Plateau Mountain

Photographed (macro) this beautiful, small Fleabane on Plateau Mountain on July 17th. Maybe around an inch across at this stage, if I remember correctly. Such a gorgeous colour and it was so beautiful in the sunlight.

This was where the little Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel in my previous photo lived : ) The outcrop and pile of rocks continued a short way off the top right corner of my photo. I don't know if its burrow started within the pile of rocks or else close by, but it certainly has a beautiful area to call "home". Plateau Mountain is a great place, but, then, I'm sure all the peaks and valleys of Kananaskis and the Rocky Mountains hold similar beauty. It's so funny, because when I look at a photo like this, I wonder how on earth I ever climbed so high, though our pace is extremely slow, otherwise I wouldn't be able to do it! Even so, it takes my poor joints a couple of days to recover : )

Macro photo of a little Pussytoes flower cluster (not sure which species it is), photographed in a wildflower meadow on Plateau Mountain on July 17th. I wonder if this is Woolly Pussytoes.

This was one of several little White-crowned Sparrows that were making themselves heard and seen on Plateau Mountain on July 17th. This one flew to a colourful, dead branch, with the distant blur of a nearby mountain slope in the background. Can't believe I've been fortunate enough to get back to Plateau Mountain twice this summer, thanks to friends! www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/white-crowned_sparrow/id

As we were climbing down from the ridge at Plateau Mountain on July 17th and were almost back at the gravel road where our car was parked at the locked gate, we came across quite a few of these beautiful Wild Chives plants. By then, the last thing my body felt like doing was to get down to plant level one more time, knowing I'd find it really difficult to get back up again. However, I'm so glad I did. I love the way these small buds eventually burst and some of the petals show (will post a photo another day).

This is such a difficult flower to photograph, as it is so tiny! The whole plant was maybe just over an inch tall. I was really hoping to see one of these flowers after photographing one on a previous visit - this was the only one I noticed. A miracle that I noticed it in the first place - and that was only because friend Doug had called to me to come and look at a few little cup fungi that he had found. The fungi were growing on the embankment at the side of the long gravel road that you have to walk up, to get to the alpine meadows of Plateau Mountain. About six inches from the fungi, the solitary, tiny splash of blue caught my eye. Taken on July 17th.

Friend Doug found this unusual pink Forget-me-not plant, on our slow hike in the alpine meadows of Plateau Mountain on July 17th. Its tiny pink flowers were so pretty, but something about them not being gorgeous blue just didn't feel right, lol. Can you believe that it's only 12C (54F) here in Calgary this afternoon? Such a relief to get some cool air after a few hot days. Unfortunately, it's also raining, though we do need it. Two possible trips this weekend, so I'm hoping it brightens up before then! Glad I took myself west of the city for the afternoon yesterday, as the weather was beautiful. Saw a few interesting things, from Ladybug larva and nymph to an Osprey catching a fish (no photo) to seeing my first Skunk in the wild (a few blurry, useless shots, but I might still post one for my own records - and you are more than welcome to laugh : ) Wish I could send some of this refreshing rain and coolness to all you guys out there who are having dreafully hot weather! Oh, panic! Had an e-mail from one of my good friends in England today, saying that one of our other friends "thinks your shipment is on the move via Toronto but no more details". I'm reading that as meaning that the 12 boxes of belongings (of my Brother and my parents) that are coming from England may have landed in Canada and might actually be on the road to Calgary! Oh, my goodness, I have so much to do before they arrive, including guessing at a value for around 400 little sentimental items that Canada Customs insists that I make. My friends sent me a list of all items, I just have to think up the values. I was motivated enough a couple of months ago, but then everything came to a halt when the busiest time of the year, for me, arrived. I need to do some more clearing and definitely some cleaning (which never even makes my priority list or any kind of list, ha!) before I want to let anyone in through my front door. Also, a slight hitch in the sale of my brother's house in England. Apparently, the buyer is asking for a further reduction, reckoning that survey estimates that he had done, were inaccurate. I will be so relieved when all this has been seen to - it has been a very long seven months! I also have to see to getting someone to come and remove all plants and bushes from my garden (someone is going to find out about the landscape people who see to the Condo's landscaping), with the possibilty that I might end up having to get a "platform deck" built, to fill the complete, tiny back garden. This would solve the problem once and for all! Need to find some names and pricing.

This is just a very small (maybe an inch across), Golden Fleabane (macro shot) seen in the alpine meadow on Plateau Mountain on July 17th. The opening buds are so beautiful (and hairy) before reaching this stage. WIll try and remember to post a photo some time.

I was so happy to see this Roseroot plant actually in flower on July 17th, in the alpine meadow at Plateau Mountain, but less happy with the way most of my photos turned out : ) I don't remember ever seeing the flowers before.