Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: nodding

Monday, 14 July 2014, was another hot day, and my computer room became unbearably uncomfortable. That meant only one thing - I would have to drive around in my car for some air-conditioning. Spent about four hours cruising the backroads SW of the city, not seeing a whole lot. Went as far as Brown-Lowery Provincial Park, with the intention of doing just a very short walk into the forest. Didn't get that far, though, as there were things to photograph around the edge of the tiny parking lot and just part way along the path that leads to the two short boardwalks. The first thing I saw and heard was a Tennessee Warbler and when I reached it, discovered that there were now several young ones, too. Talk about friendly little birds - not sure that they didn't think I was going to feed them. Interesting to see birds that acted rather like the Black-capped Chickadees - just as fast-moving, too, making it difficult to get even a half-decent photo. A few steps further and I came across several of these Purple Avens flowers. This is as far as the Purple Avens flower opens. An unusual flower and really, quite beautiful. Love it when they start sprouting unruly seed hairs : ) Taken on 14 July 2014, at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park, SW of Calgary. "Geum rivale, the water avens, is a flowering plant of the family Rosaceae. Other names for the plant are nodding avens, drooping avens, cure-all, water flower and indian chocolate. It is native to much of Europe, with the exception of Mediterranean areas, as well as some parts of Central Asia and North America. In North America, it is known as purple avens. It grows in bogs and damp meadows, and produces nodding red flowers from May to September." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geum_rivale

Usually, when I'm lucky enough to see these small, native wildflowers, they are growing deep in the forest, where the light is awful. I seem to remember that I only found two of these flowers that day at Maclean Pond, Kananaskis (off Elbow Falls Trail, Highway 66), and this one was right on the edge of the forest. I always use a tiny twig or leaf when I want to tilt a flower (unless it's a noxious weed), as oil (?) from the fingers can result in a flower head later being eaten by an animal (?). It is especially important not to touch a rare/less common plant for that reason. This plant, also known as Woodnymph, grows in moist wooded areas, June-July. Each plant has a solitary, fragrant flower that hangs its head. An edible plant, with a high vitamin C content.

These small, native wildflowers are exquisite. The stamens are thrust out with the sepals bent back. Every now and then, I need to add a splash of a totally different colour in my photostream, so, even though I did post a similar photo ages ago, I thought this photo would do the trick, ha. Photographed at Maclean Pond, off Elbow Falls Trail, on June 10th. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodecatheon

This is as far as the Purple Avens flower opens. An unusual flower and really, quite beautiful. Photographed at Spirit Rocks Sanctuary, near Rimbey, Alberta, on 26th June.

This a very pretty, native wildflower that grows in moist, wooded areas, in flower June-July. The solitary flowers are white, waxy and fragrant, 1-2 cm wide. This plant was growing on private property near Millarville on 20th July.

After driving for almost an hour yesterday, west of the city, I found so few wildflowers in bloom and just a scattering of shrivelled up mushrooms. Everywhere is SO dry - we need rain desperately. This is about the most exciting photo I took yesterday, other than a butterfly and a few scenic shots, LOL. "Just" a regular Harebell, but the sunlight really made the colour pop.