https://www.ipernity.com/tag/293827/keyword/37425 https://cdn.ipernity.com/p/101/C3/7B/293827.buddy.jpg https://www.ipernity.com/tag/293827/keyword/37425 Wed, 27 May 2026 15:23:28 +0000 Wed, 27 May 2026 15:23:28 +0000 https://www.ipernity.com https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/47620388 tag:ipernity.com,2018-11-06,doc-47620388 Tue, 06 Nov 2018 17:07:52 +0000 2018-10-05T14:58:31-07:00 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/293827/47620388"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/03/88/47620388.fc394e44.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">To all my American friends - today is THE day. Make sure you get out and VOTE! Good luck. The world will be watching.<br /> <br /> I needed a splash of bright colour today! The temperature this morning, 6 November 2018, is -10C (windchill -14C) and it is snowing again. "SNOW and ICE create messy, SLICK driving conditions in Calgary." Thanks Weather Network, just what I wanted to read : ) So glad I don't have to go out today, though I will have to tomorrow, to get a cortizone injection in both of my knees (unfortunately, two in shoulders and two in hips, for very painful bursitis (inflammation), at a later date). Never had one of these shots before and I am really hoping that they will work. I'm a mess, ha.<br /> <br /> On 5 October 2018, I made a visit to the Calgary Zoo. I find that a bright, sunny day gives more light inside the Conservatory. Not that it really mattered, as there were only three tropical butterflies left - and those three were being harassed by several young children, so I came home with just one butterfly photo. The tropical plants were in better shape and offered lots of cheery colour.<br /> <br /> Mainly because I got to the Zoo part way through the afternoon, I got no further than the Conservatory, which is always my favourite place. This time, I did see two Red Pandas and the beautiful Giant Pandas that are on loan to the Zoo for five (?) years. Gobi, the baby Bactrian Camel was snuggled next to one of the adults. Managed to catch one of the Japanese Macaques when it was down on the ground, though the double wire fencing makes photos a challenge. A new addition to the Zoo is a Pallas's Cat. These animals look so funny/cute, but on this day it was curled up inside a dark log, with just its tail protruding. <br /> <br /> I was so thankful that I made this one last visit to the Zoo till next spring, as I found out that 'my' parking lot closes in a couple of days' time. This always happens each winter, and the other, main lot is out of my driving comfort zone.</div> Powderpuff flower <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/293827/47620388"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/03/88/47620388.fc394e44.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">To all my American friends - today is THE day. Make sure you get out and VOTE! Good luck. The world will be watching.<br /> <br /> I needed a splash of bright colour today! The temperature this morning, 6 November 2018, is -10C (windchill -14C) and it is snowing again. "SNOW and ICE create messy, SLICK driving conditions in Calgary." Thanks Weather Network, just what I wanted to read : ) So glad I don't have to go out today, though I will have to tomorrow, to get a cortizone injection in both of my knees (unfortunately, two in shoulders and two in hips, for very painful bursitis (inflammation), at a later date). Never had one of these shots before and I am really hoping that they will work. I'm a mess, ha.<br /> <br /> On 5 October 2018, I made a visit to the Calgary Zoo. I find that a bright, sunny day gives more light inside the Conservatory. Not that it really mattered, as there were only three tropical butterflies left - and those three were being harassed by several young children, so I came home with just one butterfly photo. The tropical plants were in better shape and offered lots of cheery colour.<br /> <br /> Mainly because I got to the Zoo part way through the afternoon, I got no further than the Conservatory, which is always my favourite place. This time, I did see two Red Pandas and the beautiful Giant Pandas that are on loan to the Zoo for five (?) years. Gobi, the baby Bactrian Camel was snuggled next to one of the adults. Managed to catch one of the Japanese Macaques when it was down on the ground, though the double wire fencing makes photos a challenge. A new addition to the Zoo is a Pallas's Cat. These animals look so funny/cute, but on this day it was curled up inside a dark log, with just its tail protruding. <br /> <br /> I was so thankful that I made this one last visit to the Zoo till next spring, as I found out that 'my' parking lot closes in a couple of days' time. This always happens each winter, and the other, main lot is out of my driving comfort zone.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/46136654 tag:ipernity.com,2018-01-11,doc-46136654 Thu, 11 Jan 2018 15:29:34 +0000 2017-03-19T09:48:40-07:00 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/293827/46136654"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/66/54/46136654.c5802b6a.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Really bad quality, but I was just so happy to see any kind of fungus during our trip to Trinidad & Tobago in March 2017. These small, white ones looked so delicate. They were photographed at the Asa Wright Nature Centre on the island of Trinidad, on 19 March 2017. They were growing at the edge of the trail that leads to the Dunston Oilbird Cave. <br /> <br /> This adventure was only the second holiday of any kind, anywhere, that I have had in something like 30 or 35 years! The other holiday was a wonderful, one-week trip with my dear friends from England, Linda and Tony, when we went down south to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons in September 2012. I have had maybe half a dozen weekends away, including to Waterton National Park, which have helped keep me going. <br /> <br /> Six birding/photographer friends and I decided that we would take this exciting trip together (from 12-21 March 2017), spending the first two or three days on the island of Tobago and then the rest of the time at the Asa Wright Nature Centre on the nearby, much larger island of Trinidad. We decided to take a complete package, so everything was included - accommodation at both places, all our food, and the various walks and day trips that we could choose from. Two of my friends, Anne B. and Brenda, saw to all the planning of flights and accommodations, which was so very much appreciated by the rest of us. I could never have done all this myself! We were so lucky with our flights, as we were just in time to get Black Friday prices, which were 50% off! <br /> <br /> What a time we had, seeing so many beautiful and interesting things - and, of course, everything was a lifer for me. Some of these friends had visited Costa Rica before, so were familiar with some of the birds. There was a lot more to see on Trinidad, so we were glad that we chose Tobago to visit first and then spend a longer time at Asa Wright. It was wonderful to be right by the sea, though, at the Blue Waters Inn on the island of Tobago. Just gorgeous. <br /> <br /> The Asa Wright Nature Centre, on Trinidad, is such an amazing place! We stayed in cabins up or down hill from the main building. Really, one doesn't need to travel away from the Centre for birding, as so many different species visit the Hummingbird feeders that are right by the huge, open veranda, and the trees of the rain forest high up the mountainous road. The drive up and down this narrow, twisting, pot-holed road was an adventure in itself! Never would I ever do this drive myself - we had a guide who drove us everywhere in a minibus. I had read many accounts of this road, lol! There was enough room for two vehicles to pass each other, and the honking of horns was almost continuous - either to warn any vehicle that might be coming fast around the next bend or as a sign that drivers knew each other. The drive along this road, from the coast to Asa Wright, took just over an hour each way.<br /> <br /> I still miss the great food that was provided every single day at Asa Wright and even the Rum Punch that appeared each evening. I never drink at all, so I wasn't sure if I would even try the Punch - glad I did, though, as it was delicious and refreshing. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all served buffet-style, with a great variety of dishes from which to choose. To me, pure luxury. So very, very grateful to have been invited to be part of this amazing adventure.<br /> <br /> This is a video that I came across on YouTube, taken by Rigdon Currie and Trish Johnson, at many of the same places we visited on Trinidad and Tobago. Not my video, but it made me feel like I was right there still. Posting the link here again, so that I won't lose it. <br /> <br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/BBifhf99f_M" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">youtu.be/BBifhf99f_M</a><br /> <br /> I also came across the following 27-minute YouTube video of the flora and fauna of Trinidad, filmed by John Patrick Smith in February 2015.