This was one of the reasons I decided to go on the Picklejar Lakes hike two days ago. Though I had seen this flower once before (on a different mountain top!), I really hoped to see one again. My photos of it were disappointing, but I thought I would still post a macro shot as a reminder to myself of the thrill of seeing one (actually two) again. At a very quick glance, you might think you were looking at "just" another purple and yellow Fleabane. Another plant that I was really hoping to see was the Orange False-dandelion - and it was exciting to see a number of them, usually looking most unphotogenic, ha. We even saw a new wild orchid up there - the Bog Candle - which has a wonderful scent.

Parry's Townsendia is an uncommon, native wildflower and belongs to the Asteraceae family. It blooms July-August on dry hillsides and grassy slopes. The flower head is 5-7 cms across. The achene (fruit) is a pappus of long, soft bristles, just as attractive (in my opinion) than the actual flower.

Tags:   Alberta Canada southern Alberta south west of Calgary Kananaskis off Highway 40 Picklejar Lakes trail nature flora flower flowers wild wildflower uncommon Townsendia Parry's Townsendia Townsendia parryi purple mauve yellow flower head 5-7 cms across native single flower flower head macro close-up side view Raynox DCR-250 image photo digital color image horizontal beautiful beauty in nature Panasonic DMC-FZ35 DMC-FZ35 FZ35 Lumix point-and-shoot P1120624 FZ35 annkelliott beautiful_expression Asteraceae MasterPhoto The Nature Conservancy Master Photos

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Another photo from my archives, taken from the trail on an absolutely brutal hike in Kananaskis, on 6 August 2010. I still remember that two tough guys who do/did a lot of walking/hiking also used the word "brutal" to describe this day's hike : ) I can't do this kind of hike any more - my body likes "flat" not "steep"! The description of the botany hike that the leader had sent us, was so different from what it actually was. No shortage of beautiful valleys and peaks in Alberta, that's for sure. Apparently, this valley is very popular with Grizzly Bears, but fortunately we didn't come across any. Lots of wildflowers, but the walk was too fast-paced and I wasn't able to get many photos, which was so disappointing. However, we saw a number of new species, which was great. Location on my map is only very approximate.

Gillean Daffern writes about the last bit of the trail in her book, "Kananaskis: Country trail guide":

".... Shortly, the trail turns due north and you drag yourself up a hot, dry, shaley hillside to the pass". All was true (except, thankfully the "hot") and "drag" was a most appropriate word. I've also read on some website a young guy's comment that this is a "short, easy hike". A good job I didn't read his comment before doing this hike : ) He must have been tremendously fit! It's definitely one of those days that I will never forget, ha.

Tags:   Alberta Canada Kananaskis K-Country Picklejar Lakes trail off Highway 40 nature mountains hills scenery landscape breathtaking mountain scene trees forest valley peaks mountain peaks beauty in nature Panasonic DMC-FZ35 DMC-FZ35 FZ35 Lumix point-and-shoot P1120615 FZ35 annkelliott Anne Elliott

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Lol, there's no way I would say that the brutal hike last summer up to the Picklejar Lakes in Kananaskis, off Highway 40), was made worthwhile when we came across this little (macro shot) mushroom. However, I can say that I was happy to see this little fungus growing at the edge of the trail : )

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These two TINY flowers are part of an elongated cluster of white flowers on a tall stem. This was the first time we'd seen one of these amazing native wild orchids. Found along the Picklejar Lakes trail in one location, on 6th August.

The height of Bog Candle, Platanthera dilatata, (also called Tall White Bog Orchid) is 15-65 cm. The raceme (flower cluster) has 12 - 60 of these tiny flowers. Flowers are white, and vanilla or clove scented. The scent while down low, taking macro photos, was heavenly : )

I was out for seven hours today at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park (south west of the city) with a few friends, finding, Lichens , Mosses and Fungi. I was so tired out that I had a late supper and woke up around 1:15 a.m. still sitting in front of the TV! Three consecutive days of fresh air have totally wiped me out - yet again! Only a very few more weeks left and the season for everything that grows will be over. It's the beginning of the end : (

Tags:   Alberta Canada southern Alberta Picklejar Lakes Trail off Highway 40 south west of Calgary nature botany flora flower flowers wild wildflower Orchid Bog Candle Tall White Bog Orchid Platanthera dilatata flower cluster raceme tiny flowers scent beautiful scent vanilla scent macro supermacro close-up Raynox DCR-250 image photo digital color image square square crop beautiful beauty in nature Panasonic DMC-FZ35 DMC-FZ35 FZ35 Lumix point-and-shoot P1120573 FZ35 annkelliott beautiful_expression The Nature Conservancy

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This was a new plant for us, when we did the brutal hike along the Picklejar Lakes Trail in Kananaskis on August 6th. The vast majority of Penstemons are blue or purple.

Note: actually, according to Doug, "this is more likely to be Penstemon procerus as it was growing with many of that species with colors ranging from blue to pink to almost white. I believe P. confertus is quite distinctly a yellowish color."

Tags:   Alberta Canada southern Alberta south west of Calgary Kananaskis off Highway 40 Picklejar Lakes trail nature flora flower flowers wild wildflower Penstemon procerus cream-coloured native close-up macro square crop beauty in nature Panasonic DMC-FZ35 DMC-FZ35 FZ35 Lumix point-and-shoot P1120399 FZ35 annkelliott

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