Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: past their prime

Sneezewort is an introduced plant, from Eurasia. Its status in Calgary is rare; casual escape from cultivation. The white flowers are much smaller than shown in this image. I have added a better photo taken in August 2007, in a comment box below. "Achillea ptarmica (Sneezewort, Sneezeweed, Bastard Pellitory, European Pellitory, Fair-maid-of-France, Goose Tongue, Sneezewort Yarrow, Wild Pellitory, White Tansy) is a species in the genus Achillea. It has loose clusters of white, button-like flowers that bloom from June to August. Its dark green leaves have finely-toothed margins. This is a hardy, drought-tolerant plant that prefers full sun and moist but well-drained soil. The name ptarmica comes from the Greek word ptairo (=sneeze) and means 'causes sneezing'. The plant is poisonous to cattle, sheep, and horses. Symptoms are generally slow to develop, and include fever, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, weight loss, drooling, spasms and loss of muscular control, and convulsions." From Wikipedia website. I only remember ever seeing this plant growing at one location before - Bebo Grove, Fish Creek Park - in August 2007. Yesterday, 2 September 2017, I found this plant tucked away among tall grasses and other plants. This, too, was in Fish Creek Park, but at Bankside at the east end of the park. As you can see, the flowers were way past their prime, but I did want to post this photo just for the record. The walk I was on was actually a birding walk and the only reason I came across the plant was that two of us were walking slowly and quietly towards a low tree that we had seen a light-coloured bird fly into. This outing was led by Terry Korolyk and started near the Visitor's Centre. After checking the area, we then walked eastward to the Bow River and continued walking north as far as Burnsmead. After returning to the Visitor's Centre, we all drove over to Bankside and did a short walk near the river. An exciting sighting there, just as we were walking back to our cars, was a bird that is rarely seen here - a Turkey Vulture! The bird was flying high overhead. Unfortunately, some people had already left for home earlier, so missed this. At this point, I was planning to go home, too, as we had been walking all morning and it was getting hotter all the time. The temperature reached 32C, and the air quality was not good, thanks to the smoke from wildfires in British Columbia, blowing into Alberta. However, I changed my mind and decided to join the others, driving the short distance to Mallard Point, where we again walked along the Bow River. I had to return to my car a bit before the remaining few, as I could not have walked another step and I was SO hot. I will add the final list of bird species seen, in a comment box below. Thanks for a great walk, Terry!

On 19 September 2015, I went to an Open House at the home of our main leader for both birding and botany. This was to mark the end of the botany season, which is always sad. We went on one last walk, around the neighbourhood, stopping to look at various plants in people's gardens, and then went back for tea and coffee and yummy snacks. This photo is of flowers whose stems are covered in tiny aphids - food for the Ladybug.

