Picklejar Lakes trail

This was the first time I had ever seen White-flowered Rhododendron. This wild shrub was found along the Picklejar Lakes Trail in Kananaskis - the brutal hike that almost killed me, lol!! It belongs to the Heath Family - Ericaceae. Its habitat is moist coniferous forests but also on relatively dry well-drained sites, usually found at sub-alpine elevations.

From what I remember, we saw maybe two of these small Fringed Grass-of-Parnassus flowers (Parnassia fimbriata) on our hike to Picklejar Lakes in Kananaskis yesterday. Think I've only ever seen them on three or four occcasions before. You have to be right down near the flower in order to see that it's the fringed species. Flowers are 15-22 mm across. The 5 petals have 5-7 veins and are 8-12 mm long. Stems are usually 10-30 cm tall. Grows on streambanks and moist, open areas. The species name "fimbriata" means "fringed", referring to the petals.

I think I've only ever seen this uncommon, white species of Wintergreen twice, possibly three times, before. Usually, I see the much more common pink species. Taken on 6th August, on the Picklejar Lakes Trail hike off Highway 40, Kananaskis (that I thought was going to kill me, lol!). It was such a brutal hike and I was in so much pain, that having to bend down to take photos of wildflowers was the last thing I wanted to do : )

I was so happy to see my very first Orange False-dandelion during out brutal hike to Picklejar Lakes in Kananaskis on 6th August. This wildflower, Agoseris aurantiaca, is native and grows on grassland slopes, open woods and prairie. A member of the Aster family, Asteraceae. Flower heads are 2-3 cm across, with no disc flowers, but many ray florets Blooms June-August. Spent the day out in the forest at West Bragg Creek, with three friends whose main interest is LIchens. I know practically nothing about Lichens, but do enjoy trying (and occasionally succeeding!) to photograph them, and I'm hoping that very gradually I will pick up (and maybe even retain!) some information about them. It gave me a great opportunity to search for fungi. Quite a few about, many not really photogenic enough for shots. Light was really bad and we got caught in the rain and accompanying thunderstorm for the return half of the day's walk. I was absolutely soaked through to the skin - every single piece of clothing was drenched, and it was kind of cold, actually. Not going to complain about the weather, though, as I prefer cool to really hot - and rain makes the mushrooms grow. Got a few odds and ends worth posting, so what more could I ask? Thanks to my knowledgeable friends for pointing out so many neat little things : )

Photographed this native Hooker's Thistle out in Kananaskis, near the parking lot, when we went on the Picklejar Lakes hike on August 6th. Also known as White Thistle, it grows in meadows and open woods, July-September. The species name comes from Sir William J. Hooker (1785-1865), director of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, in England.

I very rarely see a native, wild Yellow Columbine, so it is always a joy when we come across one on a rare hike. This little beauty was nodding its head near the edge of the Picklejar Lakes trail. "It is a member of the Ranunculaceae family and grows in mountain meadows, open woods, and alpine slopes of the northern Rocky Mountains. The plant grows to 20-70 cm in height. While the most common flower color is yellow, portions of the flowers can also be yellow-pink, raspberry pink, white, and cream." From Wikipedia.

This is definitely a species of Eriogonum, possibly flavum (?) or maybe Umbellatum var subalpinum? Seen on the Picklejar Lakes trail, in Kananaskis, Alberta, on 6 August 2010. Location on my map is only very approximate. "Eriogonum is the scientific name for a genus of flowering plants, in the family Polygonaceae. The genus is found in North America and is known as wild buckwheat." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eriogonum

This was an ID suggested by a Flickr member on a photo of the same fungus, photographed at the same time and place, taken by a friend of mine. Found growing at the side of the Picklejar Lakes trail in Kananaskis on 6 August 2010. Location of this trail on my map is only very approximate. www.mushroomexpert.com/laccaria_proxima.html

This photo was taken on 6 August 2010, when I went with friends to Kananaskis, along the Picklejar Lakes trail. A day I'll never forget - it was such a brutal hike, lol! I think I've only ever seen Parry's Townsendia twice, so when I noticed this photo in one of my archive files the other day, I decided to post it (partly for a splash of colour), but also for the record. I had to really sharpen the image, as the main reason I hadn't posted it before was that it was too blurry. Such a beautiful, low-growing, native wildflower - just love the colour.