Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Mountain Ash

For a splash of colour! Also to remind me of yesterday's botany walk in North Glenmore Park, in Calgary. I took very few photos as the park has changed dramatically. Lots of road construction going on, and so many of the trees and shrubs along the long trail near the houses were dead. It looked like they had all been sprayed to kill them. Everywhere was a total mess, and we wish we knew why. When I see a Mountain Ash tree covered in bright red berries, I can't resist taking a quick photo. The following interesting article is by Myrna Pearman, of the Ellis Bird Farm in Alberta. She is a very knowledgeable person, great photographer, and has published several beautiful books. "Although bohemian waxwings are the birds most often see gobbling mountain-ash berries in the winter, many other species will also dine on them. I have seen pine grosbeaks (shown here) and house finches feast on the berries, and a quick reference search indicates that many other species will as well: cedar waxwing, ruffed grouse, common grackle, European starling, American robin, northern flicker, Townsend’s solitaire, purple finch, yellow-rumped warbler, hermit thrush, evening grosbeak.. The seeds are indigestible, so birds are responsible for “planting” mountain-ash trees far and wide." From link below. www.reddeeradvocate.com/community/birds-etc-mountain-ash-... When we reached our usual furthest point of this walk, we discovered that a round bed of garden flowers and a second bed further away were both overgrown and full of dead plants. It used to be my favourite part of this walk. One of the house owners had created this display, so maybe it became just too much to maintain. I feel very grateful for the pleasure it gave over several years. Adding a bit of information on the wildfires in British Columbia: "British Columbia spent more than $568 million on firefighting efforts last year (2017), and while the figures for 2018 are still coming together, the bill is estimated to be higher than $300 million. Since April 1, humans have been responsible for starting more than 420 of about 1,950 wildfires in British Columbia, although the B.C. Wildfire Service said it's too early to be more specific about the causes since many are still under investigation. On average, the Wildfire Service says 40 per cent of fires over the past 10 years, or 666 per year, have been caused by humans. This season has seen an unusual amount of lightning activity, which has skewed that ratio." www.timescolonist.com/news/b-c/b-c-wildfires-interactive-... At the moment, Waterton Lakes National Park is safe from the wildfires just south of the Canada/US border. I think I'm right in saying that the evacuation alert has been lifted (for now, at least).

An overcast morning today, 22 October 2015. The sun is supposed to shine this afternoon - I'm just hoping it won't rain, as I washed my car yesterday and vacuumed it out, ready for the arrival of winter. I then dropped it off at my Tire place to get my winter tires put on today - thought that if I left it any longer, too many people would be making appointments to get the same done. Another thing completed this week was having two people come and remove everything from my tiny back yard. It had become one tangled jungle mess and, as I can't bend or kneel to do anything, it had been become totally out of control. It now looks completely bare and wonderfully tidy! That big, black cloud that has been hanging over my head for years has finally gone, and it feels so good. This photo was taken on 20 October 2015 in South Glenmore Park, down by the Glenmore Reservoir. I went on a birding walk with a group of friends, but couldn't resist a quick shot of these bright Mountain Ash berries. By now, the leaves have died and shrivelled, leaving just the clusters of red. "European Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia) is frequently planted for its showy clusters of white flowers in spring followed by an excellent display of fruit that develop in tight clusters 4-5" wide. Individual fruits are about 3/8" in diameter. Fruits start maturing in August and hang on through October." In winter, Bohemian Waxwings seek out the ornamental Rowanberry/European Mountain-ash for its berries. However, widely planted in gardens, this ornamental tree has escaped and replaced native plants in our natural areas. Not good news! Link to an article from CTV News page, on Bohemian Waxwings getting drunk on fermented Mountain Ash berries: www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/birds-drunk-on-fermented-berries-... I've just read the following suggestion of an alternative tree species on the City of Calgary's Yard Smart webpage: "Snowy Mountain Ash (Sorbus decora) – A small, dense tree with flower clusters and then red berries. Needs well-drained soil. Twenty feet tall and fifteeen foot spread. Full sun. Attracts birds such as waxwings. Avoid its relative the European Mountain Ash (Sorbus auduparic) which can be invasive." www.calgary.ca/UEP/Water/Pages/Water-conservation/Lawn-an...

I would imagine (and hope) that many, many people will be stopping today to remember the horrific events of 11th September 2001. So many mental images that will never, ever leave our minds and hearts. People from so many different countries, not just the US. So many stories of loss and heartbreak - and so many stories of bravery and heroic actions. Remembering .... all those who lost their lives on that fateful day: all those who lost loved ones and close friends or fellow workers; all those who rushed in to "do their job" or "to help others" in any way they could. Remembering .... all those who were severely injured on that fateful day and who have bravely suffered every day since then; all those Firemen, Emergency Medical people, Police - men and women, who have suffered and continue to suffer emotionally and physically, including illnesses caused by being exposed to harmful chemicals. The list goes on and on. Remembering ... and praying that we never see another day like September 11th, 2001. This photo was taken yesterday evening in South Glenmore Park, down by the Glenmore Reservoir. I went with three friends for our last but one botany walk of the year. "European Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia) is frequently planted for its showy clusters of white flowers in spring followed by an excellent display of fruit that develop in tight clusters 4-5" wide. Individual fruits are about 3/8" in diameter. Fruits start maturing in August and hang on through October." In winter, Bohemian Waxwings seek out the ornamental Rowanberry/European Mountain-ash for its berries. However, widely planted in gardens, this ornamental tree has escaped and replaced native plants in our natural areas. Not good news!

Mountain Ash trees have such beautiful leaves, and I especially love them in the fall when they turn this gorgeous reddish colour. Used as an ornamental tree, but unfortunately this species escapes into our natural areas. Taken in South Glenmore Park on 14 October 2013.

Mountain Ash leaves taken on a very overcast day's walk in South Glenmore Park, so a grainy image, but there's still something I like about it : )

Photographed along the path in South Glenmore Park a couple of days ago. Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia) was introduced from Europe, N. Africa and Asia Minor. Also known as Dogberry, European Mountain-Ash and Rowan Tree. It's a very attractive tree, especially in the fall, when the leaves turn this beautiful colour and its berries are bright red. Unfortunately, it has spread into our natural areas. In the winter, the Bohemian Waxwings enjoy eating the berries.

After a snowy morning, it's now -4C (24.8F). A walk on a day like this tends to result in seeing very few birds (14 species this morning during a three-hour walk), none of them close enough for even a distant photo, LOL. So, my camera turns to other things, though on such a low-light, snowy day, I ended up with only maybe three or four photos just about worth keeping : ) This is invasive Mountain Ash, growing not far from the water's edge along the Glenmore Reservoir in South Genmore Park.

Though the Mountain Ash is an introduced, invasive species, it has beautiful clusters of bright red berries and leaves that turn a gorgeous colour in the fall. This tree was growing at the Erlton/Roxborough Natural Area along with masses of other very invasive, non-native plants.

Taken on 6th November, these are Mountain Ash berries. Such a beautiful colour, but this tree has spread into natural areas and has become a real nuisance, growing in place of native plants.

Yesterday, the sun was shining and the sky was bright blue for our walk at the Reader Rock Garden. Couldn't resist these beautiful fall colours, though this species has escaped into the wild and become a real nuisance.