Heather's Garden

Gardening has been keeping me busy; there's always lots to do in spring to get everything looking nice again.  And yesterday I finally had a chance to get out to Saint Margaret's to clean up Heather's Garden.  I wasn't sure what I'd find...last summer was one of the driest seasons on record plus there was some bitterly cold weather over the winter months. 

I wasn't expecting much (occasional pessimist that I can be) but was pleasantly surprised to find that most of the perennials had survived...and one of the prairie crocus was already in full bloom.  In a nutshell, all the really tough plants made it through some extremely harsh conditions.  Maybe one day I'll learn their innermost survival secrets but in the meantime I'll simply enjoy doing my best to take care of them.

We've been lucky this spring to have had some rain and a few showers.  So far we've already had more rain than we had all of last year.  Nice to see things turning green and flourishing.  In three weeks or so I'll plant some annuals and a few more perennials to fill in the empty spots.  I think Heather would like that.

Photographed at Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery near Eagle Butte, Alberta on May 19, 2024.

On the Beach

Photographed on the shores of New Iceland, Manitoba on September 22, 2023.

Spring 2017

A flashback to mostly spring blooms...flowers make everything better, n'est pas?

May 21, 2017

A clump of buffalo beans alongside the highway just north of Simpson, Montana.  It's not spring without these cheery golden yellow blooms.  

May 28, 2017

At one time it was common to plant irises at the grave of a loved one...especially in country cemeteries on the prairies.  A lovely way of remembrance.  The grass was just barely turning green at Kincorth Lutheran Cemetery but these irises were already in full bloom.  They're tough and hardy. 

   

June 2, 2017

Fleabane is a native plant throughout the prairies.  This clump of happy white flowers was just outside the entrance to the Empress Cemetery.  The town of Empress is in Alberta, but the Empress Cemetery is just across the border in Saskatchewan.  

June 11, 2017

I'd stopped in Hilda, Alberta to take a few shots of the grain elevator and while doing so, came across this beautiful orange butterfly amongst the alfalfa flowers. 

June 17, 2017

If you're lucky enough to be traveling along Eagle Butte Road near Woolchester, Alberta at just the right time you'll be rewarded with the visual delight of these masses of pink flowers.  I always look forward to seeing "the pink fields" in full bloom.  I believe they are a species of vetch. 

 

June 21, 2017

A bee foraging in the blooms of a froebelii spirea in one of the gardens I tend in town.  Bees really are the busiest little guys.

June 24, 2017

Flowers and butterflies aren't the only spring delight...a doe with her fawns just across the lane from the Post Office where I pick up my mail.  The second fawn is hidden mostly behind mama deer.

June 24, 2017

A pincushion cactus flower on an acreage where I tend to some gardening.  The resulting fruit is sweet and delicious.  Leave some for the animals and birds...they need a treat every so often too.

June 28, 2017

The waxy yellow flower of the native prickly pear cactus.  I found this one high above the southern bank of the South Saskatchewan River in southern Alberta.

June 30, 2017

Bunchberries blooming in the Cypress Hills of Alberta.  They are the smallest variety of the dogwood species I've seen anywhere.  The unique four-petal flowers later develop into brilliant red berries that are enjoyed by a variety of wild animals and birds.

An interesting fact about bunchberries...when a bee or other insect lands on a flower it stimulates the flower to open at the incredible rate of half a millisecond...spreading the pollen at a few thousand times the force of gravity.  Imagine that.

Hope you enjoyed the somewhat belated spring tour of 2017.

Photographed in Montana, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Red-Winged Blackbird

Late afternoon near Lostwood, North Dakota.

This red-winged blackbird was trilling from his perch on top of a steel fence post.

Photographed on June 21, 2023.

Yellow-Headed Blackbird

It was late spring, the weather was beautiful and gardening duties were under control...time for a road trip.

Spent most days in North Dakota where they'd had lots of snow and spring rain.  That means all the ponds and sloughs were full of water, which in turn means a habitat for migrating birds.  Saw yellow-headed blackbirds just like this one in most every wetland I came across.  Good for them.

Photographed near Plumer, North Dakota on June 19, 2023.

Vapour Trails

I've always enjoyed watching the vapour trails of jets taking people to faraway places.  And this time the event was quite spectacular.  

The sun was just rising as two vapour trails intersected in the sky...what a beautiful way to begin the day. 

Photographed at Congregational Matthaus Cemetery near Schuler, Alberta on December 10, 2017.

Happy New Year!

All the best in 2024!

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on August 21, 2023.

On the Road

Have been on the road for the past couple of weeks and the fall colours get better every day.  This brilliant display was on the highway just north of Roblin, Manitoba a little earlier today.

Photographed on September 24, 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.

Horses near Smoky Butte

Five handsome horses by a big slough...

...surrounded by tall yellow clover.

Photographed near Smoky Butte, North Dakota on June 22, 2023.

Buck

First thing in the morning...

I was walking into the backyard at Pat's place where I needed to do some pruning and there was this handsome buck.  Bambi all grown up.

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on July 22, 2023.

Butterfly

Close-ups of a delicate and colourful creature.  

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on July 13, 2023.

Grasshoppers for Breakfast

Yesterday morning I was working in Riverside where a pair of hawks (or maybe they're falcons?) have moved into the neighbourhood.  I was busy pruning a large ninebark when I noticed this one in the backyard devouring grasshoppers....mmmm, grasshoppers for breakfast!

A little later I talked to Dave, the next-door neighbour, and he said that just a few days ago two of them were enjoying a shower under his oscillating sprinkler while feasting on grasshoppers.  That's the life!

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on July 22, 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.