Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: off Highway 22

This is where I spent 31 May 2013, with a small group of friends, doing the May Species Count for the Whaleback. This location is about 170 km south of Calgary, down towards Pincher Creek. I'm adding photos taken on that trip to a Set of photos that, up till recently, contained images taken on the Small Whaleback on 10 July 2011. On 31 May 2013, we covered the southern end of the Whaleback. As you can see from today's image, the whole area is made up of endless hills. The Rocky Mountains are off to the right of the photo, in the distance, quite close in this very southern part of Alberta. It rained or drizzled all day, so I had to battle water spots in the camera lens as well as low light and wind. Many of my photos are not really as sharp as I would have liked, but I am so glad that I went. The yellow Balsamroot, which we don't get further north, closer to Calgary, was just beautiful. A closer look at these plants revealed all the damage done to their leaves - we saw a couple of tiny, green, hairy caterpillars in the centre of one flower, but I'm not sure if these were two of the culprits. It was a good day, great company, a few interesting finds and glorious scenery to thoroughly enjoy. "More commonly known as the Whaleback, the Bob Creek Wildland and its sister area the Black Creek Heritage Rangeland protects Whaleback Ridge and one of Alberta’s most important elk winter ranges. A montane environment of Douglas Fir and rough fescue grasses, this area in southwest Alberta has sweeping vistas of the Livingstone Range hanging over the western boundary and the Castle Mountains to the south." www.crownofthecontinent.net/content/the-whaleback/cotCA82...