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/6HHBm9MIxnk" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">youtu.be/6HHBm9MIxnk</a></div> Delicate fungi, Trinidad <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/293827/46136654"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/66/54/46136654.c5802b6a.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Really bad quality, but I was just so happy to see any kind of fungus during our trip to Trinidad & Tobago in March 2017. These small, white ones looked so delicate. They were photographed at the Asa Wright Nature Centre on the island of Trinidad, on 19 March 2017. They were growing at the edge of the trail that leads to the Dunston Oilbird Cave. <br /> <br /> This adventure was only the second holiday of any kind, anywhere, that I have had in something like 30 or 35 years! The other holiday was a wonderful, one-week trip with my dear friends from England, Linda and Tony, when we went down south to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons in September 2012. I have had maybe half a dozen weekends away, including to Waterton National Park, which have helped keep me going. <br /> <br /> Six birding/photographer friends and I decided that we would take this exciting trip together (from 12-21 March 2017), spending the first two or three days on the island of Tobago and then the rest of the time at the Asa Wright Nature Centre on the nearby, much larger island of Trinidad. We decided to take a complete package, so everything was included - accommodation at both places, all our food, and the various walks and day trips that we could choose from. Two of my friends, Anne B. and Brenda, saw to all the planning of flights and accommodations, which was so very much appreciated by the rest of us. I could never have done all this myself! We were so lucky with our flights, as we were just in time to get Black Friday prices, which were 50% off! <br /> <br /> What a time we had, seeing so many beautiful and interesting things - and, of course, everything was a lifer for me. Some of these friends had visited Costa Rica before, so were familiar with some of the birds. There was a lot more to see on Trinidad, so we were glad that we chose Tobago to visit first and then spend a longer time at Asa Wright. It was wonderful to be right by the sea, though, at the Blue Waters Inn on the island of Tobago. Just gorgeous. <br /> <br /> The Asa Wright Nature Centre, on Trinidad, is such an amazing place! We stayed in cabins up or down hill from the main building. Really, one doesn't need to travel away from the Centre for birding, as so many different species visit the Hummingbird feeders that are right by the huge, open veranda, and the trees of the rain forest high up the mountainous road. The drive up and down this narrow, twisting, pot-holed road was an adventure in itself! Never would I ever do this drive myself - we had a guide who drove us everywhere in a minibus. I had read many accounts of this road, lol! There was enough room for two vehicles to pass each other, and the honking of horns was almost continuous - either to warn any vehicle that might be coming fast around the next bend or as a sign that drivers knew each other. The drive along this road, from the coast to Asa Wright, took just over an hour each way.<br /> <br /> I still miss the great food that was provided every single day at Asa Wright and even the Rum Punch that appeared each evening. I never drink at all, so I wasn't sure if I would even try the Punch - glad I did, though, as it was delicious and refreshing. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all served buffet-style, with a great variety of dishes from which to choose. To me, pure luxury. So very, very grateful to have been invited to be part of this amazing adventure.<br /> <br /> This is a video that I came across on YouTube, taken by Rigdon Currie and Trish Johnson, at many of the same places we visited on Trinidad and Tobago. Not my video, but it made me feel like I was right there still. Posting the link here again, so that I won't lose it. <br /> <br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/BBifhf99f_M" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">youtu.be/BBifhf99f_M</a><br /> <br /> I also came across the following 27-minute YouTube video of the flora and fauna of Trinidad, filmed by John Patrick Smith in February 2015.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/6HHBm9MIxnk" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">youtu.be/6HHBm9MIxnk</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/46092520 tag:ipernity.com,2018-01-03,doc-46092520 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 16:31:09 +0000 2010-07-31T11:28:10-07:00 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/293827/46092520"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/25/20/46092520.b67812d8.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This morning, I am posting just this one photo. It's hard to believe that it has already been three years since my daughter passed away. Delicate Forget-me-nots were her favourite flower - my mother and my brother both loved them, too. They say that "Time will heal" - I would say that "ease" is a more accurate word to use, rather than "heal". I don't think one can ever "heal" from a great loss, especially the loss of a child, no matter the age. I miss her so much, but I take great comfort in knowing that she is no longer suffering in pain and facing difficult challenges each and every day.<br /> <br /> The other reason for posting just this photo today is that, instead of choosing and editing photos yesterday evening, ready for today, I spent more than three hours on the phone and online, trying to sort out a credit card problem. I discovered that two suspicious transactions (not made by me) had caused my card to be shut down - would have been nice if the Bank had let me know they had done this (a few days before Christmas). I now have to wait 7-10 days for a new one to arrive. <br /> <br /> This morning, 3 January 2018, it is bright and sunny here, with a temperature of -9C (windchill -11C), and it is supposed to warm up to 5C this afternoon. Yes, that is PLUS 5C!</div> In memory of my daughter <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/293827/46092520"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/25/20/46092520.b67812d8.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This morning, I am posting just this one photo. It's hard to believe that it has already been three years since my daughter passed away. Delicate Forget-me-nots were her favourite flower - my mother and my brother both loved them, too. They say that "Time will heal" - I would say that "ease" is a more accurate word to use, rather than "heal". I don't think one can ever "heal" from a great loss, especially the loss of a child, no matter the age. I miss her so much, but I take great comfort in knowing that she is no longer suffering in pain and facing difficult challenges each and every day.<br /> <br /> The other reason for posting just this photo today is that, instead of choosing and editing photos yesterday evening, ready for today, I spent more than three hours on the phone and online, trying to sort out a credit card problem. I discovered that two suspicious transactions (not made by me) had caused my card to be shut down - would have been nice if the Bank had let me know they had done this (a few days before Christmas). I now have to wait 7-10 days for a new one to arrive. <br /> <br /> This morning, 3 January 2018, it is bright and sunny here, with a temperature of -9C (windchill -11C), and it is supposed to warm up to 5C this afternoon. Yes, that is PLUS 5C!</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/42794276 tag:ipernity.com,2016-08-12,doc-42794276 Fri, 12 Aug 2016 17:31:28 +0000 2016-08-06T10:03:52-06:00 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/293827/42794276"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/42/76/42794276.ea832bb4.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This is a very special Rose that some of us saw when we had a wonderful visit to Rod Handfield's acreage on 6 August 2016. It is growing in a tiny memorial on a hillside meadow, looking west to the rolling Foothills and the distant Canadian Rockies. This was where Rod and Lise's son, Carl, used to love to stand and gaze. Two years ago, almost to the day, Rod and his wife lost their son and decided to create this memorial in one of Carl's favourite places. Having lost my older daughter a year and a half ago, I have an idea of what they went through and are probably still going through. Fortunately, this delicately coloured flower was in bloom, catching the light raindrops.<br /> <br /> I found the whole day physically and mentally exhausting (a mix of excitement and stress). It was a great day, too, thanks to friend, Sandy! She very kindly picked me up around 8:15 am and we drove SW of the city and SW of Millarville to Rod Handfield's acreage. For a number of years, this has been one of my favourite places to explore, as Rod's forest tends to be full of all sorts of beautiful treasures. It is one of the two best places that I know for mushrooms, the other being Brown-Lowery Provincial Park. This year has turned out after all to be great for fungi, thanks to all the endless, torrential rain we have been getting the last few weeks, and are still getting, apart from the scattering of sunny days. This year has so far had such weird weather - a very mild, dry winter, a spring that was as dry and hot as a summer, and now a wet, thundery summer. We were expecting this year to not be good for mushrooms.