Reader Rock Garden 2

It's noon and I only finally woke up just after 11:30 a.m.. Waited up till around 3:00 a.m., waiting to see if there was another e-maill from my youngest daughter about whether she had been evacuated or not, because of the devastating flooding that is going on in Calgary right now. She lives 9 blocks from the river and was on standby for evacuation. She e-mailed again at 5:30 this morning, saying she still hadn't heard about the evacuation, but still has to go to work, so is hoping that an order doesn't come when she's away from home. Every school in Calgary is closed. The flooding in Calgary (and other places in Southern Alberta) is utterly devastating. Back in 2005, we had dreadful flooding in the city, too, but this present flooding is even worse! If I was on a path in Fish Creek near the river right now, the water would be way over my head - someone said that it was half way up tall trees. I feel so sorry for all the endless people who will have suffered so much damage to their homes and belongings. Damage to other buildings, pathways, natural areas is going to be horrendous - and I can't help but also think of all the helpless wildlife out there. This flooding came at a time when baby birds have just been hatched or are still very young. I can't help wondering if the Bluebird nest boxes have filled with water and drowned the little ones. So, from the most major devastation to the tiniest, but still so precious, losses, it is a very sad time going on here. Stay safe, everyone! It's still raining, with more to come. From the weather forecast, it looks like from Thursday 27 June onwards, the weather should be warming up and there will be lots of sunshine to help dry out our wet, wet city and province. "In June of 2005, one of the city's worst flood years on record, heavy rain caused flood damage to about 40,000 homes, and 1,500 Calgarians were evacuated. Right now, city officials warn the current flooding situation poses a much more serious threat. Mandatory evacuation notices were issued to up to 100,000 people in 20 neighbourhoods along low-lying areas of the Elbow and Bow Rivers today, as city officials cautioned that more communities will probably be told to pack up and leave as flood waters were expected to rise overnight." www.calgarysun.com/2013/06/20/heavy-rain-in-banff-canmore... Incredible YOUTUBE VIDEO OF CALGARY FLOODS from Global News: youtu.be/bRS8YfVlt3Y In case anyone is wondering what is happening at the Calgary Zoo, the Administration building, SCOW, ENMAX Conservatory and Kitamba Cafe all sit in several feet of water as they sit in some of the lowest areas on the island. However, all animals are safe and secure, many having been moved to higher ground or elsewhere. Took this photo of Elephant Ears at the Reader Rock Garden on 5 June 2013. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm so glad I went to the Reader Rock Garden on 5 June 2013, as I don't like to think what it probably looks like now, after the endless, torrential rain and devastating flooding we are having in Calgary. A total nightmare! However, hopefully, all these plants will eventually recover, if they haven't been washed away. We don't get Trilliums in the wild here, so I love to see them at the Reader Rock Garden.

This photo had been hanging around in my archives since 11 August 2010. Happened to come across it recently and decided to post it. Not getting too much time to sort through recently taken images at the moment. Taken at the Reader Rock Garden. I wonder how much damage this beautiful garden suffered this past week. It's built on a hillside across from the Stampede Grounds, where the flood water came up to the 8th row of seats in the Saddledome. Always amazing how Mother Nature bounces back after a disaster, so I'm sure that eventually, flowers will be standing tall and proud again.

This is a beautiful Pasqueflower that I photographed at the Reader Rock Garden on 8 May 2013, before our "Flood of the Century" this past week. Hopefully, there won't have been too much damage to the garden.

This is a macro shot of an Anemone sylvestris, also known as Windflower Plant and Snowdrop Anemone. Taken at the Reader Rock Garden on 5 June 2013. Maybe I'll add a photo of a whole flower in the comment box. I overslept this morning - again! Just realized (at noon) that it was the Calgary Stampede Parade this morning! I'm sure it went well - but nothing would make me get down there to watch it in person again. The first few years after we arrived in Calgary 35 years ago, of course we took our kids to sit at the edge of the street to watch, but it's so much less hassle to watch it on TV, lol. I'm sure Mayor Nenshi led the parade with great pride - he has been just remarkable during our State of Emergency due to the Flood of the Century. I know his pride will come from the incredible people of Calgary, including the various branches of Emergency Responders right down to the individual citizens, home and business owners and all the tireless volunteers who have got this city through such a major disaster. Still a long, long way to go yet, needless to say. My hat's off to each and every one of them!

My mind has gone blank and I can't think what kind of flower this is! Some kind of Anemone? Photographed at the Reader Rock Garden on 5 June 2013. Later: this is Anemone sylvestris (Windflower Plant), Snowdrop Anemone. www.flickr.com/photos/annkelliott/9173986795

I can always count on Bleeding Hearts to add a splash of colour on my photostream : ) There was enough gap between this flower and the ones either side, that I could get a shot of a single heart. Taken at the Reader Rock Garden on 5 June 2013. www.flickr.com/photos/annkelliott/9159213154

I had such an enjoyable day today (26 July 2013). I met my youngest daughter to go with two other members of the photography group that she leads, to spend a bit of time at the Reader Rock Garden. After about an hour of wandering and taking photos, including of this beautiful blue Delphinium, we went and had lunch in the restaurant there. We had a table reserved, which was a very good thing, as it soon became completely full. After a tasty lunch, the other two people had to leave, and my daughter and I went over to the Erlton/Roxboro Natural Area and St. Mary's Cemetery. Still quite a few wildflowers in bloom, including a number of my favourite Thistles (even though they are "weeds") - Musk/Nodding Thistles. No rain today, which felt wonderful!

Always a treat to see and photograph a Lily or two. This large beauty was seen at the Reader Rock Garden on 24 July 2013.