This is where I spent 31 May 2013, with a small group of friends, doing the May Species Count for the Whaleback. This location is about 170 km south of Calgary, down towards Pincher Creek. I'm adding photos taken on that trip to a Set of photos that, up till today, contained images taken on the Small Whaleback on 10 July 2011. Yesterday, we covered the southern end of the Whaleback. As you can see from today's image, the whole area is made up of endless hills, with the Rocky Mountains off to theright of the photo, quite close in this very southern part of Alberta. This huge boulder was a beauty, covered in lichen, and several Fragile Ferns growing in on of the large cracks. It rained or drizzled all day, so I had to battle water spots in the camera lens as well as low light and wind. Many of my photos are not really as sharp as I would have liked, but I am so glad that I went. The Balsamroot, which we don't get further north, closer to Calgary, was just beautiful. A closer look at these plants revealed all the damage done to their leaves - we saw a couple of tiny, green, hairy caterpillars in the centre of one flower, but I'm not sure if these were two of the culprits. It was a good day, great company, a few interesting finds and glorious scenery to thoroughly enjoy. Andrew, I hope your back isn't too painful today - such a great pity that you had to miss out on just about everything. Thanks so much, Sandy, for the drive there and back - much appreciated, as always. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a macro shot of a rather beautiful moss, from the Grimmiaceae family, that was growing at the Whaleback, when a group of us did the May Species Count for this area, on 31 May 2013. ID provided by Sandy Davis, Bryologist. "The Grimmias as a group are easy to recognize—these mosses have hair tips and usually form dark green to black well-formed mounds occurring on boulders. However, identifying members of the Grimmiaceae to the species level can be very challenging and usually requires leaf cross sections. Thankfully, Coscinodon calyptratus is very common and is one of the easiest lower elevation Grimmiaceae to identify. C. calyptratus has long hair tips that can be longer than the leaf itself, and it has capsules that usually are “exserted”, which means that the stalk to the capsule (the seta) is usually as long or longer than the capsule itself such that the capsule sticks up above the level of the leaves below it. The covering over the capsule, called the “calyptra”, is long and covers the entire capsule. There are no papillae (bumps) on the cells, which look quite clear under the microscope." www.wnmu.edu/academic/nspages/gilaflora/The%20First%20Yea... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another image from our wet, wet day on 31 May 2013, doing the May Species Count at the Whaleback. This beautiful area of rolling hills is 170 miles south of Calgary. The yellow Balsamroot was spectacular. This is a plant that only grows further south, so it was a real treat to have the chance to see it that day. Little did we know that all the wet days we'd had recently were building up to the devastation of the "Flood of the Century" in Calgary and the rest of southern Alberta this past week. Incredible YOUTUBE VIDEO OF CALGARY FLOODS from Global News: youtu.be/bRS8YfVlt3Y ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yesterday, I spent the day with a small group of friends, doing the May Species Count for the Whaleback. This location is about 171 km south of Calgary, down towards Pincher Creek. I'm adding photos taken yesterday to a Set of photos that, up till today, contained images taken on the Small Whaleback on 10 July 2011. Yesterday, we covered the southern end of the Whaleback. The last image I posted this morning shows how the whole area is made up of endless hills, with the Rocky Mountains quite close in this very southern part of Alberta. It rained or drizzled all day, so I had to battle water spots in the camera lens as well as low light and wind. Many of my photos are not really as sharp as I would have liked, but I am so glad that I went. Three of these small Earth Star fungi came as a surprise. I usually see them in forests, not on hillsides. The Balsamroot, which we don't get further north, closer to Calgary, was just beautiful. A closer look at these plants revealed all the damage done to their leaves - we saw a couple of tiny, green, hairy caterpillars in the centre of one flower, but I'm not sure if these were two of the culprits. It was a good day, great company, a few interesting finds and glorious scenery to thoroughly enjoy. Andrew, I hope your back isn't too painful today - such a great pity that you had to miss out on just about everything. Thanks so much, Sandy, for the drive there and back - much appreciated, as always. "The Earth Star is a striking soil fungus, so named because the outer wall of the spore-bearing body splits open into a star. One metaphor refers to the rays standing on their tips, like a ballet dancer standing on their toes. Like other earthstars, the outer, leathery wall (peridium) splits open into the rays of a star, but the rays fold down into "legs" that support the spherical spore case that sits on a short stalk or pedicel. The rays are firmly attached to a clump of mycelium and leaf debris." From "The Amazing Fungi " website. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is where I spent yesterday with a small group of friends, doing the May Species Count for the Whaleback. This location is about 171 km south of Calgary, down towards Pincher Creek. I'm adding photos taken yesterday to a Set of photos that, up till today, contained images taken on the Small Whaleback on 10 July 2011. Yesterday, we covered the southern end of the Whaleback. As you can see from today's image, the whole area is made up of endless hills, with the Rocky Mountains quite close in this very southern part of Alberta. It rained or drizzled all day, so I had to battle water spots in the camera lens as well as low light and wind. Many of my photos are not really as sharp as I would have liked, but I am so glad that I went. The Balsamroot, which we don't get further north, closer to Calgary, was just beautiful. A closer look at these plants revealed all the damage done to their leaves - we saw a couple of tiny, green, hairy caterpillars in the centre of one flower, but I'm not sure if these were two of the culprits. It was a good day, great company, a few interesting finds and glorious scenery to thoroughly enjoy. Andrew, I hope your back isn't too painful today - such a great pity that you had to miss out on just about everything. Thanks so much, Sandy, for the drive there and back - much appreciated, as always. Ha, today, the sun is shining and the sky is blue : ) Must stay home, though, and get myself organized, as I have two very long day trips coming up in the next three days. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yesterday, I spent the day with a small group of friends, doing the May Species Count for the Whaleback. This location is about 171 km south of Calgary, down towards Pincher Creek. I'm adding photos taken yesterday to a Set of photos that, up till today, contained images taken on the Small Whaleback on 10 July 2011. Yesterday, we covered the southern end of the Whaleback. The last image I posted this morning shows how the whole area is made up of endless hills, with the Rocky Mountains quite close in this very southern part of Alberta. It rained or drizzled all day, so I had to battle water spots on the camera lens as well as low light and wind. Many of my photos are not really as sharp as I would have liked, but I am so glad that I went. We came across a handful of these Townsendia hookeri plants - the flowers weren't open - they need the sun and warmth to open properly. The Balsamroot, which we don't get further north, closer to Calgary, was just beautiful. A closer look at these plants revealed all the damage done to their leaves - we saw a couple of tiny, green, hairy caterpillars in the centre of one flower, but I'm not sure if these were two of the culprits. It was a good day, great company, a few interesting finds and glorious scenery to thoroughly enjoy. Andrew, I hope your back isn't too painful today - such a great pity that you had to miss out on just about everything. Thanks so much, Sandy, for the drive there and back - much appreciated, as always. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A friend walking in the wonderful wildflower meadows of the Small Whaleback on July 10th. The purple flowers here are Lupins - adding this after several people mentioned them. This was a long drive south of Calgary, towards the Crowsnest Pass, and just before you get to the Oldman River. This was a botanizing trip, to record all plants, insects, birds, mammals, etc. that we could find. Even a couple of Puffballs, one of which was quite spectacular : ) Later: ha ha, I did about 8,000 steps on the above hike and today I did around 10,000 steps - walking around the Stampede Grounds with my youngest daughter!! Couldn't believe my pedometer when I got home this afternoon after spending about four hours breathing in the greasy smell from the food vendors, getting neck cramps from watching people get flung on a bungee-type ride or the high swings, watching Mom pig feed her 11 little piglets, seeing the most beautiful horses from Clydesdales to Miniatures. It is quite an experience to "do" the Grounds - but I wouldn't want to do it more than one day a year! Thanks, Rachel, for a fun time! Holy smokes - just after 10:30 p.m. and we are having a torrrential rainstorm with thunder and lightning!!

An individual flower on a hanging cluster of three on a Three-flowered Avens plant, photographed (macro) on a botany hike on the Small Whaleback, July 10th. This is a wonderful area of rolling hills amd wildflower meadows just off Highway 22, just north of the Oldman River, southern Alberta.

Photographed (macro) on July 10th on our hike on the Small Whaleback, about two and a half hours' drive south of Calgary. The whole flower cluster was maybe three-quarters of an inch across, at most.

