Common Burdock (Arctium minus) is an invasive weed, but I always find the prickly burs attractive. This macro shot was taken on 2 September 2013, in the Boat Launch area in Fish Creek Park.
"The prickly heads of these plants (burrs) are noted for easily catching on to fur and clothing (being the inspiration for Velcro), thus providing an excellent mechanism for seed dispersal." From Wikipedia.
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada Fish Creek Park Boat Launch area nature plant flora weed invasive Burdock Common Burdock Arctium minus burrs prickly the inspiration for Velcro beauty in nature macro close-up
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This little Chickadee lives in a grove of spruce trees in one of the local parks. Its neighbours include Ruffed Grouse, Great Horned Owls, Gray Jays and a Pileated Woodpecker to name but a few. The highest this photo got in Explore was #225 on 18th January 2007.
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada nature outdoors birds ornithology Black-capped Chickadee AnimalKingdomElite FeatheryFriday Explore i500 interestingness#225 explore2007Jan18 Poecile atricapillus IMG_1004660 Canon S3 IS annkelliott Talkaboutwildlife.ca
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HAPPY 4th JULY to all Americans, whether at home or overseas!
A small Canada Violet flower, macro photographed at Maclean Pond, off Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66), Kananaskis, on 12 June 2014. When I did a search for this species on my photostream, nothing showed up. I'm surprised that it has taken me eight years to post a photo, ha.
"Viola canadensis is more commonly known as Canadian white violet, Canada violet, tall white violet, or white violet. As its name suggests, it is a species of violet which bears white blooms. The flowers are white, with yellow bases and sometimes streaks of purple. The petals are purple tinged on the backside. The leaves are heart shaped, with coarse, rounded teeth. It is native to Canada and the eastern United States. It is threatened or endangered in some areas, and abundant in others." From Wikipedia.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_canadensis
The famous, annual Calgary Stampede begins today, with the Stampede Parade taking place downtown this morning. William Shatner (from Star Trek) is our Parade Marshall. No worries about the weather, as it's a beautiful, sunny day today. Temperature is 21°C so far, so not unbearably hot for people who are lining the parade route or taking part in the parade. Yesterday afternoon, we got up to around 32°C, which was too hot for my liking.
Tags: Alberta Canada W of Calgary Elbow Falls Trail Highway 66 Maclean Pond Kananaskis nature flora flower flowers wild wildflower white Canada Violet Viola canadensis Violaceae Viola native macro close-up Explore explore2014July04 dropped before Scouting screen shot taken annkelliott Anne Elliott FZ200 Lumix
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When you look up this plant's range in North America, you see a map showing that Thesium arvense (common name is Thesium) is found only in Montana and North Dakota. Somehow, the seeds of this tiny plant found their way (maybe in someone's pocket??) all the way to Fish Creek Park in Calgary : ) This seems to be the only record of this plant in Canada, which is pretty interesting. This tiny member of the Sandalwood family is a native of Eurasia. It had been a mystery plant to one of the main naturalists here, but, with a lot of research, I managed to track down the plant's ID. It is the tiniest plant, that you would never normally notice in amongst the grasses and other plants. I can barely see the individual flowers with my naked eye, but what tiny beauties they are when seen though a hand lens or macro lens. Both photos were taken at Shannon Terrace, Fish Creek Park, on July 4th.
plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=THAR10
To help take my mind off all the other urgent things that are going on at the moment, my youngest daughter has just headed across the US to Savannah, Georgia, for a six-day break before starting a new job back here. The up-to-date weather forecast for Savannah: "Hurricane Irene may affect the area Friday night"! Sigh ....! I'm trying to forget that a huge interest she has had for most of her life is Disaster Planning, lol!!!
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada southern Alberta Fish Creek Park Shannon Terrace nature flora flower flowers wildflower Thesium Thesium arvense Santalaceae Sandalwood family introduced non-native first report in Canada white tiny macro close-up Panasonic DMC-FZ40 DMC-FZ40 FZ40 Lumix point-and-shoot P1100695 FZ40 annkelliott
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Yesterday morning, I went with friends on a birding walk in Fish Creek Park, and one of the highlights, if not THE highlight, was watching this beautiful great Blue Heron fly in, circle and land in one of the distant trees. Had to use 48x zoom and a good crop, which resulted in a rather grainy shot, but I liked the Heron's feathers. I never tire of seeing these birds, they are just so huge.
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada Fish Creek Park Sikome nature ornithology avian bird birds Heron Great Blue Heron
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