I think something must be up with Flickr today - note to self. With most of our autumn colour gone, it feels good to be able to look back to photos from 1 October 2016. Today, 24 October 2016, it is heavily overcast, gloomy as can be, with a temperature of 1°C. Fortunately, the last two days (a weekend) were beautiful, sunny days, as I spent Saturday birding with a group of friends east of the city, and yesterday, Sunday, I was with friends birding west of the city. Two very enjoyable days that were not great for photos, but the company was excellent. Many thanks, Andrew and Howard, for leading these days! On 1 October 2016, I finally had my very first visit to the Silver Springs Botanical Gardens, thanks to friend, Sandy. I first heard about this beautiful place from my daughter, but I had never been, because it is way out of my city driving comfort zone. In the morning, it was raining, at least in my part of the city, and I wondered if going would turn out to be a big mistake. However, the rain stopped and stayed away while we were there and, though the sky was overcast, I was still able to photograph to my heart's content. I was surprised at how many flowers were still in bloom on the first day of October and I was extremely impressed with how meticulously these gardens are kept - every inch of them. So many different kinds of trees and plants, and it was very obvious that each area had been planted with so much thought and care. Amazing that dedicated volunteers have been, and continue to be, the ones to thank for these gardens. Thanks so much, Sandy, for giving me the chance to spend an afternoon in such beauty and peace! We all knew that snow wasn't far away and about a week after this visit, Calgary had its first snowfall of the season, for the whole of the Thanksgiving weekend. At least I now have some bright, colourful photos that I will be able to post in between all the coming white, snowy images that will be taken during the seven, long months of winter. "The Botanical Gardens of Silver Springs is without doubt one of the Seven Wonders of Calgary, Alberta. It boasts 1350 square meters (14 600 square feet) of gardens which includes a spectacular Wall Garden that runs an uninterrupted 1300 feet. In the gardens you will find an endless variety of annuals and perennials ranging from artemisias to zinnias. Here indeed is a place to stop and smell the roses and the peonies and the delphiniums and the chrysanthemums and the … What makes these gardens so very special is that they were created and continue to be maintained by a band of green-thumbed enthusiastic volunteers. These hale and hearty diggers, planters, seeders, weeders, mowers, waterers, pruners and community builders work two to three mornings a week to keep the gardens in primrose shape and their efforts are truly appreciated by the many walkers, joggers, and cyclists. On any given day, hundreds of people walk the wall garden with their families, friends and out-of-town visitors. It has become a treasured destination site for many. For anyone who has spent time in the gardens, it is hard to believe that they have only been here since 2006 when a humble ornamental garden (400 square feet) was developed within the existing BirthPlace Forest tree beds. The BPF, by the way, saw 7000 trees planted in the area. The project was accomplished through a partnership of BP Energy, Calgary Parks, Regional Health and Golden Acres." From the gardens' website. www.botanicalgardensofsilversprings.ca/

So many of our trees have now lost their golden leaves of fall and we know that the rest will be bare very soon. Snow is in the forecast for the city for tomorrow and for Monday. Yesterday, 5 October 2016, I was on top of Plateau Mountain again, and the ground was covered in snow, and ice crystals decorated every single thing in sight. This photo was taken five days ago, on 1 October 2016, when I finally had my very first visit to the Silver Springs Botanical Gardens, thanks to friend, Sandy. I first heard about this beautiful place from my daughter, but I had never been, because it is way out of my driving comfort zone. In the morning, it was raining, at least in my part of the city, and I wondered if going would turn out to be a big mistake. However, the rain stayed away while we were there and, though the sky was overcast, I was still able to photograph to my heart's content. I was surprised at how many flowers were still in bloom on the first day of October and I was extremely impressed with how meticulously these gardens are kept - every inch of them. So many different kinds of trees and plants, and it was very obvious that each area had been planted with so much thought and care. Amazing that dedicated volunteers have been, and continue to be, the ones to thank for these gardens. Thanks so much, Sandy, for giving me the chance to spend an afternoon in such beauty and peace! We all know that snow isn't far away - it has fallen in parts of the mountains, but not yet in the city - so I am trying to get out as much as I can before having to deal with roughly seven long, dreaded months of winter. "The Botanical Gardens of Silver Springs is without doubt one of the Seven Wonders of Calgary, Alberta. It boasts 1350 square meters (14 600 square feet) of gardens which includes a spectacular Wall Garden that runs an uninterrupted 1300 feet. In the gardens you will find an endless variety of annuals and perennials ranging from artemisias to zinnias. Here indeed is a place to stop and smell the roses and the peonies and the delphiniums and the chrysanthemums and the … What makes these gardens so very special is that they were created and continue to be maintained by a band of green-thumbed enthusiastic volunteers. These hale and hearty diggers, planters, seeders, weeders, mowers, waterers, pruners and community builders work two to three mornings a week to keep the gardens in primrose shape and their efforts are truly appreciated by the many walkers, joggers, and cyclists. On any given day, hundreds of people walk the wall garden with their families, friends and out-of-town visitors. It has become a treasured destination site for many. For anyone who has spent time in the gardens, it is hard to believe that they have only been here since 2006 when a humble ornamental garden (400 square feet) was developed within the existing BirthPlace Forest tree beds. The BPF, by the way, saw 7000 trees planted in the area. The project was accomplished through a partnership of BP Energy, Calgary Parks, Regional Health and Golden Acres." From the gardens' website. www.botanicalgardensofsilversprings.ca/

