Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Bragg Creek Natural Area

These very small orange balls are the fruiting bodies of Wolf's Milk slime mold, growing on a decaying log in the Bragg Creek Natural Area. It is widley distributed in North America and occurs June-November. The balls are 0.3-1.5 cm wide and high.

I noticed this moth at rest on a tree yesterday, during a full-day, botanizing walk in Bragg Creek Natural Area. Actually, we had spotted a small butterfly flitting across the path and so I followed. However, I forgot about the butterfly as soon as I noticed this well-camouflaged moth. I think it may be some kind of Sphinx Moth? Thanks so much to Lynette S. for the ID, Geometroidea, Geometrid Moth, Geometridae!

Saw this gorgeous mushroom on a walk in Bragg Creek Natural Area today. To me, it looks a little like carved wood. I was a bit disappointed with my photos, as I did try to get ones that I would be happy with. Images looking down on the fungus were not very good. I've never seen such a spectacular mushroom : ). The very enjoyable walk was partly on private property, but the people who took us knew their neighbours. A great variety of plants, both in the wooded areas and the very boggy, open places. We had quite a wet-footed hike : )

We came across this little cluster of Puffballs on September 3rd, when we spent the day botanizing at Bragg Creek Natural Area, west of the city. I always think Puffballs are such amazing things, with their beautifully textured surface. There has to be some sort of incompatability between my computer and my friend's in England. Two days ago, I started getting the same (?) problem with my Inbox - two or three e-mails from England would not stop repeatedly sending. Had to just sit there and delete and delete - and watch another batch arrive. To say the least, this is not what I needed - and now I still feel completely drained and exhausted. All is OK (for now!). Which then, of course, turns my thoughts to wondering how on earth are the Japanese people dealing with all that has destroyed their lives? They are strong people and will overcome all this, but my heart and my prayers are with them each and every day.

Not the sharpest photo, but these are the tiniest things you can imagine : ) Usually, it looks like just a yellow smear on a log. You need a hand lens, or of course a macro lens (as in this photo), to see this attractive sac fungus. It has a maximum cap size of about three millimeters. I like their delightful name, Lemon Drops (Bisporella citrina). As always, my ID is tentative : ) Photographed on September 3rd at Bragg Creek Natural Area.

Found at the Bragg Creek Natural Area on September 3rd. Not too inspiring a photo, but I love the colour of the mushroom, and wanted it for my Fungi of Alberta Set.

I think I have the correct ID for this rather beautiful spider. Seen yesterday at Bragg Creek Natural Area, west of the city.

I am absolutely fascinated by the rust that grows on certain leaves - this is a supermacro shot of this fungus and it was growing on the leaves of a Greene’s Mountain-Ash tree (Sorbus scopulina), at the Bragg Creek Natural Area. As Greene’s Mountain-Ash belongs to the Rose family, I think this is maybe Cedar-apple rust. If you pass a tree/shrub that has orange rust spots of the uppserside of the leaves, turn a leaf over and take a look. You might see these very tiny "tentacles". You just never know what might be lurking under those leaves, LOL. The whole process is complicated to explain - maybe I'll add a link or some info later if I remember, but now I have to get myself ready to go to a Volunteer Thank-you BBQ for the Weaselhead Society in just over an hour's time.

This was the most amazing mushroom, so perfect - apart from the strand of grass that was stuck to the cap and a couple of other "spots" : ) The colour was spectacular! Found at Bragg Creek Natural Area, east of Kananaskis, on 3rd September. I usually assume (wrongly - thanks, Stephen!) that any mushroom with a red cap and white stalk must be a Russula emetica, The Sickener. However, Stephen has pointed out that there is quite a number of red Russula species - and no one in our tiny group has the knowledge to determine which kind this one is. Map location very approximate. I've been slow in commenting to many of you - sorry! I've been spending so many hours recently, getting photos "ready" from various botanizing trips and sending them so that they can be passed on to a whole data base of people. I feel as if I'm breathing, sleeping, eating photos - endless : ) And tonight, it's raining yet again, LOL! I'm surprised that there's any moisture left in the atmosphere. Anyone want some rain - we've got lots to spare?

This is just a very small flower in reality - how misleading macro shots are : ) Sorry to those of you who are totally confused and mislead by all my macro shots, LOL, but I just HAVE to take photos like that - that's what I love! Looks like the larva of something crawling over the petal? Seen on 3rd September, growing on wet mud at Bragg Creek Natural Area, east of the Kananaskis boundary.

I'm always in awe when I come across wild Tall Larkspur seed capsules - gorgeous colours and patterns. These ones (macro shot) were seen at the Bragg Creek Natural Area, east of the Kananaskis boundary a week ago.

I don't know how many different species there are that look like the teeny yellow fungi in my macro shot. Usually when I'm on a hike and we see these, they have been called Lemon Drops, but I will give that as a tentative ID here, just in case. Photographed these in Bragg Creek Natural Area, east of the Kananaskis boundary, on 3rd September.

I love seeing this plant with it's beautiful bright berries. Just love the mix of orangy red, green and black. This one was growing in the forest in Bragg Creek Natural Area, east of Kananaskis and west of Calgary, when we went there to botanize the area on 3rd September. Those who are unfamiliar with wild plants may confuse this plant with the False Solomon's-seal, as the leaves are similar.

LOL, apparently these Bristly Black Currant (Ribes lacustre) berries have an unpleasant taste, but that would be the least of my thoughts. Can you imagine eating these prickly fruit? The dark purple to black berries are 5-6 mm across. Seen on 3rd September, while botanizing the Bragg Creek Natural Area, east of the Kananaskis boundary.

This native wildflower grows in moist wooded areas, and flowers June-July. Always love to see the berries, looking so pretty dotted with purple. These berries are edible, but should not be eaten in large quantities. The young shoots can be cooked and eaten like Asparagus. Photographed in Bragg Creek Natural Area on 10th September.

I had never seen this attractive moss before - trying to remember if this was the first time it had been seen/reported in Alberta. Doug, if you happen to read this, perhaps you could confirm or correct this. You can also see a small cluster of a Cladonia species in the centre (like tiny, green golf tees). Added later - thanks, Doug, for the correct information: "It is found throughout the northern 2/3 of Alberta. This was found near its southern extent." "Lycopodium clavatum (Stag's-horn Clubmoss or Ground Pine) is the most widespread species in the genus Lycopodium of the clubmoss family Lycopodiaceae. It is a spore-bearing vascular plant, growing mainly prostrate along the ground with stems up to 1 m long; the stems are much branched, and densely clothed with small spirally-arranged leaves." From Wikipedia.

This small, brown Puffball is a different one for me. If you have time, large size shows quite an interesting pattern, especially on the top - sorry, it's not as sharp as I would have liked! If you happen to come across a Puffball, it's worth checking it out closely, as patterns and details can be amazing : ) Seen on 12th September at the Bragg Creek Natural Area, west of Calgary.

Any mushrooms we've seen in the last little while have been old and withered. A few species crack into quite attractive patterns, such as this one. This was a fair sized fungus, too, growing in Bragg Creek Natural Area on 12th September. It looked so pretty against the green moss of the forest floor.