Bow Valley Provincial Park

Yesterday, 18 June 2013, a few of us spent the day out at Bow Valley Provincial Park, west of Calgary, on the very eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains. This area is a well-known location for birds and especially wildflowers. Unfortunately, it rained for almost the whole time we were out there, while we walked all round Middle Lake (seen in my photo above), then walked to and around Many Springs and then back to the cars at Middle Lake. From there, we drove down to the River and, as the sun was now out, we did just a short walk through the trees along the river's edge. Lol, I was totally exhausted by the time I got home - I'm used to slow-paced walks/hikes, stopping all the time to take photos. Yesterday was (for me) a fast-paced hike, which my body can't cope with, ha. Managed to get this photo of a view across Middle Lake taken when we were almost back to the cars and the weather brightened. During our walk round this lake, we saw two Loons, which was a treat. Needless to say, they were right out in the middle of the water, much too far to get even a half-decent shot. Posting my "daily three" late morning, as I needed to sleep as long as I could after yesterday's exercise : ) We have a Weather Alert in place at the moment - heavy rainfall warning. Just before 10:00 p.m. - wow, thunder, lightning, torrential rain! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saw this beautiful orange fungus at Bow Valley Provincial Park on 16th July last year. I am assuming this specimen is the same species as two other images I've posted before, taken at a different location. If I am correct, it is Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, Cinnabar-red Polypore.

Another view taken a week ago, when I was lucky enough to go to Bow Valley Provincial Park for the day. This area is called Many Springs and the mountain on the right side of the image is Mt. Yamnuska, popular with climbers. These mountains form the far eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains.

Taken on a windy day at Bow Valley Provincial Park two days ago. Not really worth posting, but thought I'd add it to my Plants of Alberta Set. I know I am seriously short of sleep, and I also know that's not the reason I'm seeing a blurred image, lol. For those who are not familiar with this wildflower, the reason for its name is found in the heart shape of its basal leaves, not seen here.

I had such an enjoyable trip out to Bow Valley Provincial Park on Thursday evening, for the Summer Solstice Orchid Walk. The scenery is so beautiful, different in every direction and the variety of wildflowers is heavenly. Two new plants I got to see were the Sparrow's-egg Orchid and the One-flowered Broomrape (also called One-flowered Cancer-root). Thanks to Suzanne for the ride there and back!

This cute little Western Toad, Bufo boreas, was found at Bow Valley Provincial Park on Thursday. I always used to think that Toads were huge, so was surprised to learn that this little one was a Toad. Thanks, Doug, for patiently holding it - something that I could never do myself :) - while I took some photos. When he was released (the Toad that is, not Doug!), we were able to watch him swim a short way in the clear water. "Adult Western Toads have stocky bodies with short legs, and tend to walk rather than hop. Their thick skin appears dry and bumpy and can range in colour from pale green to grey, dark brown, and red. They typically have pale-coloured bellies mottled with black, and a pale coloured stripe down their backs. Their beautiful gold-flecked eyes have distinctive horizontal oval pupils. Behind each eye is a prominent oblong or kidney-shaped swelling called a parotoid gland. Adults range from 5.5 to 14.5 centimetres in body length, excluding the hind legs. Males are generally smaller than females and have dark pads on their thumbs that help them cling to the female during mating. Their skin is usually less rough and blotched than the females' skin." From www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/frogwatch .

After waiting about a year to get back to Bow Valley Provincial Park, to see the wonderful display of wildflowers, it turned out to be a very wet day for us. Everywhere was so green and clean and fresh and the flowers looked beautiful covered in raindrops. However, I completely forgot that water droplets cause blur in a photo - this is one of the only photos that came out that day, lol! "Many people find the wood lily irresistable and many a field of lilies has ended up in a vase on a kitchen table. Unfortunately, lilies do not respond well to being disturbed and once picked, the plant will not recover. In many areas, wood lily populations have been decimated by over-picking." From the link below. www.mountainnature.com/Plants/PlantsLatinNameResult.asp?I...

Another view out at Bow Valley Provincial Park, taken on a walk during the Summer Solstice. The rocky mountain in the distance is Mt. Yamnuska, a popular rock climbing site.

Spent a most enjoyable day today west of Calgary, at Bow Valley Provincial Park (at the far eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains). Saw this butterfly (some kind of Fritillary) down near the edge of the Bow River there.