Plateau Mountain

The main reason I took this shot was because there was a ditch across the path where I could stand and take it. I knew I was in for a lot of kneeling and getting down and up again the further we went, so avoided kneeling on the gravel at some inelegant angle this time. These are "just" False Dandelions, but they were growing right where I wanted : ) This was a wonderful hike, even though we didn't go up on to the flat top of the Plateau (way off to the left of the photo). The grassy hillsides were covered in wildflowers, several new ones, too. It is a very long drive from Calgary, though. The rain waited until we were ready to go home and, thankfully, it wasn't a really hot day. Thanks, Moya, for taking us to explore this great place! And thanks to Robin's husband for driving us there and back! www.albertaparks.ca/media/2741526/plateau_mtn_mgmt_plan.pdf

HAPPY 4th JULY to all Americans around the world! Oops, not as sharp as it should have been! Looks worse than it did around 1:00 this morning, ha. This is Alpine Forget-me-not, seen on the long walk up to Plateau Mountain on July 2nd. Always a treat to see such vibrant blue. Just wish it wasn't so very windy up there on the mountain side.

I love coming across Rust Fungus on mustard plants of the Arabis genus. This very small (macro shot) pseudoflower was growing on Silver Rockcress/Alpine Smelowskia at Plateau Mountain, Kananaskis, way south of Highway 40, on July 2nd. "Puccinia monoica is a rust fungus of the genus Puccinia that inhibits flowering in its host plants (those of the Arabis genus) and transforms host behavior in order to facilitate sexual reproduction to pass on its genes. Infection occurs when the fungus sends its throughout the stem of the mustard plant, siphoning off some of the nutrients of its host. However, to reproduce, Puccinia monoica must exchange genes with the Puccinia inside another mustard plant. The fungus sterilizes the plant, preventing it from sending up its own flowers. Instead, the fungus forces the infected plant to turn clusters of its leaves into brilliant "flowers" (pseudoflowers)." From Wikipedia. Something must be up with Flickr today - hardly any activity going on.

Taken on Plateau Mountain (way south of Calgary, and south of Highway 40) on July 31st. "Sitka valerian is native to western North America, where it is typically a plant of mid- to high-elevations in moist meadows and open subalpine forest." From UBC Botany Photo of the Day.

Rather a strange photo of this very tiny wildflower - not sure why, but to me it looks almost as if it's a painting. Sorry again about all the wildflower photos I'm posting - it's just that time of the year. Our short growing season will soon be over. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silene_acaulis

A different species of Buttercup, found on Plateau Mountain, Kananaskis, on July 2nd.

A number of us spent the day yesterday finding and recording all flora and fauna that we came across on our walk - I hesitate to use the word "hike" as we walk slowly most of the time, lol. Plateau Mountain is way south of Calgary, taking maybe two and a half hours to drive there.

Taken on a botanizing hike on Plateau Mountain on 31st July. I think this is just the regular Dwarf Larkspur/Low Larkspur (Delphinium bicolor). This native plant is very poisonous and cattle are often poisoned by it, especially the new growth in the spring.

I suspect that many people think the pink parts are the petals of a Paintbrush. However, the actual flowers are the tiny green parts. Thought this one was a beautiful colour, seen growing on Plateau Mountain on 31st July. Thanks to Mark Egger for the ID: "Pretty sure this is Castilleja occidentalis. It is usually creamy white but often has this sort of purplish tinge. Close to C. rhexifolia, but the flowers look too small & that species rarely has pale bract tips like this."