<br /> <br /> We met up with a group of other interested people, most of whom we didn't know, and we searched the land for fungi. Right at the start, I was telling Sandy that on the last visit there (or one of the last), maybe four years ago (17 August 2010, so six years ago - how time flies!), we had seen a beautiful Amanita muscaria / Fly agaric mushroom growing just a few feet from the start of the hike. Sure enough, there were several growing in exactly the same spot on Saturday, which was so exciting. Later in the walk, we saw two other patches of absolute beauties of this hallucinogenic, poisonous species. The rain was spitting during our walk, and the forest was so dark, but amazingly, some of my photos came out well enough. Thanks so much, Karel (holding a beautiful Bolete mushroom to make into soup or sauce), for organizing and leading this trip and for sharing your knowledge with us!<br /> <br /> I have to admit that I always find a walk like this rather frustrating. It doesn't work too well when you have people who are photographers and people who are interested in picking mushrooms to eat : ) The latter tend to always be ahead and by the time you catch up to them, you can't see what has already quickly been picked and of course it is usually difficult or impossible to get a photo. This was private land and some of us know the owner, Rod Handfield. In places like the national or provincial parks, one is not allowed to remove anything from the area - but some people still do. You see people with large baskets full of picked mushrooms for cooking! This is especially an east European 'thing'. They have grown up with this tradition and seem to know which fungi are edible or not. Some poisonous mushrooms can look very similar to edible ones, which is why the warning is to never, ever eat any kind of fungus unless you are an expert! As our local Naturalist always says: "All fungi are edible, some only once!"<br /> <br /> Sandy and I left the group around lunchtime, to go looking at vehicles at one of the dealerships. In the last year and a half, I have had to put far too much money into repairs for my poor old 17+ year old car and finally, I knew that I had no choice but to replace it. The muffler and catalytic converter died about a week ago and instead of spending a fortune on repair (estimate was $4,999), I decided I would rather put that money towards a new vehicle. I had been thinking about replacing it the last few years, but now, enough is enough! <br /> <br /> Update re: car. Yay, I finally did it! Four days ago, friend Sandy and I returned to the dealership just after lunchtime. I had to drive my old car there so that they could do an appraisal on it and tell me how much I would get for a trade-in. Before I went, I was feeling more confused and uncertain than ever about which car I would decide on. The few that the dealership had were not a colour I would want to drive or else they didn't have the right things installed. I was so relieved when I was told that I could order one to my liking and that the waiting period would be 2-3 weeks. Longer than I would have liked, but bearable (though I know I will be climbing the walls by the time my new car arrives!). The very patient, non-pushy salesman said why not take my old car home and use it just very locally till then. So, thankfully, I still have a (very noisy!) vehicle with which to go and get groceries, which was my main concern. No birding or mushroom trips, though, which will not be easy to bear. Having said that, I need to add that I know I am very fortunate that I am in a position to be able to replace my vehicle - feel very grateful and lucky. Thank you, again, Sandy, for helping me through this highly stressful (to me) ordeal!! It made an enormous difference .... THE difference.</div> Memorial Rose for Carl Handfield <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/293827/42794276"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/42/76/42794276.ea832bb4.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This is a very special Rose that some of us saw when we had a wonderful visit to Rod Handfield's acreage on 6 August 2016. It is growing in a tiny memorial on a hillside meadow, looking west to the rolling Foothills and the distant Canadian Rockies. This was where Rod and Lise's son, Carl, used to love to stand and gaze. Two years ago, almost to the day, Rod and his wife lost their son and decided to create this memorial in one of Carl's favourite places. Having lost my older daughter a year and a half ago, I have an idea of what they went through and are probably still going through. Fortunately, this delicately coloured flower was in bloom, catching the light raindrops.<br /> <br /> I found the whole day physically and mentally exhausting (a mix of excitement and stress). It was a great day, too, thanks to friend, Sandy! She very kindly picked me up around 8:15 am and we drove SW of the city and SW of Millarville to Rod Handfield's acreage. For a number of years, this has been one of my favourite places to explore, as Rod's forest tends to be full of all sorts of beautiful treasures. It is one of the two best places that I know for mushrooms, the other being Brown-Lowery Provincial Park. This year has turned out after all to be great for fungi, thanks to all the endless, torrential rain we have been getting the last few weeks, and are still getting, apart from the scattering of sunny days. This year has so far had such weird weather - a very mild, dry winter, a spring that was as dry and hot as a summer, and now a wet, thundery summer. We were expecting this year to not be good for mushrooms.<br /> <br /> We met up with a group of other interested people, most of whom we didn't know, and we searched the land for fungi. Right at the start, I was telling Sandy that on the last visit there (or one of the last), maybe four years ago (17 August 2010, so six years ago - how time flies!), we had seen a beautiful Amanita muscaria / Fly agaric mushroom growing just a few feet from the start of the hike. Sure enough, there were several growing in exactly the same spot on Saturday, which was so exciting. Later in the walk, we saw two other patches of absolute beauties of this hallucinogenic, poisonous species. The rain was spitting during our walk, and the forest was so dark, but amazingly, some of my photos came out well enough. Thanks so much, Karel (holding a beautiful Bolete mushroom to make into soup or sauce), for organizing and leading this trip and for sharing your knowledge with us!<br /> <br /> I have to admit that I always find a walk like this rather frustrating. It doesn't work too well when you have people who are photographers and people who are interested in picking mushrooms to eat : ) The latter tend to always be ahead and by the time you catch up to them, you can't see what has already quickly been picked and of course it is usually difficult or impossible to get a photo. This was private land and some of us know the owner, Rod Handfield. In places like the national or provincial parks, one is not allowed to remove anything from the area - but some people still do. You see people with large baskets full of picked mushrooms for cooking! This is especially an east European 'thing'. They have grown up with this tradition and seem to know which fungi are edible or not. Some poisonous mushrooms can look very similar to edible ones, which is why the warning is to never, ever eat any kind of fungus unless you are an expert! As our local Naturalist always says: "All fungi are edible, some only once!"<br /> <br /> Sandy and I left the group around lunchtime, to go looking at vehicles at one of the dealerships. In the last year and a half, I have had to put far too much money into repairs for my poor old 17+ year old car and finally, I knew that I had no choice but to replace it. The muffler and catalytic converter died about a week ago and instead of spending a fortune on repair (estimate was $4,999), I decided I would rather put that money towards a new vehicle. I had been thinking about replacing it the last few years, but now, enough is enough! <br /> <br /> Update re: car. Yay, I finally did it! Four days ago, friend Sandy and I returned to the dealership just after lunchtime. I had to drive my old car there so that they could do an appraisal on it and tell me how much I would get for a trade-in. Before I went, I was feeling more confused and uncertain than ever about which car I would decide on. The few that the dealership had were not a colour I would want to drive or else they didn't have the right things installed. I was so relieved when I was told that I could order one to my liking and that the waiting period would be 2-3 weeks. Longer than I would have liked, but bearable (though I know I will be climbing the walls by the time my new car arrives!). The very patient, non-pushy salesman said why not take my old car home and use it just very locally till then. So, thankfully, I still have a (very noisy!) vehicle with which to go and get groceries, which was my main concern. No birding or mushroom trips, though, which will not be easy to bear. Having said that, I need to add that I know I am very fortunate that I am in a position to be able to replace my vehicle - feel very grateful and lucky. Thank you, again, Sandy, for helping me through this highly stressful (to me) ordeal!! It made an enormous difference .... THE difference.