Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Iris

On 4 July 2015, it was the Nature Calgary annual bus trip, and last year it was a visit to the Olds College Botanic Gardens and Wetlands. The College is approximately 95.0 km north of Calgary, roughly a 55 minute drive. This once-a-year outing always feels so good for everyone - no driving, simply relaxing on a bus. We had about three hours there, which sounded short, but in fact worked out quite well. The mission of the College is: "Our goal is to develop a Botanic Garden on the Olds College campus, which introduces, conserves, and maintains a diverse, well-documented and accurately labeled collection of prairie hardy plants. Our collections will preserve our natural heritage, expand the role of Olds College as a Centre of Excellence in Horticulture, and gain formal recognition with the Canadian Botanical Conservation Network (CBCN) and the American Public Garden Association (APGA). Olds College Botanic Garden will enhance and support education, training, demonstration, and applied research programs that span the generations and encourage the exchange of information and ideas with industry, students, other botanical gardens and the public. The Botanical Garden will also raise awareness with the public regarding the importance of sustainable environments." About the College: "Not just a walk down the garden path, the gardens are designed to meet the instructional needs of courses and programs on campus, and are used as the location and subject matter for research projects. The Botanic Gardens are an aesthetically beautiful, diverse and well-maintained garden and constructed wetlands. Highlights include our collections of hardy peonies, lilies and roses, natural areas, a wide variety of aquatics, herb garden, fabulous annual displays each year and much more. The Gardens are comprised of three phases spread over 25 acres and are populated with a wide ranging collection of prairie hardy plant material, both native and ornamental. The most established parts of the garden are the Central Portion opened in 2002. The third and most recent phase of our Botanic Gardens is the East Portion which contains the Treatment Wetlands, opened in early September of 2013. The three phases when considered together include naturalized landscapes, specialty gardens, walking trails, demonstration plots, an arboretum and 20 constructed treatment wetlands and display ponds. The area is complete with two public gazebos, an amphitheater and event areas. The Botanic Gardens & Treatment Wetlands has the ability to host weddings, reunions, graduations, workshops, and boasts 1.3 kilometers of trails throughout the gardens and wetlands. Botanic gardens are quite different from other public garden spaces or show gardens. To be able to be identified as a botanic garden, several criteria must be met. For example, botanic gardens must: Be open to the public 1. Exhibit a degree of permanence 2. Use a scientific basis as the foundation for their collections 3. Document and monitor the collection 4. Communicate information to other gardens, institutions and the public The Botanic Gardens and Treatment Wetlands at Olds College is dedicated to meeting all criteria and continuing to expand its value to the college and extended community." www.oldscollege.ca/about-us/botanic-gardens/about-us/index

Photographed this beautiful Iris at the Reader Rock Garden late afternoon on 25 June 2014. Drove there on my way home from a volunteer shift, as I wasn't all that far away. The sky had darkened and I was expecting it to rain by the time I got there, but the sun came out (along with the wind). "Iris is a genus of 260–300 species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species. As well as being the scientific name, iris is also very widely used as a common name for all Iris species, as well as some belonging to other closely related genera. A common name for some species is 'flags', while the plants of the subgenus Scorpiris are widely known as 'junos', particularly in horticulture. It is a popular garden flower." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_ (plant)

Posting late today (around 12:15 noon), as after a grand total of only eight hours sleep over the previous three nights, I had no choice but to turn off all alarm clocks and sleep till I woke today! It's only 1C and overcast, to reach 4C this afternoon, so no tempting sunshine, which is good, as I have some really important things to see to today - things that do not include photography : ) I took this photo of a beautiful Iris flower at the Reader Rock Garden on 24 June 2015, when I called in after a volunteer shift. I always like seeing Irises - such graceful flowers. "Iris is a genus of 260–300 species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, which is also the name for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_ (plant)