A tiny Crab Spider hanging out on a Gaillardia flower. Photographed (macro) on a botany hike on the Small Whaleback on July 10th. This is just one small, wonderful area of rolling hills and wildflower meadows, off Highway 22, just north of the Oldman River, southern Alberta, about a two and a quarter hour drive south of Calgary.

Posting mid-evening today, so really late. Been on a botanizing trip today, way south of the city, but the posted photo was taken a week ago on July 10th, on a different trip, to the Small Whaleback - also, way south of the city. The Small Whaleback is an area of beautiful, rolling hills, just off Highway 22 and just north of the Oldman River. As you might guess, we had plenty of plant species to record : ) Each time I'm out in a place like this, I'm in awe - this is just one tiny area and when you think of all the thousands of hillside slopes and alpine meadows and valleys in the Rocky Mountains and Foothills, each offering such amazing beauty, it's overwhelming. It doesn't matter where you go and spend time - there is so much beauty to see. Today's trip was a revisit to Plateau Mountain, one of my favourite places. We only hiked as far as the meadows, and then followed the ridge in the direction of the cars, and eventually climbed down to the gravel road. Temperature was a delightful 18C up there, with quite a strong breeze, but it's hotter back here in Calgary. It's 32C in my computer room and it can only get worse as it is supposed to reach a high of 32C in Calgary tomorrow. Not my kind of heat, for sure, and I feel totally exhausted after today's hike : )

Posting mid-evening today, so really late. Been on a botanizing trip today, way south of the city, but the posted photo was taken a week ago on July 10th, on a different trip, to the Small Whaleback - also, way south of the city. The Small Whaleback is an area of beautiful, rolling hills, just off Highway 22 and just north of the Oldman River. Two of us happened to see this beautiful Fritillary fluttering around some small rocks just before getting back to the parking lot at the end of the hike. I posted this image on Bug Guide to see if an ID suggestion could be given and the reply was: "It is very difficult to tell Speyeria species without seeing the under side; however, this is definitely not S. callippe, that species looks rather different. It looks to me like a male Speyeria atlantis." … David J. Ferguson. Thank you, David, for your help and such a quick reply! Today's trip was a revisit to Plateau Mountain, one of my favourite places. We only hiked up the gravel road as far as the meadows, and then followed the top of the ridge in the direction of the cars, and eventually climbed down to the gravel road. Temperature was a delightful 18C up there, with quite a strong breeze, but it's hotter back here in Calgary. It's 32C in my computer room and it can only get worse as it is supposed to reach a high of 32C in Calgary tomorrow. Not my kind of heat, for sure, and I feel totally exhausted after today's hike : ) Thanks so much for driving Sandy and myself, Doug! Each time I'm out in a place like this, I'm in awe - this is just one tiny area and when you think of all the thousands of hillside slopes and alpine meadows and valleys in the Rocky Mountains and Foothills, each offering such amazing beauty, it's overwhelming. It doesn't matter where you go and spend time - there is so much beauty to see.

I don't remember ever seeing this wildflower before - anyway, it's the first photo of it on my photostream. The tiny flowers were such a pretty colour. This was found on a hike on the Small Whaleback, an area of wonderful, rolling hills way south of the city, on July 10th. The Small Whaleback (and yes, there is a larger Whaleback nearby, lol) is just off Highway 22, immediately north of the Oldman River. "Verbena bracteata is a species of verbena known by the common names bigbract verbena, prostrate vervain, and carpet vervain. It is native to North America where it is widespread, occurring throughout the continent except for northern Canada and southern Mexico. It occurs in many types of habitat, especially disturbed areas, where it grows as a common weed. This annual or biennial herb produces several hairy, spreading stems up to 30 centimeters long forming a low mat on the ground. The hairy leaves are toothed or lobed. The inflorescence is a spike of flowers which is dense with long, pointed, leaflike bracts each up to 8 millimeters long. Each small tubular flower is about half a centimeter wide and white to pale purple in color." From Wikipedia.

This is where I spent yesterday with a small group of friends, doing the May Species Count for the Whaleback. This location is about 171 km south of Calgary, down towards Pincher Creek. I'm adding photos taken yesterday to a Set of photos that, up till today, contained images taken on the Small Whaleback on 10 July 2011. Yesterday, we covered the southern end of the Whaleback. As you can see from today's image, the whole area is made up of endless hills, with the Rocky Mountains quite close in this very southern part of Alberta. It rained or drizzled all day, so I had to battle water spots in the camera lens as well as low light and wind. Many of my photos are not really as sharp as I would have liked, but I am so glad that I went. The Balsamroot, which we don't get further north, closer to Calgary, was just beautiful. A closer look at these plants revealed all the damage done to their leaves - we saw a couple of tiny, green, hairy caterpillars in the centre of one flower, but I'm not sure if these were two of the culprits. It was a good day, great company, a few interesting finds and glorious scenery to thoroughly enjoy. Andrew, I hope your back isn't too painful today - such a great pity that you had to miss out on just about everything. Thanks so much, Sandy, for the drive there and back - much appreciated, as always.