Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: explore2009July14

I LOVE Alliums - see, Rebecca, great minds think alike : ) This huge beauty was growing in a spectacular garden that we visited a few weeks ago. That evening, we had visited a gentleman's cactus garden, and this other garden was just a few houses away. I just love all the tiny, "metallic-looking" stars. A handful of us went out to hike in Bragg Creek Provincial Park, west of the city, this morning, but ended up having to end our walk because of torrential rain! We did attempt to wait it out by going for delicious hot chocolate/coffee (a welcome treat - thanks to Dorothy and Stephen), but the rain just didn't quit. I think we have to wait till Friday before the weather improves, unless the forecast changes.

I was thrilled to see a few tiny clumps of Roseroot yesterday, high up on scree on a hike at Ptarmigan Cirque in Kananaskis, Rocky Mountains! This plant is in the Stonecrop family, is native, and grows June-July. It grows on moist alpine scree slopes and rocky outcrops. A very attractive succulent.

Oh, boy, I think I dazzled my own eyes as I scrolled down on this image, LOL! These very pretty Echeveria succulent flowers caught my eye when we visited a gentleman's cactus garden here in the city. He lovingly brings in all his pots of cacti each winter and then digs holes and puts them all back outside each summer. He kindly allowed us to return again recently and proudly showed us each and every one of his plants. He is an elderly man and I think either one or two of my friends have offered to help him with this massive task that has become too overwhelming for him to do on his own. Sorry the actual quality of this cropped photo isn't better - grainy doesn't begin to describe it, LOL - but I needed something bright on this gloomy, wet day..