These beautiful Irises were growing in a flower bed at a very popular restaurant that friends Sandy and Heidi and I stopped at, on our way back to Calgary from a three day trip down to Waterton Lakes National Park. "With its merging landforms, connected ecoregions and its mild, moist, windy climate, Waterton Lakes National Park is an amazing meeting place for an abundant and diverse collection of vegetation. Despite it's small size (505 sq km) Waterton is graced with over 1000 species of vascular plants . Over half of Alberta's plant species are found in this tiny place. The park's four ecoregions - foothills parkland, montane, subalpine and alpine - embrace forty-five vegetation communities. Sixteen of these are considered significant because they are rare or fragile and threatened. Waterton also has an unusually high number of rare plants - over 175 are provincially rare (e.g. mountain lady's-slipper, pygmy poppy, mountain hollyhock), and over twenty of these are found only in the Waterton area (e.g. western wakerobin, Lewis' mock-orange, white-veined wintergreen). Over 50 species are rare in Canada (e.g. Bolander's quillwort, Lyall's scorpionweed, Brewer's monkeyflower.)" From Parks Canada website. www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/waterton/natcul/natcul1/f.aspx I was so lucky to be invited to join friends Sandy and Heide on a three-day trip to Waterton Lakes National Park, from 19-21 (inclusive) June 2015. We met up with other members of the Alberta Native Plant Council for their annual Botany Alberta weekend. Most people who attended stayed at the Crooked Creek Campground, a 5.6 km drive east of the Waterton Park Gate on Highway 5, but my friends and I stayed at the Crandell Mountain Lodge on the edge of Waterton town. The ANPC people had a list of species that they hoped to find, and they were very successful. Our stay down south overlapped the annual Waterton Wildflower Festival, but we came across very few people on our various drives and hikes. Needless to say, I was extremely fortunate to spend three days with people who are very knowledgeable about plants and many other things. This meant that I got to see many wildflower species, including several that were new to me, such as this gorgeous Mariposa Lily. It was one of the flowers that was on my mental Wish List - and there were hundreds of them to be seen! Our two main hikes of the weekend were the Bertha Lake Trail as far as the Bertha Falls (on 20 June), and the Crandell Lake Trail (on 21 June). Makes me smile when a described "short, easy hike" in a book or on the Internet turns into a full day of exploration along the trail, taking hours to reach the destination, though returning to the cars in a much shorter time. The wind made photographing plants a real challenge, including the beautiful Mariposa Lilies in the meadow along the Hay Barn road. Though I took plenty of photos, I wasn't sure that I would end up with any that were sharp enough. Trying to catch a quick shot when a flower is blowing in and out of the viewfinder is not easy! I tried to find a list of plant species in Waterton Park on the Internet, but had no luck. I do have the book, "Wildflowers of Waterton Park" by Jacinthe Lavoie and Ian Wilson, which has an Index of Plant names, but I had hoped to find a list that I could print out. Thank you so much, Sandy and Heide, for a great three-day trip in such spectacular scenery, surrounded by amazing nature. The wildflowers were top priority, but I was so happy to see insects, scenery and even a bit of wildlife that included a very distant female Grizzly with a cub from last year and two Black Bears, one of which was along the Crandell Lake trail at the same time we were there. Thanks, too, Sandy, for doing all the driving - so much appreciated by Heide and myself! Also have to thank you both for being so thoughtful as far as my limitations go and for your patience in allowing me to take lots of photos! Thanks, Heide, for all the reminders to stay hydrated while hiking! Two other people to mention - Arnold, it was so good to see you at the meeting place. Been a long time since our paths crossed. Jerry P. (from Calgary), good to bump into you in Waterton, and thanks so much for telling us about various sightings and even taking us to several of the locations, despite the fact that you had just returned from a major mountain hike that day. Loved seeing the distant Loon lying in the grass at the edge of one of the wetlands. Great trip, great company! How lucky I am.

A couple of days ago, on 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 this week. So, much as I really dislike the rain, we desperately need it. I'm not sure if this Iris is the same as wild Irises. Anyway, it feels good to have a change of colour in my photostream : ) There are Irises of several different colours now in bloom there. From the Garden, I drove through the adjoining Union Cemetery and then another nearby cemetery, and then called in at a wetland in SW Calgary, where I found a Common Grackle. Normally, I just don't see Grackles, so I'm always happy when I do see one.

