Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Union Cemetery

This morning, I am posting three photos from my archives, all taken in June 2014. I just haven't been getting out and, on the very occasional time I have been out with my camera, there has been so little to photograph. As for Mountain Bluebirds, I have seen one very distant male so far this spring. Ha, is it really spring? We had yet another snowfall yesterday! This White-tailed Jackrabbit was busily eating grass at the Union Cemetery, right alongside the Reader Rock Garden. Sometimes when I see it, it's happily hopping around at the Reader Rock Garden. This time, I spotted it as I was driving very slowly through the cemetery on my way home, enjoying nibbling on blades of grass - it obviously tasted far too good to leave just because of me. Taken on 25 June 2014. We have a lot of these Jackrabbits in the city - apparently, they tend to come out at night (nocturnal), but I often see them in my neighbourhood in the daytime. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_jackrabbit

Update on the massive wildfire in the Fort McMurray area: "On May 1, 2016, a wildfire began southwest of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. On May 3, it swept through the community, destroying approximately 2,400 homes and buildings and forcing the largest wildfire evacuation in Albertan history. As of May 17, it continues to spread across northern Alberta, consuming forested areas and impacting Athabasca oil sands operations. It may become the costliest disaster in Canadian history. .... While the fire had moved away from Fort McMurray, explosions and poor air quality continued to prevent residents and rebuilding crews from returning to the town. The wildfire is still burning and is expected to take months to contain and extinguish." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Fort_McMurray_wildfire www.theglobeandmail.com/news/alberta/the-fort-mcmurray-di... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yesterday, 18 May 2016, I went to what was most likely my last volunteer shift. I have been volunteering there for about 18 years and it has been a wonderful experience. However, as the number of clients constantly rises, even more so with the poor state of the economy, the problem of parking has become a real issue. Though we have to park on the nearby street, usually at the very far end of it, I now find that each time I go, I have to park further and further away. There is no sidewalk on which to walk and there are many huge trucks coming and going all the time. Makes for a dangerous walk. In winter, it will be even worse. I always walk in pain and yesterday was, I think, the final straw, when I had to park even further away. I have been volunteering at several places for the last 36 or so years, so I know I will miss it, but I was just not enjoying the long walk and always wondering if I was even going to be able to find a parking spot. I know I will miss good friends there, terribly. Anyway, after my shift, I thought I had better call in at the Reader Rock Garden, in case I don't get over there for a long time. I wasn't sure about the weather and I did feel the odd raindrop, plus it was rather windy. However, the scent around the garden was wonderful - I could have stayed there for hours, just breathing it in. Plenty of flowers to enjoy. The few workers do such a great job of keeping this place looking beautiful. If you visit and you happen to see one of the staff or volunteers, do let them know how much you appreciate all their hard work and care. I know they would appreciate it. I always drive slowly through the adjoining Union Cemetery, keeping my eyes open for one of the Jackrabbits, in particular. I was in luck yesterday with one brief sighting, and also enjoyed watching American Robins flying from gravestone to gravestone. Most of the stones are covered in lichen, especially the bright orange kind, and I liked the way this Robin matched the lichen. A distant shot and rather fuzzy, but thought I would still post it.

This White-tailed Jack Rabbit (Jackrabbit) was busily eating grass at the Union Cemetery, right alongside the Reader Rock Garden. Sometimes when I see it, it's happily hopping around at the Reader Rock Garden. This time, I spotted it as I was driving very slowly through the cemetery on my way home, enjoying nibbling on blades of grass - it obviously tasted far too good to leave just because of me. Taken on 25 June 2014. We have a lot of these Jack Rabbits in the city - apparently, they tend to come out at night, but I often see them in my neighbourhood in the daytime. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_jackrabbit

Yesterday, 16 September 2015, I called in at the Reader Rock Garden after my volunteer shift. There seemed to be more flowers in bloom than on my previous visit. Also quite a few distant small birds flitting from tree to tree at one point They were impossible to see well enough to get photos or IDs - this was the only bird I managed to photograph. I had noticed a Jack Rabbit in the garden and then, when I drove through the adjoining cemetery, it or another one was running in among the gravestones. When it saw my car coming, it froze and waited till I had moved on.

