Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: lantern

All three photos posted today were taken yesterday, 8 September 2015. In the morning, I joined a group of friends for a three-hour stroll at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. 38 bird species were seen, though I didn't manage to see any of the tiny, fast-moving Warblers. It was good to see 28 Wood Ducks, but they were far, far away, in an area that is still closed due to devastating flood damage. The Sanctuary had been closed for about two years for this reason and only very recently re-opened. The Calgary Zoo is very close to the Sanctuary, so after our morning walk, I decided to call in at the Zoo. I hadn't been for about a year and I really missed going there. Of course, many of the garden flowers were past their prime, but I did find a few that were fit to photograph. I knew I wouldn't be able to walk far, but I really wanted to get to the ENMAX Conservatory to see what was going on. I had been longing all summer to see the tropical butterflies and plants. The butterfly season is coming to an end for these tropical beauties, but there were still plenty of them to be seen. Also, this month, the parking lot that I use will close for the winter and I don't like the drive back home from the north parking area, using Deerfoot Trail, so tend not to go to the Zoo all winter. There was so much activity going on at the Zoo yesterday. People everywhere, carrying large animals wrapped in white, protective coverings, preparing for the upcoming ILLUMINASIA, Lantern & Garden Festival. Each animal is an individual lantern and there are so many of them. The real animals in their enclosures were watching all the unaccustomed activity, which made me smile. A good day, despite the overcast sky, and plenty of photo opportunities. Recently, I have been finding far fewer things to photograph, with fall on its way, so a day like this was more than welcome.

Like so many others, I have spent quite a lot of time watching the CNN Headline News the last day or two, about Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy. The power of Mother Nature is unbeatable. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have suffered, and are still suffering, the effects of this major storm. How people ever recover from something so devastating always has me shaking my head - but most people do. The power of determination and the strong feelings of community bring people together, and they push on till at least some semblance of "normal" can return. We are thinking of you all!

I was thrilled to find two or three of these hanging Chinese Lanterns growing at the Reader Rock Garden the other day. I have loved these for many years, but normally I never see them. "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 .