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/41715136 tag:ipernity.com,2016-04-27,doc-41715136 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 14:58:15 +0000 2014-06-25T17:13:42-06:00 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/293827/41715136"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/51/36/41715136.4f123e1d.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Photographed this beautiful Iris at the Reader Rock Garden late afternoon on 25 June 2014. Drove there on my way home from a volunteer shift, as I wasn't all that far away. The sky had darkened and I was expecting it to rain by the time I got there, but the sun came out (along with the wind). <br /> <br /> "Iris is a genus of 260–300 species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species. As well as being the scientific name, iris is also very widely used as a common name for all Iris species, as well as some belonging to other closely related genera. A common name for some species is 'flags', while the plants of the subgenus Scorpiris are widely known as 'junos', particularly in horticulture. It is a popular garden flower." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_</a>(plant)</div> Delicate Iris <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/293827/41715136"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/51/36/41715136.4f123e1d.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Photographed this beautiful Iris at the Reader Rock Garden late afternoon on 25 June 2014. Drove there on my way home from a volunteer shift, as I wasn't all that far away. The sky had darkened and I was expecting it to rain by the time I got there, but the sun came out (along with the wind). <br /> <br /> "Iris is a genus of 260–300 species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species. As well as being the scientific name, iris is also very widely used as a common name for all Iris species, as well as some belonging to other closely related genera. A common name for some species is 'flags', while the plants of the subgenus Scorpiris are widely known as 'junos', particularly in horticulture. It is a popular garden flower." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_</a>(plant)</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/41432578 tag:ipernity.com,2016-03-21,doc-41432578 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 18:09:20 +0000 2015-06-24T17:27:18-06:00 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/293827/41432578"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/25/78/41432578.356520ae.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Posting late today (around 12:15 noon), as after a grand total of only eight hours sleep over the previous three nights, I had no choice but to turn off all alarm clocks and sleep till I woke today! It's only 1C and overcast, to reach 4C this afternoon, so no tempting sunshine, which is good, as I have some really important things to see to today - things that do not include photography : )<br /> <br /> I took this photo of a beautiful Iris flower at the Reader Rock Garden on 24 June 2015, when I called in after a volunteer shift. I always like seeing Irises - such graceful flowers.<br /> <br /> "Iris is a genus of 260–300 species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, which is also the name for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_</a>(plant)</div> Floral 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/293827/41432578"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/25/78/41432578.356520ae.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Posting late today (around 12:15 noon), as after a grand total of only eight hours sleep over the previous three nights, I had no choice but to turn off all alarm clocks and sleep till I woke today! It's only 1C and overcast, to reach 4C this afternoon, so no tempting sunshine, which is good, as I have some really important things to see to today - things that do not include photography : )<br /> <br /> I took this photo of a beautiful Iris flower at the Reader Rock Garden on 24 June 2015, when I called in after a volunteer shift. I always like seeing Irises - such graceful flowers.<br /> <br /> "Iris is a genus of 260–300 species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, which is also the name for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_</a>(plant)</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40456976 tag:ipernity.com,2015-11-27,doc-40456976 Fri, 27 Nov 2015 17:37:11 +0000 2015-11-26T10:33:15-07:00 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/293827/40456976"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/69/76/40456976.2dce639f.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This is just a quick shot taken yesterday. The hoar frost looked so pretty, especially when backlit. It was cold yesterday morning, when I met friends for a three hour walk at Griffith Woods. Temperature was -10 to -4°C. Eventually, the warmth of the sun could just be felt, which always makes such a welcome difference. <br /> <br /> Not a huge variety of birds - but we saw so many Bohemian Waxwings (a total of 600+) flying overhead and sometimes landing near the tops of very tall Spruce trees. <br /> <br /> Canada Goose-110 <br /> Mallard-10 <br /> Bald Eagle-1 juv. <br /> Merlin-1 <br /> Downy Woodpecker-1 <br /> Hairy Woodpecker-1 <br /> Northern Flicker-2 <br /> Northern Shrike-1, chasing a Blue Jay <br /> Blue Jay-4+ <br /> Black-billed Magpie-7 <br /> Common Raven-3+ <br /> Black-capped Chickadee-25 <br /> Boreal Chickadee-4+ <br /> Red-breasted Nuthatch-1 <br /> White-breasted Nuthatch-3 <br /> Golden-crowned Kinglet-1 <br /> Bohemian Waxwing-600+. <br /> Pine Grosbeak-4 <br /> White-winged Crossbill-4+ <br /> Common Redpoll-2 <br /> House Sparrow-1<br /> <br /> On a totally different note, I had a wonderful surprise yesterday. After receiving a notificiation e-mail telling me that someone had 'buzzed' me on the FriendsReunited website that I had joined quite a few years ago, I discovered two words, "Remember me?" To my amazement, it was from someone who had been in the class I taught for one year in England (my very first year of teaching, in a mixed class of Grade 5/6 (equivalent). He had been a delightful, quiet, shy boy and I remembered hm as if it was yesterday : ) I am so impressed with what he has done with his life - I'm still in awe today! Most of his 36 years of working were spent teaching. When he sent me the message yesterday, he had just finished taking part in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - the boat he was on came in third place out of twelve! Such a good, good feeling to hear that a student from so many years ago has used his life so well!</div> A delicate touch of hoar frost <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/293827/40456976"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/69/76/40456976.2dce639f.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This is just a quick shot taken yesterday. The hoar frost looked so pretty, especially when backlit. It was cold yesterday morning, when I met friends for a three hour walk at Griffith Woods. Temperature was -10 to -4°C. Eventually, the warmth of the sun could just be felt, which always makes such a welcome difference. <br /> <br /> Not a huge variety of birds - but we saw so many Bohemian Waxwings (a total of 600+) flying overhead and sometimes landing near the tops of very tall Spruce trees. <br /> <br /> Canada Goose-110 <br /> Mallard-10 <br /> Bald Eagle-1 juv. <br /> Merlin-1 <br /> Downy Woodpecker-1 <br /> Hairy Woodpecker-1 <br /> Northern Flicker-2 <br /> Northern Shrike-1, chasing a Blue Jay <br /> Blue Jay-4+ <br /> Black-billed Magpie-7 <br /> Common Raven-3+ <br /> Black-capped Chickadee-25 <br /> Boreal Chickadee-4+ <br /> Red-breasted Nuthatch-1 <br /> White-breasted Nuthatch-3 <br /> Golden-crowned Kinglet-1 <br /> Bohemian Waxwing-600+. <br /> Pine Grosbeak-4 <br /> White-winged Crossbill-4+ <br /> Common Redpoll-2 <br /> House Sparrow-1<br /> <br /> On a totally different note, I had a wonderful surprise yesterday. After receiving a notificiation e-mail telling me that someone had 'buzzed' me on the FriendsReunited website that I had joined quite a few years ago, I discovered two words, "Remember me?" To my amazement, it was from someone who had been in the class I taught for one year in England (my very first year of teaching, in a mixed class of Grade 5/6 (equivalent). He had been a delightful, quiet, shy boy and I remembered hm as if it was yesterday : ) I am so impressed with what he has done with his life - I'm still in awe today! Most of his 36 years of working were spent teaching. When he sent me the message yesterday, he had just finished taking part in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - the boat he was on came in third place out of twelve! Such a good, good feeling to hear that a student from so many years ago has used his life so well!