One of my favourite spring garden flowers

It is raining here in Calgary this morning, 12 May 2016. It also snowed in some parts of the city earlier - I didn't set my alarm clock, so it may have snowed a little in my area while I was still asleep. Nothing settled, anyway. Our temperature is 2C, expected to soar to 5C this afternoon : ) Unfortunately, there is no rain up north in the Fort McMurray area and none expected till next week. They desperately need it to help with the massive wildfire.

I always love to see these amazing Fritillary flowers in the spring. They make me think of little stained-glass, hanging lampshades : ) Taken at the Reader Rock Garden, when I called in after a volunteer shift on 27 April 2016. This plant has some interesting common names - see tags!

"Fritillaria meleagris is a Eurasian species of flowering plant in the lily family. Its common names include snake's head fritillary, snake's head (the original English name), chess flower, frog-cup, guinea-hen flower, guinea flower, leper lily (because its shape resembled the bell once carried by lepers), Lazarus bell, chequered lily, chequered daffodil, drooping tulip or, in northern Europe, simply fritillary." From Wikipedia.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritillaria_meleagris