Category Archives: wildflowers

Fairy slipper

Posted on May 17, 2019 by Alistair

  The fairy slipper is perhaps the first wild orchid to bloom each spring. It seems to have evolved to fool the earliest of pollinators, queen bees, into pollinating it — yet the fairy slipper offers bees no rewards in … Continue reading →

Posted in wildflowers | 4 Comments

April goulash

Posted on April 29, 2019 by Alistair

  This is a collection of April’s images that were not featured in a posting of their own. As spring rolls in, many new species appear, or change their behaviours. Early in the month, Trumpeter Swans were seen floating and … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, mammals, wildflowers | 2 Comments

Guttation of spring

Posted on April 9, 2019 by Alistair

  A sure sign of new springtime growth is guttation. The water drops on the grass in the morning might have been casually dismissed as being dew. Not so, they are guttation. OK, there was also some dew on the … Continue reading →

Posted in weather, wildflowers | 7 Comments

July goulash

Posted on July 31, 2018 by Alistair

  This is a collection of a dozen images from July, none of which has had a posting of its own. Where have all the male Mallards gone? They are here, but are in their eclipse plumage, which makes them … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs, fish, mammals, wildflowers | 3 Comments

Past-prime orchid

Posted on July 28, 2018 by Alistair

  Normally, I attempt to post a picture that shows something at its peak of perfection.  I am willing to make an exception. It is, after all, the Giant Helleborine. This flower is one of our local wild orchids, but … Continue reading →

Posted in wildflowers | 4 Comments

Indian pipe

Posted on July 17, 2018 by Alistair

  Indian pipe, aka ghost pipe, is a flowering plant that lacks chlorophyll. It evolved to survive in the sunless world of the deep forest floor, and acquires its energy by parasitizing surrounding trees. These Indian pipe plants were found … Continue reading →

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Dew, not dew

Posted on June 26, 2018 by Alistair

  The web of an orb-weaving spider covered in matutinal drops of water is undoubtedly beautiful. But, is the web really covered in dew — as is claimed by a myriad of photo sites? Alas, this is something for which … Continue reading →

Posted in bugs, weather, wildflowers | 7 Comments

Sub-alpine delights

Posted on June 14, 2018 by Alistair

  There are delights in the high country that are unknown, or uncommon, in the valleys. Items, below, were seen a few days ago at an elevation of about 1600 metres. This is the Western Anemone (Pulsatilla occidentalis). Another term for … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, mammals, wildflowers | 2 Comments

Wet slipper

Posted on June 1, 2018 by Alistair

  May postings began with two wildflowers: a lily (Glacier Lily), and a wild orchid (Fairy Slipper). Their tenure is now over. June postings begin with two more wildflowers: another lily (Queen’s Cup), and another wild orchid (Mountain Lady’s Slipper). … Continue reading →

Posted in wildflowers | 4 Comments

Spring lily & orchid

Posted on May 2, 2018 by Alistair

  Flowers seem to time their blooming to optimize their interaction with pollinators. Two early spring bloomers were noticed today: a Glacier Lily and a Fairy Slipper (an orchid). This is one of a large crop of Glacier Lilies strewn … Continue reading →

Posted in wildflowers | 6 Comments