Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Echinops ritro

Oops, that's not good - not sure how blurry this photo is or if it's mainly the spikiness with the fuzzy little things in between, that makes this shot hurt my eyes this morning, lol! Hopefully, you are looking at it on a smaller screen than mine, ha. Have to take my car for a service and then go to a dental appointment, so I don't have time to do anything about it, so, just don't look too long at this image : ) Taken yesterday evening, 6 August 2014, when I was on a nice, slow botany walk with friends in North Glenmore Park. A lot of the plants we were looking at were escapees from the gardens right next to the path in this part of the park. Years ago, someone created two flower beds in the park, not far from the end of their garden, and this Globe Thistle was growing in one of them. Didn't get home till around 9:45 p.m., which is why I normally don't go on evening walks.

Woke up this morning to find freshly fallen snow : ( I love photographing these gorgeous Globe Thistles at any stage. This one was growing at the Reader Rock Garden on 7 August 2013. In Calgary, we have seen them growing wild at one of the natural areas (can't think of the name of the place, as it's not a place we normally go to). Not sure, but I believe this is Echinops ritro. "Echinops ( /ˈɛkɨnɒps/) is a genus of about 120 species of thistles in the daisy family Asteraceae, commonly known as globe thistles. They are native to Europe east to central Asia and south to the mountains of tropical Africa." From Wikipedia.

I love photographing these gorgeous Globe Thistles at any stage. This one was growing at the Reader Rock Garden on 14 August 2013. In Calgary, we have seen them growing wild at one of the natural areas (can't think of the name of the place, as it's not a place we normally go to). Not sure, but I believe this is Echinops ritro. Yesterday, 24 August 2013, four of us went west of Calgary, to the West Bragg Creek area, in Kananaskis, for a fungus foray. We managed to find a few interesting and photogenic mushrooms. With so many places either still closed or totally devastated, outings and walks since the Alberta Flood of the Century in June have had to be cancelled. Our outing yesterday was doubly delightful, after we've been so limited the last couple of months. Thanks for leading us, Karel! After this walk, I was so close to the Elbow Falls Trail (highway 66), that, on the spur of the moment, I turned right instead of left and headed off in the direction of Forgetmenot Pond. This mountainous road is the only one I will drive, so it always feels good to get out there. The other week, I had tried, but the road was closed, due to flood damage, past Maclean Pond. Yesterday, the road was open, but there was a long wait at a temporary traffic light just past Maclean Pond, where the bridge was still standing, but the embankments had been totally washed away. What destruction! Also called in at Allen Bill Pond - now just a heap of gravel with a few water channels through it. Totally destroyed. I think half of Calgary must have had the same idea as I had, as everywhere was packed. So many cars at Elbow Falls that I decided not to bother. Forgetmenot Pond was extremely busy, too, so it was impossible to get photos without people in them. Some of the path around the lake had been washed out and a lot of the area of trees and plants near the pond were now covered in a layer of silt. The area was still looking beautiful, though, and safe to visit. I only get out there maybe twice a year, and normally I would never go on a Saturday or Sunday. www.flickr.com/photos/annkelliott/9592076266

I always think these Globe Thistles are fun to photograph - amazing that the detail is as sharp as it is, as it always seems to be very windy when I call in at the Reader Rock Garden. I suspect there has been a huge amount of hail and rain damage to the plants recently, unfortunately. Taken on 8 August 2012. "Echinops is a genus of about 120 species of thistles in the daisy family Asteraceae, commonly known as globe thistles. They are native to Europe east to central Asia and south to the mountains of tropical Africa." From Wikipedia. 2:30 p.m.: Flickr's Hold your clicks a moment .....