Rough-Fruited Fairybells / Prosartes trachycarpa

On 7 June 2015, it was a hot day – way too hot for my liking. I was not keen on the idea of being out in the sun for three hours, but neither could I have stayed in my place one more minute - it felt like an oven!

I decided to join birding friends for a walk at the west end of South Glenmore Park and we had a lovely, leisurely walk going westwards, stopping often to look at, or listen to, a variety of birds. I think my favourites were a pair of colourful American Goldfinch. It was also fun to see a little Black-capped Chickadee looking out from its nest cavity.

There were quite a few species of wildflower as well, including these dainty Tall Lungwort flowers. I so rarely go on a walk these days, so I tend to miss many of the wildflowers.

"This tall plant, has typical lily-style leaves which clasp tightly to the stem. The leaves are wide and almost heart shaped. The stem often forms very angular joints with leaves growing at the joints. The dangling, bell-like flowers, from which the plant takes its name, begin as closed bells, but soon open and rapidly fade. Usually, 1-4 flowers will grow together in a hanging cluster. The flowers are later replaced by red, velvety berries." From mountainnature.

www.mountainnature.com/plants/PlantsLatinNameResult.asp?I...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosartes_trachycarpa

Will add Janet and Bernie’s bird list below, for my own memory. Thanks for such an enjoyable afternoon, both of you! A stop afterwards at the Good Earth café was so much appreciated and enjoyed, too.

1. Great Blue Heron - 1
2. Canada Goose - 40
3. Mallard - 5
4. Gadwall - 2
5. Swainson's Hawk - 1
6. Franklin's Gull - 30+
7. Woodpecker sp. likely Sapsucker - 1
8. Olive-sided Flycatcher -1
9. Least Flycatcher - 12
10. Red-eyed Vireo - 2
11. Black-billed Magpie - 1
12. American Crow - 4
13. Common Raven - 1
14. Tree Swallow - 4
15. Black-capped Chickadee - 2 @nest site.
16. House Wren - 11
17. American Robin - 6
18. Cedar Waxwing - 6
19. Yellow Warbler - 10
20. Chipping Sparrow - 1
21. Clay-coloured Sparrow - 4
22. Baltimore Oriole - 1
23. Red-winged Blackbird - 3
24. Brown-headed Cowbird - 3
25. House Finch - 3
26. American Goldfinch - 5
27. House Sparrow - 2

Least Chipmunk - 1
Muskrat - 1
Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly - 10+
Blue Azure - 1
Alpine sp. Butterfly - 15+