow Falls Trail. They are such exquisite wildflowers! Unfortunately, a single flowerhead doesn't quite fit into a macro photo, but at least it does result in a blurred background (and in this case, a rather blurry flower, too, lol!). Towards the end of May, on the annual May Species Count, we always hope that these small, delicate Orchids will be in bloom. Sometimes, they are surrounded by snow, so they must be pretty hardy little things. It's hard to imagine seeing any kind of flower after the last six months of snow and ice on the ground!</div> Just a few more weeks <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/293827/31614457"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/141/44/57/31614457.a486be2c.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I was happy to come across some of these beautiful little Calypso Orchids on 10 June 2011, when I drove out west of Calgary to the forest around Maclean Pond, Kananaskis, off Elbow Falls Trail. They are such exquisite wildflowers! Unfortunately, a single flowerhead doesn't quite fit into a macro photo, but at least it does result in a blurred background (and in this case, a rather blurry flower, too, lol!). Towards the end of May, on the annual May Species Count, we always hope that these small, delicate Orchids will be in bloom. Sometimes, they are surrounded by snow, so they must be pretty hardy little things. It's hard to imagine seeing any kind of flower after the last six months of snow and ice on the ground!</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/23387255 tag:ipernity.com,2013-07-07,doc-23387255 Sun, 07 Jul 2013 17:20:25 +0000 2013-07-02T14:37:02-06:00 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/293827/23387255"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/133/72/55/23387255.7ec3cf8d.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A fairly large flower that brightens the forest. Only saw three or four of these in the forest by Maclean Pond, Kananasksi, off Elbow Falls Trail, on 2 July 2013.</div> Heart-leaved Arnica <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/293827/23387255"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/133/72/55/23387255.7ec3cf8d.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A fairly large flower that brightens the forest. Only saw three or four of these in the forest by Maclean Pond, Kananasksi, off Elbow Falls Trail, on 2 July 2013.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/23289857 tag:ipernity.com,2008-06-11,doc-23289857 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:07:54 +0000 2008-06-09T13:40:08-06:00 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/293827/23289857"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/133/98/57/23289857.79b91d03.240.jpg?r2" width="181" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Another wildflower that I came across in the Maclean Pond area. These small flowers are such a beautiful colour and shape.</div> Mountain Shootingstar <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/293827/23289857"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/133/98/57/23289857.79b91d03.240.jpg?r2" width="181" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Another wildflower that I came across in the Maclean Pond area. These small flowers are such a beautiful colour and shape.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/23289853 tag:ipernity.com,2008-06-10,doc-23289853 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 02:57:52 +0000 2008-06-09T14:27:49-06:00 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/293827/23289853"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/133/98/53/23289853.0ef5538d.240.jpg?r2" width="181" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Well, when I woke up (late) this morning, to my great surprise, the sun was shining! The forecast was for yet another rainy day (this is our second week of almost endless rain). I made a quick decision to drive to the mountains after lunch. I had wondered whether I'd be brave enough to drive to Brown-Lowery Park so that I could see if I'd be able to find the rare Calypso Orchids that a few of us had seen recently. A website commented that after a lot of rain, one of the gravel roads leading there was not good to travel on, so rather than risk getting stuck in soft ruts out in the middle of "nowhere", I went to plan B. I also have a phobia of driving and of getting lost, which I have managed to overcome to a certain degree, and this was the main reason I chickened out. So, instead, I drove out along the Elbow Falls Trail road and had a walk at Maclean Pond, which I always enjoy. To my joy, I discovered some of the rare Calypso Orchids growing there! Half way through my forest walk, the sky clouded over and it began to rain : ). This flower is also known as Venus'-slipper.</div> A rare, wild 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/293827/23289853"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/133/98/53/23289853.0ef5538d.240.jpg?r2" width="181" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Well, when I woke up (late) this morning, to my great surprise, the sun was shining! The forecast was for yet another rainy day (this is our second week of almost endless rain). I made a quick decision to drive to the mountains after lunch. I had wondered whether I'd be brave enough to drive to Brown-Lowery Park so that I could see if I'd be able to find the rare Calypso Orchids that a few of us had seen recently. A website commented that after a lot of rain, one of the gravel roads leading there was not good to travel on, so rather than risk getting stuck in soft ruts out in the middle of "nowhere", I went to plan B. I also have a phobia of driving and of getting lost, which I have managed to overcome to a certain degree, and this was the main reason I chickened out. So, instead, I drove out along the Elbow Falls Trail road and had a walk at Maclean Pond, which I always enjoy. To my joy, I discovered some of the rare Calypso Orchids growing there! Half way through my forest walk, the sky clouded over and it began to rain : ). This flower is also known as Venus'-slipper.</div> Anne Elliott