Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: wrinkled

How important it is for us to remember those who have served their country (not just Canada) and made the ultimate sacrifice. Unfortunately, there are thousands more on this Continent and elsewhere across the globe, who have returned from fighting, only to live their lives in the suffering and torture that continues to haunt them. These men and women, too, so often tend to be "the forgotten", though I think there is a little more awareness now. So sad, when the rest of us have so much to be thankful for, thanks to them. I remember - and I am thankful. "Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the official end of World War I on that date in 1918, as the major hostilities of World War I were formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice. The day was specifically dedicated by King George V, on 7 November 1919, to the observance of members of the armed forces who were killed during World War I. The red poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem In Flanders Fields. These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red colour an appropriate symbol for the blood spilt in the war." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Flanders_Fields In a comment box below, I have added a previously posted photo of my Father, wearing his Home Guard uniform.

I thought a friend was kidding me when she told me about a tree called a Sausage Tree at the Calgary Zoo and sent me a few photos of the unusual flowers : ) I'd never heard of this kind of tree before! So, of course, I had to go and check it out. The flowers are enormous and so unusual! From my archives, taken on 30 September 2011. Sausage Tree flower / Kigelia africana. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kigelia

Meet Lorenzo, the male Andean Condor who now lives at the Calgary Zoo with his partner, Shirley! The wingspan of these massive birds is 9-10 feet. When you are old enough to start developing wrinkles, remember that there is always someone who is worse off than you, LOL! "The Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) is a species of South American bird in the New World vulture family Cathartidae and is the only member of the genus Vultur. Found in the Andes mountains and adjacent Pacific coasts of western South America, it is the largest flying land bird in the Western Hemisphere. It is a large black vulture with a ruff of white feathers surrounding the base of the neck and, especially in the male, large white patches on the wings. The head and neck are nearly featherless, and are a dull red color, which may flush and therefore change color in response to the bird's emotional state. In the male, there is a wattle on the neck and a large, dark red comb or caruncle on the crown of the head. Unlike most birds of prey, the male is larger than the female. The condor is primarily a scavenger, feeding on carrion. It prefers large carcasses, such as those of deer or cattle. It reaches sexual maturity at five or six years of age and roosts at elevations of 3,000 to 5,000 m (10,000 to 16,000 ft), generally on inaccessible rock ledges. One or two eggs are usually laid. It is one of the world’s longest-living birds, with a lifespan of up to 50 years." From Wikipedia.

Hopefully, my photos uploaded this evening will reach My Contacts. Apparently, yesterday's four images didn't show. This Swiss Chard was growing in a large planter at Stanley Park, Calgary. Some of the leaves had bright red instead of yellow.

Just noticed that this is an old photo from my archives. Taken at Reader Rock Garden on 30 June 2010. That Panasonic FZ35 was a good little camera. My heart goes out to all the victims and their families and friends who were involved in the tragic shooting spree in a movie theatre in Colorado last night. At the moment, it is known that 12 people were killed and 52 injured. So much sadness for so many people.

Just felt like something soothing today and this delicate pink Poppy, growing at the Reader Rock Garden on 6th July 2011, seemed to fit just right. I love Poppies, from bud to seedpod and everything in between : ) If anyone happens to read this, who was a friend of Doug Waylett (dougwaylett on Flickr) and would like to add a few words on the tribute page for him and has not yet done so, that would be much appreciated. I will be printing out the pages of heartfelt words and passing them on to Doug's wife, Flo, and his family. Thanks so much. I have just this moment heard that Doug's MEMORIAL will be held at 2 pm on Thursday at the South Centre Memorial at Macleod Tr and Lake Fraser Dr. SE., Calgary. Winter has returned, with snow and -5C (windchill -15C) this afternoon and very windy. I noticed a high of -20C for next Monday, brrrr. Glad I was out on a bird walk yesterday and not today. We were very lucky yesterday to see a Cinnamon Teal on the far side (of course, lol!) of the Bow River, across from the Hull's Wood area in Fish Creek Park. Apparently, the last record for a Cinnamon Teal seen in winter in Calgary was on January 3, 1960 at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, when there was a bit of open water on the lagoon. That bird in 1960 was seen by Ian Halladay and Paul Anderson. It had been injured and had remained with the Mallards that were being hand fed.

I'm posting this tribute a few hours early to allow for time differences throughout the Commonwealth countries. Wikipedia gives some interesting information at the link below, in case anyone needs a reminder of the importance of November 11th, Remembrance Day. We all have so much to be thankful for and in order to remember this, we need to also remember the reason we can be thankful. So many men and women have died (or suffered major injury, both mental and physical) in SO MANY WARS, so that the rest of us can live in peace, in freedom. So many people will continue to lose their life, fighting for this freedom. I thank them, and their families, who willingly pay the price in all sorts of ways. They deserve our thanks, not just on November 11th each year, but each and every day. "Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the official end of World War I on that date in 1918, as the major hostilities of World War I were formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice. The day was specifically dedicated by King George V, on 7 November 1919, to the observance of members of the armed forces who were killed during World War I. The red poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem In Flanders Fields. These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red colour an appropriate symbol for the blood spilt in the war." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Flanders_Fields

I thought a friend was kidding me when she told me about a tree called a Sausage Tree and sent me a few photos of the unusual flowers : ) I'd never heard of this kind of tree before! So, of course, I had to go and check it out. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kigelia

This orange Hibiscus flower in the Enmax Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo was just huge. Love the vivid colour, the crinkled petals and the neat centre of these flowers. Need to dash, as I have to get out for a bit of walking this afternoon. Yesterday's morning trip was all by car, so my pedometer didn't get much use : ) Later: got home just in time early this evening. After walking around the Reader Rock Garden all afternoon and then calling in at Fish Creek Park to check on the Great Horned Owls, the sky turned grey and we had a short-lived thunder and hail storm : )

There is something so beautiful about a Cosmos flower - just love their colours and their wrinkled petals. This beauty was growing in the gardens at the Calgary Zoo on 14th September last year.

... "good things come to those who wait", LOL! I was ecstatic today when we came across two locations where Morel mushrooms were growing! One grouping was out at Benchlands, north west of the city and past Cochrane, where we were exploring meadows and forest for birds, wildflowers, insects and fungi. This particular Morel (Yellow Morel - thanks, Doug) was growing by itself in North Glenmore Park. It has seemed SO long since there were any fungi around, and finally, today .... yeah!