Yesterday, 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 three days ago. So, much as I really dislike the rain, we desperately need it. Right next to Reader Rock Garden is the Union Cemetery, where I photographed this American Robin. The Jack Rabbits and birds spend time in both places, needless to say. From the Union Cemetery, I also called in at another nearby cemetery, hoping to find a Wild European Rabbit (none to be seen). There are several bird feeders there, especially by one of the gravestones. I always wonder if the person who was buried there had been a birder. Seemed such a beautiful idea. My last stop was at a wetland in SW Calgary, where I found a Common Grackle. Normally, I just don't see Grackles, but I had seen one there recently, and I'm always happy when I do see one.

This little Richardson's Ground Squirrel (commonly called a Gopher) bounded across the grass at the Union Cemetery, through which I usually drive after walking round the Reader Rock Garden. It took shelter under this fallen gravestone when it saw my car, but then emerged for a few seconds, just long enough for me to grab a shot or two. Can't believe how few photos of these cute animals I have on my photostream.

This White-tailed Jack Rabbit (Jackrabbit) was busily eating grass at the Union Cemetery, right alongside the Reader Rock Garden. Sometimes when I see it, it's happily hopping around at the Reader Rock Garden. This time, I spotted it as I was driving very slowly through the cemetery on my way home, enjoying nibbling on blades of grass - it obviously tasted far too good to leave just because of me. Taken on 2 July 2014. We have a lot of these Jack Rabbits in the city - apparently, they tend to come out at night, but I often see them in my neighbourhood in the daytime. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_jackrabbit flic.kr/p/nVM4c5

This is "Cemetery Jack", a Jack Rabbit that I often see hopping around the cemetery I had to drive through the day before yesterday. After a volunteer shift (indoors) in the afternoon, the sun was still shining, so I decided to call in at the Reader Rock Garden on the way home. This Jack Rabbit sometimes comes down into the Garden, for a change of scenery. I wasn't sure if anything was growing there yet, but I did find a scattering of Hepatica and Squill in bloom. Many other plants were starting to produce leaves, so maybe spring really will happen after all! Looking at this photo, it's hard to believe that we had something like 10" of snow two or three days earlier! This poor animal, he must be wondering whether to let the brown hairs keep growing or to start growing more white ones, ha. I wonder if wildlife does get confused over our crazy Calgary weather. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_jackrabbit

Came across these Chinese Lantern pods in the Union Cemetery, that adjoins the Reader Rock Garden, on 29th September 2010. I thought the light and bokeh were quite pretty. Needed a bright, sunny image to upload this morning, as winter has returned once again, bringing SNOW. I never like hearing the sound of a shovel or snow-blower when I've just woken up and haven't yet looked out the window, lol. ""Popular for the papery bright-orange lantern pods that develop around the ripening fruit, these are often cut and used for Thanksgiving and Halloween arrangements. Plants are aggressive spreaders, and best kept out of the perennial border so they don't take over. Also can be grown in tubs. Small white flowers appear in midsummer, over a bushy mound of coarse green leaves. Pods are green at first, but should be harvested as soon as the orange colour develops, the leaves stripped then stems hung upside down to dry in a warm dark room." From www.perennials.com .

A second photo taken at the Union Cemetery when we had a foggy day on 16th February. This cemetery is right next to the Reader Rock Garden that I visit occasionally. Interesting to see the various Lichens that grow on some of the tombstones. However, it's very sad to see so many old graves for babies and very young children - those must have been such sad, hard times.

We walked around the Reader Rock Garden this morning, as well as walking the residential streets and alleys in the Rideau/Roxborough area. Good to see Wood Ducks on the River - my first ones for this year. Same with the Brown Creeper. The Union Cemetery is next to the Reader Rock Garden. Felt very different seeing this place in the fog. "Calgary averages twenty days with fog each year. Half of these normally occur in the fall and half in the spring. Environment Canada does not list which month has the most days with fog." We seem to have had more days of fog and hoar frost this winter than what I remember from other winters, but maybe I just missed them before. I had asked my oldest daughter if she had any statistics for this - she didn't, so she e-mailed one of our Meteorologists, Paul Dunphy, and the info just above was in reply to her e-mail. Thanks, Fiona and Paul!