Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: fringed

This is a long weekend here, thanks to a Civic Holiday on Monday. "In 2018 Civic Holiday is on Monday, August 6. The Civic Holiday is celebrated on the first Monday of August and it's a public holiday in some provinces and territories. The civic holiday is not a statutory holiday although it's a day off for many employees across the country." www.statutoryholidays.com/civic-holiday.php This morning, I checked the weather forecast for our city and I see that we have a very hot week ahead of us, with temps in the 30C's (up to 33C) for Tuesday to Friday inclusive! Much too hot without air-conditioning. This morning, it is only 15C so far. So thankful for some cool air coming in through my window. Two mornings ago, on 3 August 2018, I left home around 7:45 am and drove SW of the city to Rod Handfield's acreage. For a number of years, this has been one of my favourite places to explore, as Rod's forest tends to be full of all sorts of beautiful treasures. It is one of the two best places that I know for mushrooms, though I am sure there are many others that I have never visited and don't even know about. Our last fungi foray at Rod's was one year ago, on 6 August 2017. That was such a dismal year for fungi everywhere - we saw maybe three very small mushrooms that I didn't even bother to photograph, plus a little cluster of Oyster mushrooms. Our latest visit was much better, as we have had a number of rainy days recently. Certain species were missing, though, including one of my favourite kinds - Fly agaric / Amanita muscaria. Two years ago, on 6 August 2016, we found a wonderful display of these mushrooms deep within the forest. There was one small group of Magpie Inky Cap / Coprinus picaceus. So delicate and gorgeous. A photo I posted yesterday shows one of the participants holding up one of two beauties that were trodden on by our main Naturalist. I was taking photos of them when suddenly a boot appeared and came to within an inch of them. I told him not to move, but after stopping for a second, he then accidentally trod right on top of these and crushed them, to our 'horror'. I asked someone if she could hold one of them for me, so that I could take a shot or two, seeing as the stem had been broken in two. This morning, I am posting a photo of the two fungi just before they were stepped on. I have added a previously posted photo of a Magpie Inky Cap in better condition, taken on July 25, 2010, NW of the city, in a comment box below. While I was taking photos during the morning, I suddenly noticed that the image seen in my FZ200's viewfinder was smaller than it should be and also that I could no longer take 48x zoom, just 24x. I had no idea why this was happening, until I got home and downloaded my photos to my computer. Somehow, no idea how, I must have caught the "burst" button, setting my camera to take multiple shots at a time - and when I say multiple, I mean MULTIPLE! I couldn't tell that the camera was taking more than one shot. I found that the default setting in my camera for burst was 60 images. So, every time I thought I was taking one photo, my camera was taking 60 basically identical shots. Sigh! Normally, I never use burst mode. Worst of all, the resolution of each shot is ridiculously tiny, so they are useless for anything other than displaying on a computer screen. The photo above is only 1920 x 1440 (1.57 MB after processing). Many thanks, Karel, for leading this foray and for identifying some of the mushrooms that were seen. Others would need tests such as spore prints or microscopic study, etc. in order to be identified. Our thanks to Rod, for once again inviting us to explore his amazing forest. He and his wife are such hospitable people, and we really appreciate their generosity in sharing their beautiful land that is so rich in diversity.

This is a long weekend here, thanks to a Civic Holiday on Monday. "In 2018 Civic Holiday is on Monday, August 6. The Civic Holiday is celebrated on the first Monday of August and it's a public holiday in some provinces and territories. The civic holiday is not a statutory holiday although it's a day off for many employees across the country." www.statutoryholidays.com/civic-holiday.php Last night, I happened to check the weather forecast for our city and was shocked to see a very hot week coming up, with 34C for next Friday! This morning, that has gone down to 33C, which is still far too hot without air-conditioning. Today is a dreary day, but the temperature is only 16C this afternoon, which is great. So thankful for some cool air coming in through my window. Yesterday morning, 3 August 2018, I left home around 7:45 am and drove SW of the city to Rod Handfield's acreage. For a number of years, this has been one of my favourite places to explore, as Rod's forest tends to be full of all sorts of beautiful treasures. It is one of the two best places that I know for mushrooms, though I am sure there are many others that I have never visited and don't even know about. Our last fungi foray at Rod's was one year ago, on 6 August 2017. That was such a dismal year for fungi everywhere - we saw maybe three very small mushrooms that I didn't even bother to photograph, plus a little cluster of Oyster mushrooms. Yesterday was much better, as we have had a number of rainy days recently. Certain species were missing, including one of my favourite kinds - Fly agaric / Amanita muscaria. Two years ago, on 6 August 2016, we found a wonderful display of these mushrooms deep within the forest. There was one small group of Magpie Inky Cap / Coprinus picaceus. So delicate and gorgeous. The photo above shows one of the participants holding up one of two beauties that were trodden on by our main Naturalist. I was taking photos of them when suddenly a boot appeared and came to within an inch of them. I told him not to move, but after stopping for a second, he then accidentally trod right on top of these and crushed them, to our 'horror'. I asked someone if she could hold one of them for me, so that I could take a shot or two, seeing as the stem had been broken in two. While I was taking photos during the morning, I suddenly noticed that the image seen in my FZ200's viewfinder was smaller than it should be and also that I could no longer take 48x zoom, just 24x. I had no idea why this was happening, until I got home and downloaded my photos to my computer. Somehow, no idea how, I must have caught the "burst" button, setting my camera to take multiple shots at a time - and when I say multiple, I mean MULTIPLE! I couldn't tell that the camera was taking more than one shot. I found that the default setting in my camera for burst was 60 images. So, every time I thought I was taking one photo, my camera was taking 60 basically identical shots. Sigh! Normally, I never use burst mode. Worst of all, the resolution of each shot is ridiculously tiny, so they are useless for anything other than displaying on a computer screen. The photo above is only 1920 x 1440 (1.38 MB after processing). Many thanks, Karel, for leading this foray and for identifying some of the mushrooms that were seen. Others would need tests such as spore prints, etc. in order to be identified. Our thanks to Rod, for once again inviting us to explore his amazing forest. He and his wife are such hospitable people, and we really appreciate their generosity in sharing their beautiful land that is so rich in diversity.