Took this photo a year ago, on 3 October 2011, when I went with friends to Larch Valley. We welcomed the bit of sun and blue sky when we went west of Calgary, to hike up to Larch Valley from Moraine Lake, though it turned cloudy for a good part of the time later. After climbing 360 meters (1181.088 ft) in elevation with ten uphill switchbacks to "endure" and hiking 2.6 kilometers, you enter Larch Valley near this spot, where it opens up into a huge meadow. There is a window of just two or three weeks in which to see these Larches at their best - they were past their prime when we were there, but still beautiful. The Bear ruling was in effect - you must hike in a tight group of four or more people. Those Grizzlies sure have a spectacular place to call home : ) We were very fortunate to be there on a relatively "quiet" day. Someone else, who went on a different day, said that people were having to park 2 km (or miles?) down the road, away from the start of the trail by Moraine Lake! We were able to park in the actual parking lot by Moraine Lake. We would never have made it if we had had that extra 4 km to walk, lol! It is one of the most popular places for people to visit, especially in the fall. hikealberta.com/hike/larch-valley-sentinel-pass-trail

This is one of the beautiful views that friends and I came upon when we had climbed the very last of the ten uphill switchbacks on the Larch Valley trail a couple of days ago. After climbing 360 meters (1181.088 ft) in elevation and hiking 2.6 kilometers, you enter Larch Valley near this spot. I got home around 9:15 p.m. from a wonderful day out at Moraine Lake and the switch-back hike up to the beginning of Larch Valley (Banff National Park). There was the expected Bear ruling, that people must hike in tight groups of 4 or more people - and there were only three of us. After waiting quite a long time, we asked a couple if they would like to join us. They hadn't planned on going on the hike, but they spent the next few hours "puffing and panting" with us up an endless series of uphill switchbacks through amazing forest. The view looking down though the trees on the turquoise waters of Moraine Lake was spectacular. I'm sure this couple, on holidays from England, won't soon forget their moment of madness when they agreed to accompany us, ha! They were delightful company and so patient when they had to wait for "some" of us to stop and rest our painful joints at regular intervals : ) They seemed to enjoy themselves, though - and they even had a few mushrooms pointed out to them. The day started off at around 1C with very dense fog in places. The light was pretty low for taking photos all day, and the gorgeous Larch trees had already lost a lot of their yellow needles. Nonetheless, we soaked up the beautiful scenery that surrounded us. There is a window of just two or three weeks in which to see these Larches at their best. We went on a Monday and there were far fewer visitors than at a weekend. How lucky we are to be able to visit and explore such places! Thanks so much, Stephen, for driving us on such a long trip - it was an absolute treat and so much appreciated! That Tim Horton's coffee on the way home sure hit the spot, too! www.canadianrockies.net/banff/articles-about-banff/banff-...

We welcomed the bit of sun and blue sky when we went west of Calgary a few days ago, to hike up to Larch Valley from Moraine Lake. After climbing 360 meters (1181.088 ft) in elevation with ten uphill switchbacks to "endure" and hiking 2.6 kilometers, you enter Larch Valley near this spot, where it opens up into a huge meadow. There is a window of just two or three weeks in which to see these Larches at their best - they were past their prime when we were there, but still beautiful. You can see a lot of bare branches in my photo. The Bear ruling was in effect - you must hike in a tight group of four or more people. Those Grizzlies sure have a spectacular place to call home : ) We were very fortunate to be there on a relatively "quiet" day. Someone else, who went on a different day, said that people were having to park 2 km (or miles?) down the road, away from the start of the trail by Moraine Lake! We were able to park in the actual parking lot by Moraine Lake. We would never have made it if we had had that extra 4 km to walk, lol! It is one of the most popular places for people to visit, especially in the fall.