Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Boraginaceae

On 6 August 2017, a few of us were invited to return to one of our absolute favourite places - Rod Handfield's acreage, SW of the city. This is always such a treat, and Rod and his wife are always so welcoming. They have an amazing forest that is usually full of so many fungi species in August. However, we knew that this was not going to be the case this time, as everywhere is bone dry. While in the forest, our leader said that normally, we would have seen 75+ species of fungus by then. Instead, we saw maybe three very small mushrooms that I didn't even bother to photograph, plus the little cluster of Oyster mushrooms that I posted a couple of days ago. Our morning hike was still very enjoyable, of course, and in pleasant weather and with good friends. After the hike, seven of us went for lunch in the tiny strip mall in the hamlet of Priddis, on the way home. Friends had said how good the food is at Jane's Cafe, and we agreed. Made a lovely end to our botany morning. Once lunch was finished, Dorothy and Stephen invited us to go back to their place for dessert. Some people had other things they had to do and some were just too tired after the morning hike, but I accepted their invitation. Love the Borage flowers that were growing in their garden. Thanks for the delicious dessert made from berries from your garden, Dorothy!

Little Alpine Forget-me-nots, macro photographed on Plateau Mountain, Kananaskis, on July 17th. Such beautiful flowers and loved by many : ) To help take my mind off all the other urgent things that are going on at the moment, my youngest daughter has just headed across the US to Savannah, Georgia, for a six-day break before starting a new job back here. The up-to-date weather forecast for Savannah: "Hurricane Irene may affect the area Friday night"! Sigh ....!

Friend Doug found this unusual pink Forget-me-not plant, on our slow hike in the alpine meadows of Plateau Mountain on July 17th. Its tiny pink flowers were so pretty, but something about them not being gorgeous blue just didn't feel right, lol. Can you believe that it's only 12C (54F) here in Calgary this afternoon? Such a relief to get some cool air after a few hot days. Unfortunately, it's also raining, though we do need it. Two possible trips this weekend, so I'm hoping it brightens up before then! Glad I took myself west of the city for the afternoon yesterday, as the weather was beautiful. Saw a few interesting things, from Ladybug larva and nymph to an Osprey catching a fish (no photo) to seeing my first Skunk in the wild (a few blurry, useless shots, but I might still post one for my own records - and you are more than welcome to laugh : ) Wish I could send some of this refreshing rain and coolness to all you guys out there who are having dreafully hot weather! Oh, panic! Had an e-mail from one of my good friends in England today, saying that one of our other friends "thinks your shipment is on the move via Toronto but no more details". I'm reading that as meaning that the 12 boxes of belongings (of my Brother and my parents) that are coming from England may have landed in Canada and might actually be on the road to Calgary! Oh, my goodness, I have so much to do before they arrive, including guessing at a value for around 400 little sentimental items that Canada Customs insists that I make. My friends sent me a list of all items, I just have to think up the values. I was motivated enough a couple of months ago, but then everything came to a halt when the busiest time of the year, for me, arrived. I need to do some more clearing and definitely some cleaning (which never even makes my priority list or any kind of list, ha!) before I want to let anyone in through my front door. Also, a slight hitch in the sale of my brother's house in England. Apparently, the buyer is asking for a further reduction, reckoning that survey estimates that he had done, were inaccurate. I will be so relieved when all this has been seen to - it has been a very long seven months! I also have to see to getting someone to come and remove all plants and bushes from my garden (someone is going to find out about the landscape people who see to the Condo's landscaping), with the possibilty that I might end up having to get a "platform deck" built, to fill the complete, tiny back garden. This would solve the problem once and for all! Need to find some names and pricing.

Not a very inspiring photo, but I did want to add Bluebur to my Plants of Alberta Set. Photographed (macro) at Griffith Woods on 23rd June. This plant is also called Stickseed and Stickweed. It grows at roadsides, waste places, overgrazed ranges, and cultivated fields. The tiny, blue flowers are 3 mm wide, the five-lobed petals are fused and the sepals also are fused. The 2.3 mm long seeds are those tiny burs that stick to your clothing when you go for a walk - especially shoelaces, I find!

I love the way tiny Forget-me-not flowers can have a pink centre and a yellow centre on the same little cluster. Not the sharpest photo (gee, I think I've said that before about some of my photos!). Not exactly sure which species of Forget-me-not this is, but I photographed it up on Plateau Mountain, way south of the city, on 31st July. "There are approximately fifty species in the genus, with much variation. Most have small (1 cm diameter or less) flat, 5-lobed blue, pink or white flowers with yellow centers" From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forget-me-not

These common wildflowers, Tall Lungwort/Languid Ladies/Bluebell - and Dangling Damsels, according to one of my friends! - seem to grow everywhere, and I occasionally stop to shoot a little hanging cluster of the blue flowers and pink buds. This time, however, I was lucky enough to spot a Ladybug (pardon the pun, LOL)! Seen on someone's property near Millarville, south west of Calgary, when we went to botanize the area.

Comfrey is a perennial herb of the family Boraginaceae with a black, turnip-like root and large, hairy broad leaves that bears small bell-shaped white, cream, purple or pink flowers. It is native to Europe. This plant was growing wild at Confluence Park. It was the first time I had ever seen this plant species.

Hound's-tongue wildflower, seen on 14th July 2007 at Carburn Park. A non-native plant, introduced from Europe.