Garden Flowers 3

I always think this is rather an unusual plant, and the yellow is really vibrant. Photographed this member of the Aster family (Asteraceae) at the Calgary Zoo on August 23rd.

Taken on September 12th in the gardens at the Calgary Zoo. Fall is definitely coming - there was a Frost Warning for Calgary last night. Haven't looked though a front window yet to see if my car windows are covered in ice, but I really hope not : )

Photographed at the Reader Rock Garden on July 6th.

NOT my garden, I should hasten to add, lol!!! Just a tiny corner of the colourful gardens at the Calgary Zoo, taken on September 12th.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness (in women and men) month. Pink continues to be used in connection with Breast Cancer Awareness. This gorgeous pink Zinnia was photographed in the garden at the Calgary Zoo on August 23rd. "Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) (also referred to in America as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM)) is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer. As well as providing a platform for breast cancer charities to raise awareness of their work and of the disease, BCAM is also a prime opportunity to remind women to be breast aware for earlier detection. In 1993 Evelyn Lauder, Senior Corporate Vice President of the Estée Lauder Companies founded The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and established the pink ribbon as its symbol, though this was not the first time the ribbon was used to symbolize breast cancer. In the fall of 1991, the Susan G. Komen Foundation had handed out pink ribbons to participants in its New York City race for breast cancer survivors." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Breast_Cancer_Awareness_Month

Wanted some fall colours for today and I don't have a pumpkin of any size to use, so here is a Rudbeckia (?) to wish all my Canadian friends a very Happy Thanksgiving weekend. Just a few more weeks now and it will be Christmas - and then we'll be a lot closer to spring once again : ) Ha.

A splash of colour from the gardens at the Calgary Zoo, for Fall and Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving today rather than yesterday. Taken on September 12th.

The rocks are horribly blown out, but this was such a pretty tree. Taken at the Calgary Zoo on October 10th.

Looking head on at a beautiful yellow Hibiscus at the Calgary Zoo. Because the centre part is so long, the rest of the flower is blurrier than I thought very late last night. Getting less sleep than usual (which is little to start with) - finding it really difficult to fall asleep the last few days after opening a few of the 12 boxes from England. I need to check all the contents within 30 days as far as any possible damage, so I know I can't unpack too slowly. Last night, I opened a box full of very old photo albums, including some of my parents in their early days of marriage. My father was a great photographer and so there are a lot of photos, film, slides, etc. I would not have received any of these if it had not been for my long-time friends in England who have painstakingly spent many, many months going through everything in the house. What amazing treasures they have "rescued" and sent out to me! Also all the family documents that belonged to both my parents and brother - a lot of "heavy" stuff in these, which I think is part of the reason that my mind is full of stuff that is making it hard to fall asleep at the moment. These things are all new to me, as I have lived away from England since 1966. I have been getting outdoors, though, to clear my head, and fill my heart with the beautiful colours of fall : )