OK, I'm happy - I think this photo shows that it IS possible for me (I know others can do it) to take reasonable photos outdoors with the Raynox 250. I didn't bother to carry my mini, table-top tripod this time, so this image was hand-held, with a light breeze. These Blue-eyed Grass flowers are so gorgeous. The flower of the Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium montanum/Sisyrinchium angustifolium) is only about 1 cm or less than 1/2 inch in diameter, and the plant is a member of the Iris family. Photographed this one today, when I went along Elbow Fall Trails into the beginning of the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains and called in at the Ing Mine's parking lot area. I was so disappointed today, as I overslept by almost two and a half hours and so missed a lovely day of botanizing with friends at Bow Valley Provincial Park. I had been waiting a year to get back to this particular area. It is a popular area for wildflowers, but is also a great place for birding.
talkaboutwildlife.ca/profile/?s=1063
Tags: Alberta Canada southern Alberta Kananaskis Elbow Falls Trail Highway 66 Ing's Mine road nature flora flower flowers wild wildflower Iris family Common Blue-eyed Grass Blue-eyed Grass Idaho Blue-eyed Grass violet to blue 3 petals, 3 sepals bokeh macro close-up beautiful beauty in nature square square format image photo digital Panasonic DMC-FZ35 DMC-FZ35 FZ35 Lumix point-and-shoot P1090420 FZ35 annkelliott beautiful_expression NaturesFinest Sisyrinchium montanum Sisyrinchium angustifolium
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Always a joy to come across some of these large, vibrant yellow Heart-leaved Arnica (Arnica cordifolia) flowers when walking in the forest. This one was growing a few days ago in the forested area at the Priddis Greens Golf Course, when we made a return visit to record all flora and fauna seen that day. This is a native wildflower that grows in the forests of the foothills and mountains. It belongs to the Aster family (Asteraceae) and blooms June-August. it's basal leaves are oblong to oval or heart-shaped, hence the common name.
Tags: Alberta Canada southern Alberta west of Calgary Priddis Greens Golf Course nature flora flower flowers wild wildflower Heart-leaved Arnica Arnica cordifolia yellow petals native Aster family Asteraceae blooms June-August macro close-up single flower flower head image photo digital color image vibrant beautiful beauty in nature insect fly bokeh Panasonic DMC-FZ35 DMC-FZ35 FZ35 Lumix point-and-shoot P1090747 FZ35 annkelliott
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Fireweed adds so much beautiful colour to wild places. Photographed this particular plant out in Kananaskis recently, when we botanized some forest along the edge of Barrier Lake.
"Epilobium angustifolium, commonly known as Fireweed (mainly in North America) or Rosebay Willowherb (mainly in Britain), is a perennial herbaceous plant in the willowherb family, Onagraceae. It is native throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere, including large parts of the boreal forests.... It has a tendency to quickly colonize open areas with little competition, such as sites of forest fires and forest clearings." From Wikipedia.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epilobium_angustifolium
Tags: Alberta Canada southern Alberta Kananaskis Rocky Mountains Barrier Lake nature flora flower flowers wild wildflower Fireweed Epilobium angustifolium Rosebay Willowherb Epilobium Onagraceae native petals magenta to pink image photo digital colour image beautiful beauty in nature horizontal bokeh Panasonic DMC-FZ35 DMC-FZ35 FZ35 Lumix point-and-shoot P1090480 FZ35 annkelliott beautiful_expression
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This is Timothy grass (Phleum pratense) in bloom. It turns a beautiful purple colour and is quite attractive.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy-grass
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This amazing tree is growing in the woods near the Cochrane Ranche, an historic site, north west of Calgary. The Cochrane Ranche was Alberta's first large scale livestock operation. Seen on 25th July, when we explored the trails on our way to spend the day botanizing Angela Cumberland and Patrick Brennan's beautiful ranchlands.
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