</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/39756754 tag:ipernity.com,2015-09-20,doc-39756754 Sun, 20 Sep 2015 14:34:50 +0000 2015-09-17T14:10:31-06:00 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/293827/39756754"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/67/54/39756754.8b7ad3bd.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">These tiny (Marasmius?) fungi are some of my favourite fungi to photograph. This pair was growing on a small patch of fallen, rotting leaves and photographed a few days ago, when I was trying to see if there were any Amanita muscaria fungi growing in a field the other side of the fence.<br /> <br /> Three days ago, on 17 September 2015, I went with friends on a morning walk that started (after the first heavy frost of the season overnight) at the Bow Valley Ranch area in Fish Creek Park. No sign of the Great Horned Owl pair. We then drove to the end of the park road, to walk in the Boat Launch area. Perhaps the highlight of the morning was seeing a very distant female Pileated Woodpecker, plus 35 American White Pelicans and 20 Double-crested Cormorants and all "the usual". <br /> <br /> After the walk, I decided to drive SW of the city and SW of Millarville. A few years ago, after a day of botanizing someone's land, we called in (with permission) at a nearby field to see a wonderful display of Amanita mushrooms. We don't get the red ones (Fly Agaric / Amanita muscaria) with small white spots here, but we have seen bright yellow ones and sometimes even an almost orange one, with small white spots/flecks. I think I have only ever seen these three times - at West Bragg Creek, Rod Handfield's land and this field near to his land, and I think Marsden Creek in Kananaskis. I was so longing to see one again and thought it was worth the drive just to check. Well, I found the field easily, but had forgotten about the sign there that said No Trespassing, No shooting, Patrol Area. I wasn't sure what Patrol Area meant, but I could almost imagine several Dobermans being released to attack me! I never go anywhere that has a No Trespassing sign, anyway. So, I walked through the trees along the edge of the field and tried to peer into the field, being careful not to catch the barbed-wire fence. I caught sight of a cluster of three fungi that looked like they were Amanitas, though they were fully "opened" and I couldn't see any spots. Only managed to get one really poor photo. <br /> <br /> I was talking to our naturalist leader yesterday afternoon, at his Open House to mark the end of our botany season, and he told me that this field belongs to Rod Handfield and reminded me that Rod had told us that we were welcome to explore his land any time. So, it looks like another drive needs to be made - and I just hope that I'm able to climb over the gate without someone there to help! Anne and fences/padlocked gates don't go together very well!</div> Growing on a fallen leaf <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/293827/39756754"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/67/54/39756754.8b7ad3bd.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">These tiny (Marasmius?) fungi are some of my favourite fungi to photograph. This pair was growing on a small patch of fallen, rotting leaves and photographed a few days ago, when I was trying to see if there were any Amanita muscaria fungi growing in a field the other side of the fence.<br /> <br /> Three days ago, on 17 September 2015, I went with friends on a morning walk that started (after the first heavy frost of the season overnight) at the Bow Valley Ranch area in Fish Creek Park. No sign of the Great Horned Owl pair. We then drove to the end of the park road, to walk in the Boat Launch area. Perhaps the highlight of the morning was seeing a very distant female Pileated Woodpecker, plus 35 American White Pelicans and 20 Double-crested Cormorants and all "the usual". <br /> <br /> After the walk, I decided to drive SW of the city and SW of Millarville. A few years ago, after a day of botanizing someone's land, we called in (with permission) at a nearby field to see a wonderful display of Amanita mushrooms. We don't get the red ones (Fly Agaric / Amanita muscaria) with small white spots here, but we have seen bright yellow ones and sometimes even an almost orange one, with small white spots/flecks. I think I have only ever seen these three times - at West Bragg Creek, Rod Handfield's land and this field near to his land, and I think Marsden Creek in Kananaskis. I was so longing to see one again and thought it was worth the drive just to check. Well, I found the field easily, but had forgotten about the sign there that said No Trespassing, No shooting, Patrol Area. I wasn't sure what Patrol Area meant, but I could almost imagine several Dobermans being released to attack me! I never go anywhere that has a No Trespassing sign, anyway. So, I walked through the trees along the edge of the field and tried to peer into the field, being careful not to catch the barbed-wire fence. I caught sight of a cluster of three fungi that looked like they were Amanitas, though they were fully "opened" and I couldn't see any spots. Only managed to get one really poor photo. <br /> <br /> I was talking to our naturalist leader yesterday afternoon, at his Open House to mark the end of our botany season, and he told me that this field belongs to Rod Handfield and reminded me that Rod had told us that we were welcome to explore his land any time. So, it looks like another drive needs to be made - and I just hope that I'm able to climb over the gate without someone there to help! Anne and fences/padlocked gates don't go together very well!</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/39550004 tag:ipernity.com,2015-09-02,doc-39550004 Wed, 02 Sep 2015 12:32:43 +0000 2015-07-23T10:09:10-06:00 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/293827/39550004"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/00/04/39550004.8e75c503.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Photographed this fungus when a few of us spent the day botanizing on Darryl Teskey's land, on 23 August 2015. Somehow, I just can't imagine eating this fungus, but according to Wikipedia, it is edible. We have seen several Eastern European people picking many of these to take home for cooking. Of course, mushroom picking is not allowed in any of the parks!<br /> <br /> "Hericium is a genus of edible mushrooms in the Hericiaceae family. Species in this genus are white and fleshy and grow on dead or dying wood; fruiting bodies resemble a mass of fragile icicle-like spines that are suspended from either a branched supporting framework or from a tough, unbranched cushion of tissue. This distinctive structure has earned Hericium species a variety of common names—monkey's head, lion's mane, and bear's head are examples. Taxonomically, this genus was previously placed within the order Aphyllophorales, but recent molecular studies now place it in the Russulales. Hericium means hedgehog in Latin."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hericium" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hericium</a><br /> <br /> On this day, five of us spent the day botanizing the land belonging to Darryl Teskey, SW of Calgary and W of Millarville (maybe a 40-minute drive from Calgary). This was the first time I had been there and I'm so glad I was invited to go - I would have missed all sorts of things, including a family of Ruffed Grouse and several fungi. These Grouse were the rare rufous-morph, and we startled them when we were walking through the forest in their direction. Usually, you don't see Grouse because they are so well-hidden. When you get fairly close (sometimes very close) to them, they suddenly "explode" from the tangle of shrubs and plants of the forest floor, making ones heart beat fast! We were taken by surprise when we came across a nearby statue of Saint Francis of Assisi, who is known as the patron saint of animals and the environment. A nice idea, I thought.<br /> <br /> Our walk took us over grassland and through forest, many places treacherous with so many fallen logs which were often barely visible. I have never, ever seen so many tiny Skipper butterflies - there must have been hundreds or even thousands of these bright orange beauties that were flying or perched on flowers of every colour. <br /> <br /> Fortunately, the rain stayed away until we started driving back to Calgary. Quite a lot of black clouds, reminding me of the tornado that passed through Calgary just the day before (22 July 2015).<br /> <br /> Our purpose, as always, was to find and list everything that we saw - wildflowers, trees, grasses, birds, insects, fungi, etc.. Our leader then compiles an extensive list of our finds and this is later sent to the landowner, along with any photos that we might take. Always a win/win situation, as the landowner then has a much better idea of just what is on his property, and we have a most enjoyable day.</div> Comb Tooth fungus / Hericium coralloides <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/293827/39550004"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/00/04/39550004.8e75c503.