Emerging

Reader Rock Garden 1

"William Reader, Superintendent of the City of Calgary’s Parks Department from 1913-1943, was a garden innovator. He was responsible for all of Calgary’s parks and cemeteries, the municipal nursery, the first municipal nursery and the first municipal golf course. His personal passion, however, was creating the “rockery” on the steep north slope of Cemetery Hill (just south of the Calgary Stamped…  (read more)

04 Oct 2007

92 visits

Mock Strawberry

I certainly never dreamed that there was more than one kind of Strawberry! This one was growing at the Reader Rock Garden near the Stampede Grounds. A few of the leaves were turning bright red, as shown in another photo I'm uploading this evening. "The Mock Strawberry, Potentilla indica (formerly Duchesnea indica), is also known as the Indian Strawberry and the Snake Berry. Although the foliage and fruit are quite similar, is not a true strawberry and can readily be distinguished by its yellow flowers, as opposed to the flowers of true strawberries which are white or slightly pink. It is native to eastern and southern Asia, but has been introduced to many other areas as an ornamental plant, though it is considered a noxious weed in some regions. The leaves are trifoliate, roughly veined beneath, dark green, and often persisting through the winter, arising from short crowns. The plant spreads along creeping stolons, rooting and producing crowns at each node. The yellow flowers are produced in mid spring, then sporadically throughout the growing season. The fruits are red, with red seeds, and while juicy and edible are not sweet like the true strawberries. Recent genetic evidence has shown that this genus is better included within Potentilla, but currently most sources still list it in the now-defunct genus Duchesnea." From Wikipedia website.

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18 Apr 2010

92 visits

Solitary Snowdrop

I have longed to take a photo of a Snowdrop for years, but STILL haven't been able to take the kind of shot I want, LOL. If they grew in my garden, then I would pick one, but this one was growing at the Reader Rock Garden yesterday.

10 Sep 2008

116 visits

Sunny side up

Wasn't sure whether to post this photo, as the sunlight was rather too dazzling on the petals. Seen at Reader Rock Garden.

11 May 2009

126 visits

Mystery flower

I noticed this pretty, white flower at the Reader Rock Garden, but I have no idea what plant it is. Does anyone know the ID for it? Would be great if someone can help - thanks! Later: thank you, Doug, for the ID - Sanguinaria canadensis f. multiplex Plena (double Bloodroot).

13 Apr 2008

137 visits

Hepatica

These Hepatica were the first flowers that I have seen in bloom so far this spring, other than one single Prairie Crocus. They were growing at the Reader Rock Garden. Such a pretty colour. They won't like today's weather - heavy snow all day and it's supposed to be like this for the next few days! Sigh.... To think it was something like 21C a few days ago. They do say that if you don't like the weather in Calgary, wait five minutes!

29 Jul 2009

157 visits

Maltese Cross

I think I am identifying this plant correctly - Maltese Cross. Photographed at the Reader Rock Garden. "Lychnis chalcedonica (Burning Love, Dusky Salmon, Flower of Bristol, Jerusalem Cross, Maltese Cross, Nonesuch), Silene chalcedonica, is a flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae, native from central and eastern European Russia east to Kazakhstan, Mongolia and northwestern China." From Wikipedia.

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14 Jul 2010

101 visits

Popp(y)ing off the page

Just a pretty Poppy blowing in the breeze at Reader Rock Garden nearly two weeks ago. Can't imagine what state all the flowers will be in now, after a huge rain and hail storm earlier this evening!

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19 May 2010

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1 comment

142 visits

European Pasque Flower

This European Pasque Flower was growing at the Reader Rock Garden recently. Similar to our wildflower, Prairie Crocus.

22 Oct 2008

98 visits

A change from red

I noticed these fruit at the Reader Rock Garden a week ago and was surprised to learn that they are Rose hips. I always think of Rose hips as being bright red and much smaller than these ones.
300 items in total