Thought I'd better quickly dig into my archives and find three things that are not winter scenes, owls or wildlife. Much as I love those three, I'm feeling the need for colour and something different. Recently, the main thing I have been seeing and photographing is the tiny, uncommon (in Alberta) Northern Pygmy-owl. I try to spread those photos out a little bit, but you are probably all getting weary of seeing this little guy/gal : ) Make the most of today, as I can't promise that I won't be back to the owl tomorrow or the next day, lol. This photo of a beautiful purple and white Iris growing at the Reader Rock Garden, was taken on 4 July 2012.

Photographed this beautiful Iris at the Reader Rock Garden late afternoon on 25 June 2014. Drove there on my way home from a volunteer shift, as I wasn't all that far away. The sky had darkened and I was expecting it to rain by the time I got there, but the sun came out (along with the wind). "Iris is a genus of 260–300 species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species. As well as being the scientific name, iris is also very widely used as a common name for all Iris species, as well as some belonging to other closely related genera. A common name for some species is 'flags', while the plants of the subgenus Scorpiris are widely known as 'junos', particularly in horticulture. It is a popular garden flower." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_ (plant)

Photographed these beautiful, rather delicate Irises at the Reader Rock Garden late yesterday afternoon, 25 June 2014. Drove there on my way home from a volunteer shift, as I wasn't all that far away. The sky had darkened and I was expecting it to rain by the time I got there, but the sun came out (along with the wind). I'm not sure if these are the same as wild Irises. Feels good to have a change of colour in my photostream : )

Thought I'd better try and get at least one shot out of a beautiful bunch of flowers that I bought maybe a week ago. They died so quickly, before I got round to taking any photos. Loved the curled edges and the gorgeous shade of blue of the Iris flowers. Taken on 25 March 2013.

This delicate Iris was taken at the Reader Rock Garden on 8 June 2011.

Macro of a beautiful purple Iris that was growing at the Calgary Zoo on June 12th. Rain had damaged a lot of the garden flowers, unfortunately.

I think I liked the bokeh in this image as much as the flower itself. Seen at Reader Rock Garden on July 6th.

You can't help but notice the beautiful patterns on an Iris as you walk by. This one was growing at the Reader Rock Garden about three weeks ago. In case you didn't know, "Iris" is also the scientific name for this species. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_(plant)

Yesterday, I spent the whole morning looking at the plants at Strathcona Park Ravines (here in the city). From there, I went to a volunteer shift for the afternoon. In the evening, a handful of us went to visit a gentleman's cactus garden. He has them all in pots and, each winter, digs up each pot and brings it inside his house. Next spring/summer, he places them all outside again - such a huge amount of work, but he loves his cacti. And we enjoyed our visit : ) Nearby, we visited another garden, which is beautifully landscaped and has such a gorgeous variety of garden plants. This glowing Iris is just one of them.

Yesterday evening, a handful of us were taken to see this and several other blooms on a clump of plants growing wild in Fish Creek Park. The couple who generously led the way are keen to find out the ID of this species. They had been told that it might be an endangered species - or perhaps it is simply a garden escapee. They were definitely a "sight for sore eyes" : ) Any help with ID would be extremely welcome! The scientific name would also be much appreciated, as naturalists and botanists are involved with this, too : ) Later: thanks, Doug, for the confirmed ID of Siberian Iris!

I kept putting off uploading this because it was taken in low light and you can see the noise! A rather weird colour for the background, too. Taken at the Reader Rock Garden towards the end of June. Just needed a splash of colour to brighten up yet another cold, grey, sun-less day, with fog moving in (unusual here).

This is one of the species of Iris growing in the garden of Marlin and Louise Moore. I spent a 14-hour day today with three friends, doing a Bio-assessment of their property north-west of the city, fairly near Cremona. We had a wonderful walk (actually, three), recording any plants and birds that we found on their many acres. In a separate area a short drive away, where we saw Pelicans and Cormorants in the distance, as well as three Common Loons), we also saw several plants that I had never seen before. This is my absolute favourite way to spend a full day, exploring new "territory"!

An unexpected sight yesterday morning on a walk at Shagnessy Heights Park. Two or three of these beautiful Iris plants had "escaped" from someone's garden and are now growing "wild" in this natural area.