It looks like the sun is shining early this morning, but here's a splash of "sunshine" for those of you who are having an overcast or rainy day today. Taken at the Calgary Zoo on 26 August 2010.

Flickr has still not fixed the problem of Contacts' photos not showing up on the My Contacts page. This is the second day in a row now, so hopefully it will be fixed - and soon! Later: I'm not sure if things have improved or not, but I do appreciate your visits today. Today, though, the total number of views on today's three photos plummeted to 5,400. On average, there are roughly between 15,000 and 25,000 total views in a day, so there has been a drastic drop in total views, not just for myself but others (who have reported in the Help Forum). Ha, I don't think I've had that few views for one day in years!! Hope Flickr can explain the reason for all this. I'm always thankful for every single view, so I'm not complaining at the number. I'm just "complaining" that something is broken on Flickr and needs fixing.

Just found out that today, you can no longer edit tags, description title, etc. by clicking on the three dots. You can only edit the dates. I never edit the dates, but edit the tags every single day, so this is not a good change.

Tags:   Calgary Alberta Canada Calgary Zoo nature flora garden flower flowers yellow sunlight macro close-up bokeh Explore interestingness# explore2014April11 annkelliott Anne Elliott

© All Rights Reserved

I love the shapes and colours of these flowers. This one was growing at the Reader Rock Garden on July 28th last summer. Is this a Columbine?

Such beauty in these colourful petals ... but such a contrast to the dark, mud-covered devastation for the people of Japan. They are such civil people, caring about their neighbour, not just about themselves. I just keep thinkng, how do people, a country, recover from something this tragic and overwhelming? How on earth do they start clearing such extensive damage and start rebuilding homes and lives, especially all those who are grieving the loss of family members.

For those of you who love the tiny Northern Pygmy-owl that I've been posting, wait till you see tomorrow's photo of it. I think I can guarantee you'll be shocked! Suspense? Sure, lol!

Tags:   Calgary Alberta Canada southern Alberta Reader Rock Garden nature flora garden flower flowers red yellow macro close-up bokeh flower head Columbine beauty in nature Panasonic DMC-FZ35 DMC-FZ35 FZ35 Lumix point-and-shoot colourful P1110072 FZ35 annkelliott Explore interestingness#398 explore15March2011

© All Rights Reserved

We are in yet another winter deepfreeze. Temperature is -24C (-11F), windchill -35C (-31F). I know it could be worse, lol, but I really wish I didn't have to go out for a routine dental visit this afternoon. They say that the best things in life are free - like AIR, for example. I finally got my car as far as a tire place yesterday, as barely being used for two months and in such cold temperatures, my tires were looking and feeling horribly flat. In fact they were at 22 when they should be at 32-35! Some AIR - and now my vehicle feels so good to drive! Stay warm, everybody!

Photographed this beautiful Lily at Reader Rock Garden on August 11th.

Tags:   Calgary Alberta Canada southern Alberta Reader Rock Garden nature flora garden flower flowers Lily orange petals bokeh close-up beautiful beauty in nature vivid colorful light square crop Panasonic DMC-FZ35 DMC-FZ35 FZ35 Lumix point-and-shoot P1120885 FZ35 annkelliott beautiful_expression excellence FloralExcellence MasterPhoto

© All Rights Reserved

LOL, I have taken so many photos of tiny Cladonia lichen and always wondered if I would EVER get a photo that was sharp enough for my liking. I think this macro shot is probably the best one so far : ) Can't remember exactly, but the Cladonia were probably around half an inch tall. Growing amongst the mosses at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park on 12th October, doing their job of disintegrating the fallen log they were growing on. How I love the miniature world that surrounds us! You know, the world that most people never, ever see.

I always used to call these Cladonia Lichens little green Golf Tees. Then I saw on someone's photostream the name "Shrek Ears". Wish so much that I could remember who gave this name (then I could give credit where credit is due). I LOVE that name!!! Also, Maxine below described them as little green angel horns - and I love that name, too. Thanks, Maxine! How I miss being in the forest - I always get the wonderful feeling of being "home", that that is where I belong ; )

Tags:   Alberta Canada southern Alberta Brown-Lowery Provincial Park nature botany lichen Cladonia Cladonia sp. moss mosses capsules forest forest floor macro close-up Raynox DCR-250 square crop Panasonic DMC-FZ35 DMC-FZ35 FZ35 Lumix point-and-shoot P1210831 FZ35 annkelliott SuperEco Admin Pick of the Week SuperEco sporophyte alternation of generations

© All Rights Reserved

The actual quality of this photo is far from good, taken in really low light, but I still like it : ) I think this little fungus was something like 1" diameter. Found on 12th August in West Bragg Creek, Kananaskis, west of the city. Thanks, Sandy! Just a reminder of the tiny miracles of nature's beauty! What we can find if we don't just "look", but really "see".

Tags:   Alberta Canada southern Alberta Bragg Creek West Bragg Creek Kananaskis west of Calgary nature mycology fungus fungi mushroom mushrooms cap gills light on green bokeh glowing attractive image photo digital color image square square crop beautiful beauty in nature macro close-up Panasonic DMC-FZ35 DMC-FZ35 FZ35 Lumix point-and-shoot P1130433 FZ35 annkelliott beautiful_expression LeapFrog's Hats

© All Rights Reserved