Reader Rock Garden 2

The reason for my "Noooo ...!!!" is that I only noticed the little Ladybug when I got home and looked at my photo on the computer! I was standing way back and zooming in, concentrating on trying to keep the flower in my viewfinder (it was so windy, as it always seems to be). So, I didn't see the black and white beetle - and it's a NEW one for me. Ha, I'm trying not to think about the possible macro I could have taken! Now, if only it would still be around next time I go. I don't know if this could be the tiny black & white ladybug - Psyllobora vigintimaculata.;

Loved the golden glow behind this bursting Poppy bud, seen at the Reader Rock Garden on 29th September 2010. One of my favourite things to photograph. I was fortunate enough to be invited by birding friends, John and Lorrie, to go with them and a friend in search of Snowy Owls for a few hours today. We travelled the backroads east of the city and managed to see three Owls, all distant, though not too bad by the time they are heavily cropped. Two were far away across a field (one useless as far as photos are concerned) and another was perched on some sort of antenna (?) in a field. We also enjoyed seeing a solitary Snow Bunting perched on a fence - don't usually see them alone. The meeting place this morning was definitely out of my comfort zone, but I made myself do it. I try and make myself do a new location each year : ) Such a lovely sunny day today, though quite windy out east of the city. Thanks so much, Lorrie and John, for a lovely day!

Taken at the Reader Rock Garden on 7 July 2010. I think the background was from a gravel path or a stone wall. Not completely sure, but I think this is Centaurea dealbata (Persian Cornflower).

Another photo from my archives, put aside when I was backing up a few more old photo files recently. Taken at the Reader Rock Garden on 28 July 2010. I always enjoy trying to photograph Lilies : ) Here in Canada, it is the Canada Day (July 1st) long weekend. Have a happy time, everyone - and, please, drive safely!

Most times that I decide to call in at the Reader Rock Garden, it's windy or very windy. Yesterday, after a botany walk all morning, followed by a volunteer shift in the afternoon, I thought I'd call in before driving home. It had been pretty much impossible to photograph any wildflowers earlier in the day, and the wind continued while I was Reader's. I was glad that I went, though, as I realized that the Calgary Stampede starts off tomorrow morning, with the world famous Stampede Parade. The Stampede Grounds just across from Reader's were busy and noisy, as preparations were underway to open the huge Midway of exhilarating "rides", and so on. I will be on top of a high mountain plateau (way, way south of the city) that escaped the glaciers of the last Ice Age, so is covered in permafrost, and we'll be looking at the wildflowers, lichens, mosses, etc., keeping our eyes open for rare species. Sure beats the craziness that will be going on in the city : ) When our kids were very young, the Stampede was fun and an experience not to be missed, just as it is for visitors to the city, but I am happy as can be to be as far away as possible after all these years.

Time for a bright splash of colour to be added to my photostream. I tend to post a warm-coloured image like this on a very cold or very grey day, but at the moment, our temperatures are way too hot for my liking, especially indoors, with 32C-34C in my computer room. All being well, after next week, I should have windows that I can actually open - the present ones get stuck if you try to open even just a few inches as the glass has come away from the vinyl (?) strips, so I have to keep them shut. After 14 years, at least, of everyone's complaints, all the windows are finally being replaced. Mine will be the last to be done and it sounds like mine will be done on Tuesday (depending on the weather, of course). Between now and then, I have two major, long botanizing days out, after which I can barely move, lol. There are certain things, though, that HAVE to be done before the window people knock on my door. It will feel so good once all this has been done, after being in limbo for at least seven months, not knowing when action would take place. Apologies to everyone for not commenting very much recently - this time of year, with all the botanizing trips, becomes kind of crazy. As well as a written record that is made of every species of plant, bird, insect, fungi, etc. that we see on each trip, I pick out certain of my photos to send out as a visual record of some of what we see, which always takes time to do. Life just gets insane for a few months, and I just can't keep up : )

Just noticed that this is an old photo from my archives. Taken at Reader Rock Garden on 30 June 2010. That Panasonic FZ35 was a good little camera. My heart goes out to all the victims and their families and friends who were involved in the tragic shooting spree in a movie theatre in Colorado last night. At the moment, it is known that 12 people were killed and 52 injured. So much sadness for so many people.

Poppy seedpods seen at Reader Rock Garden two days ago, 8 August 2012.

I always think these Globe Thistles are fun to photograph - amazing that the detail is as sharp as it is, as it always seems to be very windy when I call in at the Reader Rock Garden. I suspect there has been a huge amount of hail and rain damage to the plants recently, unfortunately. Taken on 8 August 2012. "Echinops is a genus of about 120 species of thistles in the daisy family Asteraceae, commonly known as globe thistles. They are native to Europe east to central Asia and south to the mountains of tropical Africa." From Wikipedia. 2:30 p.m.: Flickr's Hold your clicks a moment .....