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Photographed this fungus when a few of us spent the day botanizing on Darryl Teskey's land, on 23 August 2015. Somehow, I just can't imagine eating this fungus, but according to Wikipedia, it is edible. We have seen several Eastern European people picking many of these to take home for cooking. Of course, mushroom picking is not allowed in any of the parks!<br /> <br /> "Hericium is a genus of edible mushrooms in the Hericiaceae family. Species in this genus are white and fleshy and grow on dead or dying wood; fruiting bodies resemble a mass of fragile icicle-like spines that are suspended from either a branched supporting framework or from a tough, unbranched cushion of tissue. This distinctive structure has earned Hericium species a variety of common names—monkey's head, lion's mane, and bear's head are examples. Taxonomically, this genus was previously placed within the order Aphyllophorales, but recent molecular studies now place it in the Russulales. Hericium means hedgehog in Latin."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hericium" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hericium</a><br /> <br /> On this day, five of us spent the day botanizing the land belonging to Darryl Teskey, SW of Calgary and W of Millarville (maybe a 40-minute drive from Calgary). This was the first time I had been there and I'm so glad I was invited to go - I would have missed all sorts of things, including a family of Ruffed Grouse and several fungi. These Grouse were the rare rufous-morph, and we startled them when we were walking through the forest in their direction. Usually, you don't see Grouse because they are so well-hidden. When you get fairly close (sometimes very close) to them, they suddenly "explode" from the tangle of shrubs and plants of the forest floor, making ones heart beat fast! We were taken by surprise when we came across a nearby statue of Saint Francis of Assisi, who is known as the patron saint of animals and the environment. A nice idea, I thought.<br /> <br /> Our walk took us over grassland and through forest, many places treacherous with so many fallen logs which were often barely visible. I have never, ever seen so many tiny Skipper butterflies - there must have been hundreds or even thousands of these bright orange beauties that were flying or perched on flowers of every colour. <br /> <br /> Fortunately, the rain stayed away until we started driving back to Calgary. Quite a lot of black clouds, reminding me of the tornado that passed through Calgary just the day before (22 July 2015).<br /> <br /> Our purpose, as always, was to find and list everything that we saw - wildflowers, trees, grasses, birds, insects, fungi, etc.. Our leader then compiles an extensive list of our finds and this is later sent to the landowner, along with any photos that we might take. Always a win/win situation, as the landowner then has a much better idea of just what is on his property, and we have a most enjoyable day.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/38451998 tag:ipernity.com,2015-05-29,doc-38451998 Fri, 29 May 2015 11:04:46 +0000 2015-05-27T16:49:57-06:00 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/293827/38451998"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/19/98/38451998.92e63ab7.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A couple of days ago, on 27 May 2015, I had a volunteer shift and afterwards, as the sun was shining, I called in at the Reader Rock Garden. There is rain in the forecast for most of the next 12 days, which will drive me crazy, so I thought I'd better make the most of the blue sky while I could. Alberta is bone dry everywhere, with wildfires especially further north. Actually, one was burning near Water Valley the day after my daughter and I were there this week. So, much as I really dislike the rain, we desperately need it. <br /> <br /> I'm not sure if this Iris is the same as wild Irises. Anyway, it feels good to have a change of colour in my photostream : ) There are Irises of several different colours now in bloom there.<br /> <br /> From the Garden, I drove through the adjoining Union Cemetery and then another nearby cemetery, and then called in at a wetland in SW Calgary, where I found a Common Grackle. Normally, I just don't see Grackles, so I'm always happy when I do see one.</div> Purple Iris <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/293827/38451998"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/19/98/38451998.92e63ab7.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A couple of days ago, on 27 May 2015, I had a volunteer shift and afterwards, as the sun was shining, I called in at the Reader Rock Garden. There is rain in the forecast for most of the next 12 days, which will drive me crazy, so I thought I'd better make the most of the blue sky while I could. Alberta is bone dry everywhere, with wildfires especially further north. Actually, one was burning near Water Valley the day after my daughter and I were there this week. So, much as I really dislike the rain, we desperately need it. <br /> <br /> I'm not sure if this Iris is the same as wild Irises. Anyway, it feels good to have a change of colour in my photostream : ) There are Irises of several different colours now in bloom there.<br /> <br /> From the Garden, I drove through the adjoining Union Cemetery and then another nearby cemetery, and then called in at a wetland in SW Calgary, where I found a Common Grackle. Normally, I just don't see Grackles, so I'm always happy when I do see one.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/37949340 tag:ipernity.com,2015-04-22,doc-37949340 Wed, 22 Apr 2015 15:30:41 +0000 2010-06-29T20:11:41-06:00 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/293827/37949340"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/93/40/37949340.128e5095.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">These are rarely found in Calgary, but I was one of several people privileged to be shown some of these beautiful, delicate flowers at Lawrey Gardens, Edworthy Park, on 29 June 2010.<br /> <br /> "This delicate lady's-slipper is a pleasant find. Often occurring in moist areas along trails, it has 4 or 5 lily-like leaves tightly clasping the stem and slowly spreading outward. The white flower head looks like a white egg bursting out of a green case. <br /> <br /> Flower: The flower has a green sepal rising above, almost hiding the white pouch. There are two white lateral wings and a white pouch with purple spots inside. The flower head is approximately 1 cm long." From MountainNature.com.</div> Sparrow&#039;s-egg Orchid <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/293827/37949340"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/93/40/37949340.128e5095.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">These are rarely found in Calgary, but I was one of several people privileged to be shown some of these beautiful, delicate flowers at Lawrey Gardens, Edworthy Park, on 29 June 2010.<br /> <br /> "This delicate lady's-slipper is a pleasant find. Often occurring in moist areas along trails, it has 4 or 5 lily-like leaves tightly clasping the stem and slowly spreading outward. The white flower head looks like a white egg bursting out of a green case. <br /> <br /> Flower: The flower has a green sepal rising above, almost hiding the white pouch. There are two white lateral wings and a white pouch with purple spots inside. The flower head is approximately 1 cm long." From MountainNature.com.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/35145697 tag:ipernity.com,2014-09-21,doc-35145697 Sun, 21 Sep 2014 15:01:50 +0000 2014-09-18T15:05:11-06:00 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/293827/35145697"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/132/56/97/35145697.d8c870c1.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Three days ago, I finally managed to get out along the Elbow Falls Trail that goes westwards into the beginning of the mountains. This was the first time I had managed to get out there this year and, really on the spur of the moment, that's where I decided to go. The weather called for some sun and some cloud, which sounded good. After the two heavy snowfalls on 9 and 10 September, I wasn't sure what to expect before I reached the beginning of the mountains, but every bit of snow had disappeared. The furthest point of my drive was Forgetmenot Pond, one of my favourite places to go. Too many other people had also decided to come out to this beautiful spot, unfortunately. This drive is the only one I will do on my own into the mountains, and it only takes about an hour to get from home to the Pond. <br /> <br /> On the return drive, I called in at a place not far from the pond, where I have found a few mushrooms in previous years, and managed to find just a few that were in good enough condition to photograph. Other than that, I didn't see a whole lot during the few hours I was out. The scenery is spectacular and there were patches of trees that have turned yellow. Some of the trees looked as though their leaves were past their fall prime, and I came away wondering if I was a bit too early or a bit too late (seems to be the latter) to see the best of the fall colours. Found this small Moth on an outhouse wall : ) The final place I called in at was Maclean Pond, but the light was fading somewhat and so I didn't feel like going far into the forest. I had just got back into my car when I happened to look up just in time to see a family of beautiful Bluejays not far from the parking lot. Managed to get a few shots, but distant and not as sharp as they should have been. A nice way to end the day, though.