Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Strathcona Ravines Park

Invasive, but pretty

30 Jun 2009 1 1 172
This member of the Mustard family, Dame's-rocket, was introduced from Europe as a garden flower. Now it has spread to roadsides and open forests. When we spent a morning walking at Strathcona Ravines Park (within the city) a few days ago, we came across a number of areas of this invasive, but very pretty, flower growing on the hillsides. I always love to see the colour, especially against the green foliage.

Glowing

03 Jul 2009 259
Bird'sfoot Trefoil is one of my favourite wildflowers. Love the way the small, brilliant yellow flowers form a circle. It is a non-native plant and unfortunately, has become invasive. This particular plant was growing at Strathcona Ravines Park. I wish you all could have seen me today, LOL. It was a long, almost 12-hour day, exploring two different areas north west of the city, way out past Cochrane. Eight of us searched for plants, fungi, insects, birds - anything beautiful and of interest. The first place was a wonderful BOG! When I was there a year ago, I was so thrilled at seeing new plants, including Bog Bean, that I completely forgot to walk over and see and photograph the carnivorous plant, Sundew! So, finally, a year later, I got my chance. In order to get to these plants and various others, we had to kneel and half lie in bog water that was several inches deep, gradually sinking deeper and deeper. It was SO much fun and so rewarding! The second place was the Mountainview Sports and Handicapped Centre, set amongst wonderful forest. Now I need to download all my photos, recharge my battery and get ready for a lovely day out with a friend tomorrow, up in Banff, Rocky Mountains. Am I lucky, or what?? Of course, the downside of all these things is that I'm getting hardly any time for Flickr!