Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: color photo

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.

I got the chance to gaze deeply into a gorgeous black Hollyhock flower at the Reader Rock Garden a few days ago. What a sight to see - always love to do this! Reminds me of fireworks or a little windmill. What amazing magic there is to be found by simpy "looking" AND "seeing" : ) Just got home about half an hour ago, from a full day of hiking on the southeastern edge of Kananaskis, at Marsden Creek. Mainly uphill climbing, until we turned around, of course. This was the second time some of us had been there, to botanize the area. It was another case of mushroom heaven for a couple of us - so many everywhere, though many were the same. Did get a few different ones, though, which will hopefully turn out sharp enough, but just too tired to download them from my camera right now. The return half of the hike was in the rain - we had watched as the clouds gradually came lower down and finally turned into rain. Fortunately, we were able to take most of our photos in time, though the light was not good. Oh, and we had a major storm early this morning, around 2:00 a.m., with thunder, lightning, horribly wild winds and torrential rain, so I wasn't even sure if we would still go on this hike. However, six of us brave souls decided to go : ) On the way home, we stopped for coffee/hot chocolate, to which we were treated - thanks, David! It sure felt good after all our exercise! Yummy!

This cute little Western Toad, Bufo boreas, was found at Bow Valley Provincial Park on Thursday. I always used to think that Toads were huge, so was surprised to learn that this little one was a Toad. Thanks, Doug, for patiently holding it - something that I could never do myself :) - while I took some photos. When he was released (the Toad that is, not Doug!), we were able to watch him swim a short way in the clear water. "Adult Western Toads have stocky bodies with short legs, and tend to walk rather than hop. Their thick skin appears dry and bumpy and can range in colour from pale green to grey, dark brown, and red. They typically have pale-coloured bellies mottled with black, and a pale coloured stripe down their backs. Their beautiful gold-flecked eyes have distinctive horizontal oval pupils. Behind each eye is a prominent oblong or kidney-shaped swelling called a parotoid gland. Adults range from 5.5 to 14.5 centimetres in body length, excluding the hind legs. Males are generally smaller than females and have dark pads on their thumbs that help them cling to the female during mating. Their skin is usually less rough and blotched than the females' skin." From www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/frogwatch .

I know this is "just" a Canada Goose, but I love taking photos of these birds. Yesterday, at the Zoo, this male was standing his ground on the path in the Canadian Wilds area, and if someone happened to get a little too close for his liking, he hissed and hissed. I should add that no, he wasn't hissing at me, as I kept at just the right distance from him. What many people didn't realize was that his mate was up on a low roof just a few feet away, busy moving leaves and branches to make her nest. He was just being a good, protective partner : ) Because he was standing right in the middle of the narrow path, there wasn't much room to pass by him and it was easy for people to get a little too close for his liking. Thought it was interesting to see his tongue. The bill has lamellae, or teeth around the outside that are used as a cutting tool. You might just get to see another photo of him sometime - I took far too many shots, LOL.

OK, so it's a little bit weird, but I thought I'd still post it, LOL! Just a small piece of melting ice that I picked up and held up to the beautiful blue sky that we had a couple of days ago. Made me think of a mask when I saw it at home. The snow and ice are melting here, leaving many of the park paths slushy and muddy. Dare I say it? It was too warm for my liking today, LOL!

Three Trumpeter Swans just starting to take off from one of the sloughs (ponds) outside the city. I prefer seeing them in flight, but thought I'd still post this one.

Had a pretty neat experience yesterday when I went to the Zoo. Happened to catch this Great Gray Owl in an active mood, which is unusual. At one time, it landed on a tree stump maybe 9 feet from where I was standing. Twice, it flew, skimming the top of my head (actually, I thought it was going straight for my face!!), and another time it flew past me at waist level, brushing my jacket with its wing. Never had that happen before : ) It also pulled a dead, white mouse out of the top of the tree stump and proceeded to eat it. The mouse is so over-exposed, but I thought I would still post the image. How I LOVE owls : )