Smooth Blue Beardtongue

On 31 May 2013, I went with a small group of friends to the Whaleback for the May Species Count. This location is 171 km south of Calgary, down towards Pincher Creek. I'm adding photos taken that day to a Set of photos that, up till then, contained images taken on the Small Whaleback on 10 July 2011. It rained/drizzled all day, so the light was really bad and of course there was a constant battle with raindrops on the camera lens : ) This is a macro shot of one of the native wildflower species that was growing there. They grow in clusters at the top of each stem. This attractive, native plant grows on dry, rocky embankments and shale slopes and blooms in May and June.

Today, we were going to the Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park, way north of Calgary, to botanize the area. However, there was a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect yesterday and, sure enough, the heavy rain apparently did arrive. The trip had to be cancelled because the Bentonite clay in the area becomes extremely slippery and treacherous. The gravel road down into the area is always closed when it's raining or has been raining. Last year, we did go, but had to walk down (and then back up) the endless road, feeling the ground slide beneath our feet. Spent the whole day soaked to the skin!