Poppy

A lovely fern-leaf poppy. 

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on May 18, 2023.

Another View of Saint Elias

First look inside the country church.  Breathtakingly beautiful!

Heaven up above the chandelier.  The inner dome is painted sky blue and filled with gold stars.

The choir loft.

Something about blue and white is so comforting. 

A side view of the iconostasis and royal doors.

Each window is glazed with a blue and gold cross.    

The view from the choir loft.

Behind the royal doors.

This is Saint Michael the Archangel.  The face is hand-painted onto a wooden sculpture that hangs between the royal doors and chandelier.  He is attached to a pully that can be lowered in order to light the candles then raised again to "shine the light."  

The chandelier has now been turned on.

When the church was built the parishioners would have been standing all the way through a service.  Now that everyone is a little older there are chairs with a soft back and seat.

The outside view of Saint Elias.

Each of the three domes is topped with a simple wrought iron Orthodox cross.

Historical grave markers in the cemetery. 

During a short walk through the Prayer Garden I found these delphiniums in full bloom.  Beautiful way to end my visit.

Saint Elias truly is a treasure on the Alberta landscape.  

A special thanks to Sylvia and all the ladies who made my visit to Saint Elias so memorable and a heartfelt "thank you" to all those who keep things looking beautiful.

Photographed near Pakan, Alberta on July 19, 2023.

Lilac Time at Saint Elias

A little late in the season for lilacs but...

This is the beautiful Saint Elias Russo Greek Orthodox Church near Pakan, Alberta.

Click the following link to view a brief history of Saint Elias: "Щасливого Різдва!"

The photos seen here were taken the spring following the return of the historical bell house to the churchyard.  The old bell house had been tucked away in a museum near Shandro for some sixty years and it was time to bring it back home.

Over the years a Prayer Garden has been established in a grove of trees on the south side of the churchyard.  

A large memorial rock is surrounded by flowers and hand-decorated stones that have been contributed by parishioners.  Along a winding path through the trees are several sitting areas, each enhanced by the addition of flowering plants and shrubs together with an icon.

A view of the cemetery and church from the Prayer Garden.

And, of course, lilacs in full bloom.

Saint Elias is definitely "a beautiful place out in the country."

Photographed on June 27, 2022.

After the Frost

Reached a frosty -5°C early Friday morning but by mid-afternoon it was +18°C and I was out tending to some fall pruning.  (What I get done in the fall I don't need to do the following spring.)  And of course, there are leaves everywhere.

So far, fall looks pretty nice.

Not a hint of damage to the Autumn Joy sedums.

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on October 6, 2023.

At Daisy's House

At Daisy's house early one morning...

I'd just started pruning the big mayday tree when mama deer arrived with her twins.  As far as they were concerned, I was making breakfast easy for them...fresh cut leaves all over the lawn...how could things be better than that!  They kept an eye on me as they gobbled up the easy pickins...the little ones were a little timid but mom seemed to think everything was a-okay.  Most of the time they were barely six feet away from me.  The company of "wild" animals always adds a new perspective to the day.

Meanwhile, in the back alley, the resident pheasant was out with his young ones.  They're pretty shy and once they sense a human presence they quickly disappear into the tall grass on the hillside.

Some hours later, and after all the wildlife had departed...

Daisy and her buddy Jesse came home from the lake.  They kept me company while I pruned the old crabapple tree in the front yard.  Jesse likes to play fetch and really enjoyed the fresh crabapple branches to chew and chase.  He's a dog that needs to be kept busy...and it's pretty sweet when he wants to cuddle.  Daisy likes to hang out in the shade but often comes over to lick my ear and have a tummy rub...she's a sweetie.

Being the gardener definitely has its perks.   

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on July 25, 2023.

A Trio of Butterflies

While gardening at Margaret and Bill's this past Saturday I noticed this trio of butterflies enjoying the nectar on some false spirea flowers.  Flutterbys are always a source of joy and wonderment.

Have seen lots of butterflies this season...a trend I hope continues in the years to come.

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on July 8, 2023.

Early Morning Garden

My all-time favourite garden as seen early this morning...roses, lilies, rodgersias, kiwis and much more.  Enjoy!

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on June 29, 2023.

Heather's Garden (Update)

Some photos of Heather's Garden taken a couple of weeks ago.  Things are coming along nicely.

Photographed at Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery in the beautiful Cypress Hills of Alberta on June 11, 2023.