Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Small Yellow Lady's Slipper

What joy to get on Flickr this morning and find that there has been no new porn-spam activity overnight! Unfortunately, the hundreds of spam Likes have not (yet) been removed from the recent activity list. Thanks so much, Helen (Haden), for sending the link to Pete Rowbottom's posting about this issue. Yesterday, 5 June 2018, I finally got out on my first botany walk of the season, having missed the first few weeks. Friends and I looked at the plants that were growing on the way down into Weaselhead, including these beautiful Yellow Lady-s slippers. They grow in so few places, so it is always a treat to find some in a location that is kept secret. Two days earlier, I had been down into Weaselhead with birding friends. The next two photos were taken that day - Cliff Swallows collecting mud from the edge of the Elbow River to repair or build new nests that one can see under the large, green bridge that crosses over the river. When you walk across the bridge, you can find yourself surrounded by dozens of these birds flying in almost a mini-murmuration. Today, I am getting my snow tires off and my All-season tires put on, at long last. I had to wait 8 or 9 days for the first available appointment time. Before we know it, it will be time to get those snow tires put back on. Our summer season is sadly so very short.

A couple of mornings ago, on 11 June 2015, I joined a group of friends for a walk in Weaselhead, hoping to see three species of Hummingbird - Calliope, Rufous and Ruby-throated. The Calliope (5 of them) gave us the closest (but still distant) views, while the other two were very distant. It never fails to amaze me that these three species are all found in Weaselhead. The Calliope male (not much bigger than a large Bumblebee, lol!) would occasionally flash the gorgeous feathers on its neck - the colour in the sunlight was amazing. As usual at this time of year, it was good to see the huge number of Cliff Swallows, swarming like a cloud of large insects around the metal bridge over the river. In flight, they catch insects and fly back to their mud nests, that are built under the bridge, to feed their babies. It amazes me how each bird knows which is its own nest - they all look alike. Another bird (a pair) that was good to see was the little Eastern Phoebe, back at the same location where it has been at least the last few years. So difficult to get a decent photo because of the distance - the photo I posted yesterday was the closest shot I had ever been able to get. It was taken when the bird flew to a piece of driftwood in the water. Along one of the paths, I suddenly spotted a splash of yellow some distance from the edge of the path, tucked into the shade of the bushes and shrubs. I knew that these gorgeous wild Orchids exist in this park, as some of us have been shown the "secret' place over the last few years. I don't remember seeing any growing in other spots, so this was a pleasant surprise. There are two varieties of this orchid: Large Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium pubescens var. pubescens) and Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum) and I can never remember which is which. These flowers are bright yellow, pouch shape. Petals (behind the "slipper") are green with the Large Yellow Lady's-slipper, whereas the Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum) has reddish petals, so I guess my photo shows the latter. If you do happen to find this orchid, do not disturb it. DO NOT attempt to transplant it to your own garden, as it will likely not survive.

There are two varieties of this orchid: Large Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium pubescens var. pubescens) and Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum) and I can never remember which is which. These flowers are bright yellow, pouch shape. Petals (behind the "slipper") are green with the Large Yellow Lady's-slipper, whereas the Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum) has reddish petals, so I guess my photo shows the latter. If you do happen to find this orchid, do not disturb it. DO NOT attempt to transplant it to your own garden, as it will likely not survive. Photographed in Weaselhead on 15 June 2011.