Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: growing on tree

I haven't yet been able to find the ID of this tropical plant. This photo was taken on 8 September 2015. In the morning, I joined a group of friends for a three-hour stroll at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. 38 bird species were seen, though I didn't manage to see any of the tiny, fast-moving Warblers. It was good to see 28 Wood Ducks, but they were far, far away, in an area that is still closed due to devastating flood damage. The Sanctuary had been closed for about two years for this reason and only re-opened just a part of the area last year. Later: I believe this bromeliad is a cultivar of Tillandsia ionantha. The Calgary Zoo is very close to the Sanctuary, so after our morning walk, I decided to call in there. I hadn't been for about a year and I really missed going there. Of course, many of the garden flowers were past their prime, but I did find a few that were fit to photograph. The tropical plant in this photo was growing in the Conservatory. I knew I wouldn't be able to walk far, having already been walking all morning, but I really wanted to get to the ENMAX Conservatory to see what was going on. I had been longing all summer to see the tropical butterflies and plants. The parking lot that I have always used closed for the winter shirtly after my visit and I don't like the drive back home from the north parking area, using Deerfoot Trail, so tend not to go to the Zoo all winter. Apparently, the bridge that I always use to cross the river is going to be replaced (?) so I don't know when construction will be completed or when I will be able to get to the Zoo again. There was so much activity going on at the Zoo on this visit. People everywhere, carrying large animals wrapped in white, protective coverings, preparing for the upcoming ILLUMINASIA, Lantern & Garden Festival. Each animal was an individual lantern and there were so many of them. I noticed that several of the real animals in their enclosures were watching all the unaccustomed activity, which made me smile. A good day, with plenty of photo opportunities, despite the overcast sky. I had been finding far fewer things to photograph, with fall on its way, so a day like this was more than welcome.

I have seen various species of shelf or bracket fungus, but I’m never sure of their IDs. I think, but am not sure, that this could be an Artist’s Conk (Ganoderma applanatum). Photograph was taken on 6 September 2014 at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park, SW of Calgary. “The shelf fungi are a major wood rotting group. Once a tree is infected, the fungus cannot be killed. Artists use shelf fungi to make etchings and beads. The pore surface of the Artist's Conk, Ganoderma applanatum, changes color when bruised. A nail produces broad lines; sharp needles produce very fine lines. An intricate etching takes a lot of patience and time. Beads are made by carving large shelves much like you would a block of wood.” herbarium.usu.edu/fungi/funfacts/shelffungi.htm en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganoderma_applanatum