Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Tall Bluebell

This morning, I am again posting four more photos taken a few days ago, on 7 June 2017, when a group of eight of us spent a wonderful day exploring Elbow Falls and Forgetmenot Pond, in Kananaskis. We drove west of the city into the eastern edge of the mountains, stopping at three different places, including a stop along the edge of the main highway, where we found beautiful Shooting stars and a few little brown cup fungi. This Tall Lungwort plant was growing at Elbow Falls. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mertensia_paniculata "The dried leaves were used in herbal tea mixtures, especially when treating the lungs. (It was considered stimulating to the respiratory system.) Externally, the leaves can be used as poultices on cuts and wounds. Northern Bluebell can be used as a potherb, but is a bit too hairy for salads." From BorealForest.org. www.borealforest.org/herbs/herb23.htm What a great day we had! It was one beautiful find after another, and I think we all must have arrived back home at the end of the day, feeling happy and content. Dorothy and Stephen, as always, you planned a wonderful day for us and you even managed to arrange with the weatherman for beautiful sunshine and warmth, with an occasional welcome slight breeze. I still can't believe how lucky we were, seeing so many interesting things. In fact, I'm finding it difficult to decide what was the highlight for me. The Harlequin Duck, the distant Common Nighthawk, the pair of Morel mushrooms, the small cluster of beautiful brown jelly cup fungi?? And so on .... Great to spend a day with such a pleasant group of keen, interested people. Thanks so much, Dorothy and Stephen, for such a great day - my favourite kind of day : ) Thank you, also, for the ride and for the donuts you brought along for everyone to enjoy. Nice to end our day with a stop at the Cinnamon Spoon cafe in Bragg Creek, for a very welcome coffee.

These common wildflowers, Tall Lungwort/Languid Ladies/Tall Bluebell - and Dangling Damsels, according to one of my friends! - grow in many places, and I occasionally stop to shoot a little hanging cluster of the blue flowers and pink buds. This time, I was lucky enough to spot what I think is a Tarnished Plant Bug on the plant I was photographing. On 7 June 2015, it was a hot day – way too hot for my liking. I was not keen on the idea of being out in the sun for three hours, but neither could I have stayed in my place one more minute - it felt like an oven! I decided to join birding friends for a walk at the west end of South Glenmore Park and we had a lovely, leisurely walk going westwards, stopping often to look at, or listen to, a variety of birds. I think my favourites were a pair of colourful American Goldfinch. It was also fun to see a little Black-capped Chickadee looking out from its nest cavity. There were quite a few species of wildflower as well, including these dainty Tall Lungwort flowers. I so rarely go on a walk these days, so I tend to miss many of the wildflowers. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mertensia_paniculata "The dried leaves were used in herbal tea mixtures, especially when treating the lungs. (It was considered stimulating to the respiratory system.) Externally, the leaves can be used as poultices on cuts and wounds. Northern Bluebell can be used as a potherb, but is a bit too hairy for salads." From BorealForest.org. www.borealforest.org/herbs/herb23.htm Will add Janet and Bernie’s bird list below, for my own memory. Thanks for such an enjoyable afternoon, both of you! A stop afterwards at the Good Earth café was so much appreciated and enjoyed, too. 1. Great Blue Heron - 1 2. Canada Goose - 40 3. Mallard - 5 4. Gadwall - 2 5. Swainson's Hawk - 1 6. Franklin's Gull - 30+ 7. Woodpecker sp. likely Sapsucker - 1 8. Olive-sided Flycatcher -1 9. Least Flycatcher - 12 10. Red-eyed Vireo - 2 11. Black-billed Magpie - 1 12. American Crow - 4 13. Common Raven - 1 14. Tree Swallow - 4 15. Black-capped Chickadee - 2 @nest site. 16. House Wren - 11 17. American Robin - 6 18. Cedar Waxwing - 6 19. Yellow Warbler - 10 20. Chipping Sparrow - 1 21. Clay-coloured Sparrow - 4 22. Baltimore Oriole - 1 23. Red-winged Blackbird - 3 24. Brown-headed Cowbird - 3 25. House Finch - 3 26. American Goldfinch - 5 27. House Sparrow - 2 Least Chipmunk - 1 Muskrat - 1 Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly - 10+ Blue Azure - 1 Alpine sp. Butterfly - 15+