Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: hoping for food

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 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 the long, dreaded months of winter. Apologies to everyone for not much commenting at the moment!! "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/ After our walk in the Gardens, I went back to Sandy's place and we had an early supper. Her dog, Finn, looked like he was hoping for food.

R.I.P. singer David Bowie. Thinking about my daughter as I type my descriptions this morning. She should be in surgery in about 45 minutes' time. Supposed to be just day surgery and hopefully it won't turn into anything more. More anxious than I would perhaps normally be, after we lost her sister one year and eight days ago. Yesterday, 10 January 2016, I joined a group of friends to go for an afternoon birding walk at Carburn Park. The weather was much warmer than the previous day's trip east of the city to look for Snowy Owls and Short-eared Owls, when it was around -23C in the morning. The sun was shining and I just needed to get out. The next photo, also taken yesterday, shows the challenge to photographers - most of the birds are always on the far side of the river! At least this beautiful White-tailed doe and four others were close enough to photograph for a moment. Someone feeds them regularly in this park, which isn't good, so now they sometimes approach people (still very warily), hoping to be fed. Thanks so much, Janet and Bernie, for an enjoyable walk and seeing 21 bird species. As always, the coffee and soup afterwards at Tim Horton's was just as enjoyable as the walk itself. FFCPPSoc. Birding,Carburn Park , 1315-1600, Sun, 10Jan2016. Sunny, calm, -2°C. Canada Goose-50 Mallard-200 Redhead-4 (3 f/1 m. Greater Scaup-1 f. Bufflehead-100 Common Goldeneye-400 Barrows X Common Goldeneye-1 m. hybrid Barrow's Goldeneye-5 (4 m./1 f.). Common Merganser-10 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER-1 juvenile m. PIED-BILLED GREBE-1 Bald Eagle-10+ KILLDEER-7. Downy Woodpecker-5 Northern Flicker-2 Black-billed Magpie-20 AMERICAN CROW-10 Common Raven-8 Black-capped Chickadee-20 White-breasted Nuthatch-2 Common Redpoll-12 Eastern Gray Squirrel, black morph-4 White-tailed Deer-5