Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Crocus

This is a photo from my archives, taken on 10 September 2013, at the Reader Rock Garden. As the name states, these flowers bloom in the fall/autumn. This species is poisonous so even though it is a species of saffron, it can not be used as a spice because it is very toxic. "Colchicum autumnale, commonly known as autumn crocus, meadow saffron or naked lady, is a flower that resembles the true crocuses, but blooms in autumn. (This is not a reliable distinction, however, since many true crocuses flower in autumn.) The name "naked lady" comes from the fact that the flowers emerge from the ground long after the leaves have died back." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colchicum_autumnale

This Prairie Crocus was one of a number of flowers now in bloom in a local park. These are such delicate looking flowers, and I always love those brilliant yellow centres.

Yesterday, on the way home after a volunteer shift, I called in at Sandy Beach to look for Prairie Crocuses. Though the first one was reported early this year, on 14th March by George Dixon, I hadn't been out to look till yesterday late afternoon. There were a number of clumps of these beautiful flowers, almost all were closed and they looked rather washed out and the worse for wear. Think I only saw two flowers that were actually open like this. Flowers open during the day but close at night. The wind was dreadful - had to be careful not to stand near the edge of the "cliff". Barely getting on to Flickr the last couple of days! Winter is over (we hope) and so all my botany and birding days are finally here and life turns into one endless, insane period for the next seven or so months. Took myself off to the Zoo for a short while this afternoon, needing to do a bit of walking before a day's walk tomorrow, out of town. Not sure if I'll be able to manage the whole thing (wretched pain!), but I'm really hoping I won't have to miss any of it! Oh, if anyone happens to read this, we discovered that the Creatures of the Night area at the Zoo, in the Australia House, has closed down (permanently). I am so thankful that I was in there very recently and managed to get my shots of the absolutely beautiful little Red Eyed Tree Frog. Now they are to be seen no more. Phil, that must be so disappointing to you - I know if our positions were reversed, I would have been really disappointed. Who knows, though, maybe they can find some dark little corner to put their very small aquarium? Certainly worth asking about. Good to see you and Jen there : )

We are all waiting with baited breath for the first Prairie Crocus (also called Pasque-flower) to bloom!!! Such gorgeous, hairy plants! Legend says that the Great Spirit gave this delicate plant a fur coat to keep it warm until spring nights turn warmer. This is a photo taken on 5 May 2006 at Shannon Terrace, Fish Creek Park. Last spring, I photographed my first one on 26 March, but everything will be delayed this year because of our long, hard winter.

I needed a change of colour, so here is a little clump of Autumn Crocuses, taken on September 22nd at Reader Rock Garden. Feels strange photographing Crocuses when it's not spring. I actually got over to Inglewood Bird Sanctuary this morning, in the faint hope of possibly finding the little Northern Saw-whet Owl that has been seen by a few people recently. No luck for us today, though. We are definitely back to winter again, after yet more snow. It is as gloomy as can be today, depressingly grey. and I found it difficult to tell where the traffic lanes were on some of the roads because of the snow - something I never enjoy. Quite slippery under foot, too. Spring is just around the corner. Spring is just around the corner. Spring is ...... : )

I thought this clump of Prairie Crocuses (growing at Sandy Beach recently) might serve as a reminder of just how lucky we are to have endless beauty around us, in different forms for each of the seasons of every year. Human beings seem to have a talent for "messing up" the balance of nature in so many ways and mistreating our earth. May we be blessed with enough wisdom to look around around us, to actually SEE how fortunate we are, and to not just know that we need to take much greater care of our planet, but to also do everything we can, before it's too late, to ensure that future generations get the chance to enjoy nature's wonders. Will add Ambre's link up here - thanks, Ambre! Question: How many petals does each flower have? ANSWER: there are NO petals - the purple parts are SEPALS! Sorry, it was a trick question : ) I spent all morning this Earth Day, walking along the Bow River with friends. Straight afterwards, I drove over to the Zoo for a while, mainly to visit the amazing butterflies : ) An hour and a half or two hours of roasting and sweating in tropical humidity and warmth is far from enjoyable, but oh, SO worth it!

This was one of many Prairie Crocus flowers in bloom along the Bow River, between 194th Ave SE and highway 22X bridge about a week ago. "As soon as the snow melts, you will want to start looking for this "harbinger of spring"! The prairie crocus has pale blue or purple flowers arising from the woody rootstock that appear very early in spring. The whole plant is covered with woolly-white hairs. Flowers: The flowers are about 4 cm (1 1/2 in.) in diameter, each with five to seven petal-like sepals, and many pistils and bright yellow stamens. (Like all anemones, prairie crocus does not have true petals. The blue or purple-coloured parts that look like petals are actually modified sepals.) When folded, the outer surface of the sepals appear covered in white woolly hairs. The flowers are open during the day but close at night." plantwatch.fanweb.ca/plant-information/prairie-crocus

Not the best of photos - much too blurry for my liking - but it's a bit different from the other, more "usual" photos of Prairie Crocuses that I took yesterday. It was a very overcast afternoon and quite windy - not good for photographing thousands of tiny, gold hairs, LOL. However, I had just been to get my Taxes done and this location was nearby, so I wanted to at least try and find a few of these wildflowers. So great to have them finally in bloom! Oh, and by the way, I placed something dark behind the flower head to make it show up against all the tangle of dried grass in the background. I'll post one of those "messy" photos another day : )

This Prairie Crocus was growing in an area full of pther plants at 12 Mile Coulee. A pretty, fresh flower compared to a lot of the Crocuses that are now fading.

My first, and the only one I could find this afternoon, so I had no choice as far as a photogenic bloom was concerned. Last spring, I didn't see my first Prairie Crocus until 29th March. They are such beautiful flowers - love the silvery hairs. "Legend tells of the Great Spirit giving this delicate plant a fur coat to keep it warm through cold spring nights." From the excellent book, "Plants of Alberta," by France Royer and Richard Dickinson.

I was surprised to see these few small, surviving Crocuses at the Reader Rock Garden this morning, surrounded by fallen leaves and melting hail.

These beautifully delicate flowers are called Crocus, but I believe they are not true crocuses. Seemed so strange to see them in bloom amongst the fall leaves. Such a pretty colour.

Seen at the Reader Rock Garden, Calgary.

Went for a short walk yesterday and came across several clumps of these beautiful wildflowers.

Saw quite a few clumps of Prairie Crocus on my walk this afternoon. They have such beautiful centres.

Just love the centres of these little wildflowers.

The first flowers of spring. The only other wildflowers I have seen so far are a few Three-flowered Avens.