Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Star-flowered Solomon's Seal

For the next few days, I will be posting photos from an outing on Sunday, 23 June 2019, and also a few of my usual local birds taken on the way home from this event. The map feature is not working yet again, though images were showing up on it for a day or two. Now it is back to being faulty yet again, and I don't mean just the mystery name. Causes such a hassle when I post Texas photos that need to be put on the map, so Texas photos will have to wait. That day, 23 June, was a fun day, despite the fact that it was raining a good part of the time. It was the annual Ghost Watershed Alliance walk, which ends with a delicious fundraiser BBQ at noon. This botany walk, through the forest and on top of the cliff along the Ghost River, is led by our main Naturalist, Gus Yaki, and hosted by Erik Butters. I can't remember how many of these events I have been to over the years, but certainly a few. I like to drive myself out there, as I then have the choice to drive somewhere else when all is finished, if I have any energy left. Exactly what I did, enjoying myself photographing Mountain Bluebirds, a Snipe, and a Bobolink which was unfortunately perched on a high wire. Better than nothing, though. It was a very early start to the day yesterday, as I wanted to allow about two hours' travel time. There has been some flooding in certain areas and I wasn't sure if there might be a road or two blocked off. As it turned out, I reached the meeting place in plenty of time, so drove a bit further to see what I could find. Just an attractive, old wagon that I have seen before, and some adorable, new calves in one of the fields.

I am absolutely dragging my feet at the moment - far too hot and tired to make the effort to do anything. Hence, my late posting today and still, a few hours later, trying to get descriptions, etc. added. Though today's temperature is a few degrees cooler, the inside of my place isn't cooling down yet. The whole summer has been so hot, apart from the odd day, and everywhere is bone dry. Friends went to Kananaskis the other day, returning to two locations where we found so many beautiful mushroom last summer, and they were unable to find any at all. This year is not going to be a good year for them, unfortunately. On 7 June 2017, a group of eight of us spent a wonderful day exploring Elbow Falls and Forgetmenot Pond, in Kananaskis. We drove west of the city into the eastern edge of the mountains, stopping at three different places, including a stop along the edge of the main highway, where we found beautiful Shooting stars and a few little brown cup fungi. I think I photographed this Star-flowered Solomon's Seal flower along the path at Elbow Falls. Yesterday evening, 29 July 2017, a 33-year-old man apparently lost his life when he fell into the Falls while taking photos. Another person was seriously injured when he jumped in to try and rescue him. I don't know exactly what happened, but I do know that people take a huge risk at that location by climbing on the rocks. Also, fences are there for a reason! Too many people have lost their lives there. Is getting a photo worth all this?!! Definitely not for his wife and two-month-old son, and friends. So sad. Just found this 3-minute YouTube video of Elbow Falls by ExplorationFilms, directed by Holden Lawlor. youtu.be/ti2sQ4R-dAs Forgetmenot Pond is actually a man-made pond, left over from the excavation of a gravel pit. The water is crystal clear. It's just a short walk around the pond, but enjoyable to do. The main road this far into Kananaskis only opens in June each year, as a winter gate at Elbow Falls closes in December for the winter months, to protect the wildlife in the area. I found the following 4-minute video on YouTube, taken by Kenneth Lori using a DJI Phantom 3 Professional quadcopter and taken on 16 June 2016. It travels over Forgetmenot Pond and the surrounding river and mountains. youtu.be/fEamf0nDXt4 What a great day we had! It was one beautiful find after another, and I think we all must have arrived back home at the end of the day, feeling happy and content. Dorothy and Stephen, as always, you planned a wonderful day for us and you even managed to arrange with the weatherman for beautiful sunshine and warmth, with an occasional welcome slight breeze. I still can't believe how lucky we were, seeing so many interesting things. In fact, I'm finding it difficult to decide what was the highlight for me. The Harlequin Duck, the distant Common Nighthawk flying high overhead, the two Morel mushrooms, the small cluster of beautiful brown cup fungi?? And so on .... Great to spend a day with such a pleasant group of keen, interested people. Thanks so much for such a great day - my favourite kind of day : ) Thank you, also, for the ride, and for the donuts you brought along for everyone to enjoy. Nice to end our day with a stop at the Cinnamon Spoon cafe in Bragg Creek, for a very welcome coffee.

This common, native wildflower has such beautiful flowers. It's one of the plants that, every year, I tell myself I am going to try and get some good macro photos of it, but I still haven't got round to doing so. At least this image is sharper than the majority of photos I do take of it. Taken at Griffith Woods on 15 June 2013.

Star-flowered Solomon's Seal is a common, native plant here in Alberta. This particular plant, however, was growing at the Reader Rock Garden, on 26 September 2012, so I don't know if it's exactly the same as the wild plant. The small, white, star-shaped flowers are so pretty, as are the colourful berries seen in my image.

I thought these Star-flowered Solomon's Seal berries (unfortunately only two of them rather than the more usual three), looked beautiful surrounded by the dead, curled leaves. Love the texture of these berries. Photographed at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park on 9 September 2011.

Star-flowered Solomon's Seal berries (Maianthemum stellatum) photographed at Bebo Grove, Fish Creek Park, on September 6th. "Berries are greenish with dark stripes, then turn red, then nearly black in early fall." This native wildflower flowers in May to early June.

Much as I love to see the bright berries of the Star-flowered Solomon Seals, I am not ready for berries of any kind yet! It feels as if summer has barely begun and some plants are already over. Photographed in Horseshoe Canyon on July 14th.

Macro shot of the beautiful Star-flowered Solomon's Seal flowers, taken in Weaselhead on 14th June. This beautiful, native wildflower belongs to the Lily Family (Liliaceae). Flowers, up to 6 mm wide, are white and star-shaped (have six petals). The flowers form a loose group at the end of a leafy stem. Berries are greenish with dark stripes, then turn red, then nearly black in early fall. Bears are very fond of these berries. Star-flowered Solomon's seal grows in woodlands, open meadows, and shores of sandy marshes. plantwatch.fanweb.ca/plant-information/star-flowered-solo...

The leaves of this plant turn a wonderful golden colour at this time of year and the striped seedpods look so pretty against the yellow. Took this photo southwest of the city, but it is a very common species within the city, too.