</div> Delicate <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/293827/35145697"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/132/56/97/35145697.d8c870c1.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Three days ago, I finally managed to get out along the Elbow Falls Trail that goes westwards into the beginning of the mountains. This was the first time I had managed to get out there this year and, really on the spur of the moment, that's where I decided to go. The weather called for some sun and some cloud, which sounded good. After the two heavy snowfalls on 9 and 10 September, I wasn't sure what to expect before I reached the beginning of the mountains, but every bit of snow had disappeared. The furthest point of my drive was Forgetmenot Pond, one of my favourite places to go. Too many other people had also decided to come out to this beautiful spot, unfortunately. This drive is the only one I will do on my own into the mountains, and it only takes about an hour to get from home to the Pond. <br /> <br /> On the return drive, I called in at a place not far from the pond, where I have found a few mushrooms in previous years, and managed to find just a few that were in good enough condition to photograph. Other than that, I didn't see a whole lot during the few hours I was out. The scenery is spectacular and there were patches of trees that have turned yellow. Some of the trees looked as though their leaves were past their fall prime, and I came away wondering if I was a bit too early or a bit too late (seems to be the latter) to see the best of the fall colours. Found this small Moth on an outhouse wall : ) The final place I called in at was Maclean Pond, but the light was fading somewhat and so I didn't feel like going far into the forest. I had just got back into my car when I happened to look up just in time to see a family of beautiful Bluejays not far from the parking lot. Managed to get a few shots, but distant and not as sharp as they should have been. A nice way to end the day, though.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/34218993 tag:ipernity.com,2014-07-28,doc-34218993 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 15:42:02 +0000 2014-07-18T19:47:14-06:00 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/293827/34218993"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/144/89/93/34218993.87883090.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I'm still kicking myself that I didn't try and get a better photo than this, of a very small, delicate flower belonging to the carnivorous Venus Flytrap. This was a plant that I bought recently, one of 3 or 4 that I had bought over the last few years. This was the first time that a flower had grown and it was fascinating to see, growing on a very long, thin stem. I didn't get round to taking more photos and two days ago, I noticed that the flower had died. Previously posted photo of an amazing leaf tip in comment box below.<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><br /> <br /> "The flower has to be high above the leaves so insects pollinating the flowers do not get trapped in the leaves. Each flower produces very tiny seeds. They are about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. If you pinch the flowers off, the leaves will grow more vigorously since growing flowers takes a lot of energy from the plant." From botany.org.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://botany.org/bsa/misc/carn.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">botany.org/bsa/misc/carn.html</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_flytrap" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_flytrap</a></div> Venus Flytrap flower <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/293827/34218993"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/144/89/93/34218993.87883090.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I'm still kicking myself that I didn't try and get a better photo than this, of a very small, delicate flower belonging to the carnivorous Venus Flytrap. This was a plant that I bought recently, one of 3 or 4 that I had bought over the last few years. This was the first time that a flower had grown and it was fascinating to see, growing on a very long, thin stem. I didn't get round to taking more photos and two days ago, I noticed that the flower had died. Previously posted photo of an amazing leaf tip in comment box below.<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><br /> <br /> "The flower has to be high above the leaves so insects pollinating the flowers do not get trapped in the leaves. Each flower produces very tiny seeds. They are about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. If you pinch the flowers off, the leaves will grow more vigorously since growing flowers takes a lot of energy from the plant." From botany.org.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://botany.org/bsa/misc/carn.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">botany.org/bsa/misc/carn.html</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_flytrap" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_flytrap</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/33652539 tag:ipernity.com,2014-06-26,doc-33652539 Thu, 26 Jun 2014 15:33:14 +0000 2014-06-25T17:03:48-06:00 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/293827/33652539"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/25/39/33652539.1453e2f3.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Photographed these beautiful, rather delicate Irises at the Reader Rock Garden late yesterday afternoon, 25 June 2014. Drove there on my way home from a volunteer shift, as I wasn't all that far away. The sky had darkened and I was expecting it to rain by the time I got there, but the sun came out (along with the wind). I'm not sure if these are the same as wild Irises. Feels good to have a change of colour in my photostream : )</div> The beauty of Irises <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/293827/33652539"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/143/25/39/33652539.1453e2f3.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Photographed these beautiful, rather delicate Irises at the Reader Rock Garden late yesterday afternoon, 25 June 2014. Drove there on my way home from a volunteer shift, as I wasn't all that far away. The sky had darkened and I was expecting it to rain by the time I got there, but the sun came out (along with the wind). I'm not sure if these are the same as wild Irises. Feels good to have a change of colour in my photostream : )</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/28766081 tag:ipernity.com,2013-12-09,doc-28766081 Mon, 09 Dec 2013 08:44:31 +0000 2012-12-18T09:46:09-07:00 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/293827/28766081"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/139/60/81/28766081.d5437b77.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I love it when ice crystals form a layer on top of the snow - so delicate and beautiful. I always feel a little guilty if I have to walk on it. Took this photo on 18 December 2012, when a group of us took part in the High River Christmas Bird Count (about a half hour drive S of Calgary). If I remember correctly, this was out at Frank Lake, which was one of the areas we covered.</div> Frosted snow <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/293827/28766081"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/139/60/81/28766081.d5437b77.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I love it when ice crystals form a layer on top of the snow - so delicate and beautiful. I always feel a little guilty if I have to walk on it. Took this photo on 18 December 2012, when a group of us took part in the High River Christmas Bird Count (about a half hour drive S of Calgary). If I remember correctly, this was out at Frank Lake, which was one of the areas we covered.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/23288695 tag:ipernity.com,2009-04-04,doc-23288695 Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:41:52 +0000 2006-05-05T14:37:35-06:00 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/293827/23288695"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/133/86/95/23288695.73660595.240.jpg?r2" width="181" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">We are all waiting with baited breath for the first Prairie Crocus (also called Pasque-flower) to bloom!!! Such gorgeous, hairy plants! Legend says that the Great Spirit gave this delicate plant a fur coat to keep it warm until spring nights turn warmer. This is a photo taken on 5 May 2006 at Shannon Terrace, Fish Creek Park. Last spring, I photographed my first one on 26 March, but everything will be delayed this year because of our long, hard winter.