Reader Rock Garden 2

Photographed at the Reader Rock Garden on 24 July 2013. Didn't notice at the time, but there is a Harvestman (?) on it. I love the little, star-flowered, unopened flowers at the top.

A single Bleeding Heart flower found at the Reader Rock Garden on 24 July 2013. Just realized that a previously posted photo of a single flower still had its little "rabbit ears" downwards, unlike this one. "Lamprocapnos spectabilis (bleeding heart) is a species of flowering plant in the poppy family Papaveraceae, native to Siberia, northern China, Korea and Japan. It is the sole species in the monotypic genus Lamprocapnos, but is still widely referenced in the UK under its old name Dicentra spectabilis (now listed as a synonym). It is valued in gardens and in floristry for its heart-shaped pink and white flowers, borne in spring." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamprocapnos

This was such a cute Rabbit! We first bumped into each other when we came round a corner in opposite directions. We both stopped dead in our tracks - and then off it scampered. No chance to try and get a photo. A short while later, after walking through the last part of the Reader Rock Garden, there it was on the grassy edge of the gravel road. Not sure what it was so busy eating (maybe the Clover?), but it obviously tasted far too good to leave just because of me. Photographed on 7 August 2013.

A beautiful Lily that I found growing at the Reader Rock Garden on 24 July 2013. Not sure if this is Lilium martagon. It has a tall, central stem, with quite a display of these flowers along it. www.flickr.com/photos/annkelliott/9476364913

So, I felt my photostream needed a massive dose of brilliant colour, especially RED, lol! These Maltese Cross flowers were the answer. Photographed at the Reader Rock Garden on 24 July 2013. Maybe I should have kept it till the snow arrives and so many of my photos are white and blue. With so much endless rain this spring and summer and so many places devastated, like the Calgary Zoo, there have been far fewer chances to find flowers to photograph. I believe the Zoo will open fully in December. So far, just the very northern part has opened - this part is on the mainland, not on the island in the middle of the Bow River.

Echinacea flowers are beautiful at all stages. Caught this one that was just beginning to open in pretty, late afternoon light, at the Reader Rock Garden on 14 August 2013. "Echinacea /ˌɛkɨˈneɪʃⁱə/ is a genus, or group of herbaceous flowering plants in the daisy family, Asteraceae. The nine species it contains are commonly called coneflowers. They are endemic to eastern and central North America, where they are found growing in moist to dry prairies and open wooded areas. They have large, showy heads of composite flowers, blooming from early to late summer. The generic name is derived from the Greek word ἐχῖνος (echino), meaning "sea urchin," due to the spiny central disk. Some species are used in herbal medicines and some are cultivated in gardens for their showy flowers. A few species are of conservation concern." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinacea

I love photographing these gorgeous Globe Thistles at any stage. This one was growing at the Reader Rock Garden on 14 August 2013. In Calgary, we have seen them growing wild at one of the natural areas (can't think of the name of the place, as it's not a place we normally go to). Not sure, but I believe this is Echinops ritro. Yesterday, 24 August 2013, four of us went west of Calgary, to the West Bragg Creek area, in Kananaskis, for a fungus foray. We managed to find a few interesting and photogenic mushrooms. With so many places either still closed or totally devastated, outings and walks since the Alberta Flood of the Century in June have had to be cancelled. Our outing yesterday was doubly delightful, after we've been so limited the last couple of months. Thanks for leading us, Karel! After this walk, I was so close to the Elbow Falls Trail (highway 66), that, on the spur of the moment, I turned right instead of left and headed off in the direction of Forgetmenot Pond. This mountainous road is the only one I will drive, so it always feels good to get out there. The other week, I had tried, but the road was closed, due to flood damage, past Maclean Pond. Yesterday, the road was open, but there was a long wait at a temporary traffic light just past Maclean Pond, where the bridge was still standing, but the embankments had been totally washed away. What destruction! Also called in at Allen Bill Pond - now just a heap of gravel with a few water channels through it. Totally destroyed. I think half of Calgary must have had the same idea as I had, as everywhere was packed. So many cars at Elbow Falls that I decided not to bother. Forgetmenot Pond was extremely busy, too, so it was impossible to get photos without people in them. Some of the path around the lake had been washed out and a lot of the area of trees and plants near the pond were now covered in a layer of silt. The area was still looking beautiful, though, and safe to visit. I only get out there maybe twice a year, and normally I would never go on a Saturday or Sunday. www.flickr.com/photos/annkelliott/9592076266

I always enjoy coming across this White-tailed Jackrabbit (or maybe a different one) when I drive through the Union Cemetery to get to the Reader Rock Garden. Luckily, he paused in front of lichen-covered gravestones. Sometimes, he has hopped down the path into the Reader Rock Garden, too.

Just not getting much time to pick out photos to upload - I only seem to be getting time to take the photos and that's more or less it. Had this one already in a file to possibly upload sometime, so grabbed it. Lilies are one of my favourite flowers to photograph and this one was taken at the Reader Rock Garden on 24 July 2013. www.flickr.com/photos/annkelliott/9622645202