Thanks to friend, Doug, I was able to photograph a mushroom this morning, LOL! He found this very small (maybe an inch diameter?) growing from this small broken-off branch. Will post a photo of the really neat underside another day (if I remember!). Found in north Weaselhead. Thanks, Doug!

The flowers of the Bead Tree are so pretty and unusual. I don't remember ever seeing this before in the ENMAX Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo, or maybe I just wasn't there when it was in bloom. This is a macro shot, so the flowers are fairly small. Taken on 9 April 2013. I love some of the common names for this species - Fringe Bells, Fairy Petticoats, Lily of the valley tree, Blue olive berry, and Scrub ash. "A medium size tree with a dense crown of foliage, and an approximately conical form. The masses of white and sometimes pinkish flowers are arranged in rows along the branchlets." toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/elaeocarpus_sp.htm "Hindus believe the seeds contain the secrets of the entire evolution of the cosmos. It´s said the plant has been born from the tears of Lord Shiva. The fruits have an intensely blue color (Blue olive berry), which changes to a light or dark brown when dried. The seeds are used for rosaries (Malas with 108 beads) and have a hole from the top to the bottom and they have 1 to 21 vertical lines running down its surface, like the longitude lines on a globe. This lines are called Mukhas and depending on the number of Mukhas the beads have a different effect and meaning. Several Elaeocarpus species are used for the production of Rudraksha beads. The Rudraksha tree (Elaeocarpus grandiflorus) is a fast growing, evergreen tree, which can reach a height of about 25 meters. The tropical tree is native from the foothills of the Himalaya throughout South and South-East Asia to Australia. The flowers have an unusual scent, reminescent of liquorice." www.orchids-flowers.com/tropical-flowers/rudraksha-tree-e...

I don't get to see Fringed Gentian very often. This macro shot shows where it got its name from : ) A small, very pretty native wildflower, this one was found at Elkton Bog, north west of the city, on a botanizing day on July 30th.

This small wildflower (macro shot) was growing at Elkton bog, near Cremona, north west of the city, back on 30th July. We very rarely find this plant, so it's a treat when we do see it. Greater Fringed Gentian flowers open on sunny days, but usually remain closed on cloudy days. Individual plants live for only one or two years. This native plant grows in moist, open areas and calcareous bogs. Flowers are blue to white, tube-shaped, 2-4 cm long. Four fringed petals and four sepals. Blooms June-August. "Crinita" means "long-haired", referring to the fringed petal margins. I've just come across this page on the Internet - several poems about the Fringed Gentian: www.tickledorange.com/LMM/FringedGentian.html

These white, sparkling petals belonged to one of the small Chrysanthemum flowers that I bought a short while ago. The whole flower looks fringed and this is what I saw through my macro lens when focussed on a few petal tips. Not sure if bending my neck to take macro photos has irritated something in my neck, but I have had a painful neck and been feeling dizzy two whole days now, which is a real nuisance, especially this close to Christmas, LOL! Our deep-freeze broke today, thank goodness, though I wasn't able to go out and make the most of it.

It always fascinates me how water droplets cling to petals/leaves this way. You would expect them to trickle or slide downwards. This flower was one of the small, fringed Chrysanthemums. Rather a messy photo, but I guess I need to find somewhere to go to get some new photos! Just spent most of the afternoon waiting at the Health Centre to get routine bloodwork, EKG, etc. done. The place was packed! I tend to put off any kind of tests for years and years. However, I know that when I next need a prescription refill, I will need to have got these tests done, so it pushed me into finally doing it - which is good, especially as I haven't felt too well the past three months : ) Tomorrrow - the dentist : ) One of the gifts my youngest daughter gave me at Christmas was an M&M (food) gift card. So, right now, there is a pot roast heating up in my oven, as well as a dish of Scalloped Potatoes. Thought I'd celebrate finally getting my tests done, LOL. Thanks so much, Rachel!! I should add here that, much as I dislike any medical/dental appointments, I feel tremendously grateful that such care is available here. I can say exacly the same as far as food goes. The unfortunate people of Haiti would trade places with me in a heartbeat!!!! Such an overwhelmingly sad, sad time for them.

Found several leaves fringed with ice crystals mid October, at the Reader Rock Garden. I thought the leaf patterns were unusual, too.