</div> Still waiting .. <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/293827/23288695"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/133/86/95/23288695.73660595.240.jpg?r2" width="181" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">We are all waiting with baited breath for the first Prairie Crocus (also called Pasque-flower) to bloom!!! Such gorgeous, hairy plants! Legend says that the Great Spirit gave this delicate plant a fur coat to keep it warm until spring nights turn warmer. This is a photo taken on 5 May 2006 at Shannon Terrace, Fish Creek Park. Last spring, I photographed my first one on 26 March, but everything will be delayed this year because of our long, hard winter.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/22902477 tag:ipernity.com,2010-12-17,doc-22902477 Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:42:02 +0000 2010-12-16T15:59:04-06:00 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/293827/22902477"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/132/24/77/22902477.bee31042.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I dashed down to the park yesterday afternoon to try and get a few snowflake photos. Got an awful lot of blurry photos, but also maybe two or three that were just about sharp enough. This was the most complete snowflake that came out, but I wasn't sure about it on a black background. Not very Christmasy, so I'll keep a brighter shot of a slightly melted snowflake for a bit closer to Christmas. If you happen to think of it (you know, in between baking, cooking, shopping, wrapping, etc., etc., - yeah, right!), let me know which one you prefer. I just couldn't make up my mind which was my favourite of the two. It was slightly windy and, oh boy, does that make it harder to get anything that is so light and delicate in focus, LOL. I guess I should have taken my tiny, table-top tripod that I tend not to bother with any more. I loved it when I was trying to focus on a certain snowflake and another one with a completely different pattern, gently landed on it or nearby. What a magical world it was : )<br /> <br /> I had such a lovely morning today - a Christmas get-together with a whole bunch of friends whom I hadn't seen for about a year and nine months!! My out-of-town botanizing trips are always on Fridays, so I've been unable to go these usual weekly get-togethers with friends. What a wonderfully warm, welcoming bunch of people they are - I'm very lucky to know these folks!<br /> <br /> I have to set my two alarm clocks and my kitchen timer for around 3:50 tomorrow morning - i.e. not all that much later than I normally get to bed! - as I have to be halfway across the city for 6:30 a.m., ready for travelling westwards with a few friends to do the Christmas Bird Count in Canmore (near Banff). Just hope I don't sleep through my alarms! I think it was three years ago that it was -30C on this Canmore Count and five hours of walking in it was not exactly fun : ) No bird photos, but I got some beautiful icicle shots, ha. The 2010 count is the National Audubon Society's 111th annual Christmas Bird Count! Sunday is the Calgary Christmas Bird Count, so it will be another early start.</div> : ) <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/293827/22902477"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/132/24/77/22902477.bee31042.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I dashed down to the park yesterday afternoon to try and get a few snowflake photos. Got an awful lot of blurry photos, but also maybe two or three that were just about sharp enough. This was the most complete snowflake that came out, but I wasn't sure about it on a black background. Not very Christmasy, so I'll keep a brighter shot of a slightly melted snowflake for a bit closer to Christmas. If you happen to think of it (you know, in between baking, cooking, shopping, wrapping, etc., etc., - yeah, right!), let me know which one you prefer. I just couldn't make up my mind which was my favourite of the two. It was slightly windy and, oh boy, does that make it harder to get anything that is so light and delicate in focus, LOL. I guess I should have taken my tiny, table-top tripod that I tend not to bother with any more. I loved it when I was trying to focus on a certain snowflake and another one with a completely different pattern, gently landed on it or nearby. What a magical world it was : )<br /> <br /> I had such a lovely morning today - a Christmas get-together with a whole bunch of friends whom I hadn't seen for about a year and nine months!! My out-of-town botanizing trips are always on Fridays, so I've been unable to go these usual weekly get-togethers with friends. What a wonderfully warm, welcoming bunch of people they are - I'm very lucky to know these folks!<br /> <br /> I have to set my two alarm clocks and my kitchen timer for around 3:50 tomorrow morning - i.e. not all that much later than I normally get to bed! - as I have to be halfway across the city for 6:30 a.m., ready for travelling westwards with a few friends to do the Christmas Bird Count in Canmore (near Banff). Just hope I don't sleep through my alarms! I think it was three years ago that it was -30C on this Canmore Count and five hours of walking in it was not exactly fun : ) No bird photos, but I got some beautiful icicle shots, ha. The 2010 count is the National Audubon Society's 111th annual Christmas Bird Count! Sunday is the Calgary Christmas Bird Count, so it will be another early start.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/22622879 tag:ipernity.com,2013-06-02,doc-22622879 Sun, 02 Jun 2013 12:22:00 +0000 2013-05-31T11:20:59-06:00 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/293827/22622879"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/132/28/79/22622879.b0e1a288.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This was a tiny mushroom, maybe half an inch across its cap, and growing on a long, thin, white stem, found growing on cow dung. It seems to be attached to this piece of dead grass, so I couldn't remove it, as it was such a fragile fungus. Seen on 31 May, when a few of us did the May Species Count at the Whaleback, 171 km south of Calgary. Rained pretty much all day, but the scenery was amazing : )<br /> <br /> Sorry, everyone, it's another post and dash day. It's the annual Bus Trip for a group I belong to amd we are heading NW of the city to near Red Deer, to visit three wetland areas. When I checked the forecast late last night, it was for thuinder showers this morning and this afternoon ... sigh.<br /> <br /> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div> Tiny treasure on cow dung <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/293827/22622879"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/132/28/79/22622879.b0e1a288.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This was a tiny mushroom, maybe half an inch across its cap, and growing on a long, thin, white stem, found growing on cow dung. It seems to be attached to this piece of dead grass, so I couldn't remove it, as it was such a fragile fungus. Seen on 31 May, when a few of us did the May Species Count at the Whaleback, 171 km south of Calgary. Rained pretty much all day, but the scenery was amazing : )<br /> <br /> Sorry, everyone, it's another post and dash day. It's the annual Bus Trip for a group I belong to amd we are heading NW of the city to near Red Deer, to visit three wetland areas. When I checked the forecast late last night, it was for thuinder showers this morning and this afternoon ... sigh.<br /> <br /> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/22621319 tag:ipernity.com,2013-03-26,doc-22621319 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:13:06 +0000 2013-01-07T10:48:23-06:00 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/293827/22621319"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/132/13/19/22621319.caa208bd.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Soon, winter will be gone and there will be no more glorious, frosty days. Our snow is melting nicely - which could easily mean that another snowfall is not far away. Wonder if we'll get a major snowstorm this May, which sometimes happens. This hoarfrost was seen on 7 January 2013, at Hull's Wood, in Fish Creek Park.</div> Edged in frost <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/293827/22621319"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/132/13/19/22621319.caa208bd.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Soon, winter will be gone and there will be no more glorious, frosty days. Our snow is melting nicely - which could easily mean that another snowfall is not far away. Wonder if we'll get a major snowstorm this May, which sometimes happens. This hoarfrost was seen on 7 January 2013, at Hull's Wood, in Fish Creek Park.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/22621153 tag:ipernity.com,2013-02-10,doc-22621153 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 17:03:10 +0000 2011-06-08T16:34:10-06:00 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/293827/22621153"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/132/11/53/22621153.5f5171f5.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This delicate Iris was taken at the Reader Rock Garden on 8 June 2011.</div> Iris <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/293827/22621153"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/132/11/53/22621153.5f5171f5.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This delicate Iris was taken at the Reader Rock Garden on 8 June 2011.</div> Anne Elliott