Canola

This is the first field of canola I've seen blooming this season.  Always a cheery sight.

Photographed near Woolchester, Alberta on July 6, 2024.

1, 2, 3 and 2

The prickly pear cacti were putting on quite a show on the south facing hillsides this year.  We had some rain this spring so they were all plump and blooming their hearts out.

Of course the best shows are on rather steep hillsides so getting to them is one thing, staying upright and not sliding down the hill while taking photographs on the sandy slopes is another.

I took a slightly different path on the way back to the truck and was rewarded with this little pincushion cactus blooming brightly.  

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on June 22, 2024.

Springtime in Heather's Garden

I cleaned up and planted a few annuals plus a couple of perennials in Heather's Garden earlier this week.  It was a beautiful day for gardening...warm in the sun and cool in the shade, my kind of day.

It won't be long now before all the new plants grow some roots and start to fill out.  

Even after all these years, watching plants grow never seems to get old.

Heather's garden here in the hills has several clusters of stones, a few shells, a piece of driftwood and other decorations.  I noticed a small pile of stones behind the church so I decided to add them to her garden.  She liked to accent her garden with stones so I think she'd like this.     

Photographed at Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery near Eagle Butte, Alberta on June 24, 2024.

What a Little Rain Can Do

A couple of weeks ago in my all time favourite garden in Medicine Hat, Alberta...

The lupins, irises and globe flowers were in full bloom as well as the Dwarf Korean Lilac.  The latter has a sweet fragrance that filled the entire yard with its intoxicating aroma.  Much of the vibrancy is due to several inches of rain (which is something of a rare event here in southeastern Alberta)...adding that extra richness in colour tone that is so pleasant and deeply attractive. 

These photos were taken while the owners were away in France, so, for about two weeks I had the yard to myself for picnics, the occasional drink (or two or...) and, of course, lots of gardening.  I live in a nice apartment that has a lovely balcony with a view that I fill with plants each summer and enjoy immensely, but having free run of a spacious yard like this was a real treat.  That's definitely a cause for celebration.   

I hope everyone has a private and comfortable place to enjoy the abundant gifts that nature provides.

Photographed on June 12, 2024.

Pelicans

Saw this pod of pelicans about a year ago at the Bullshead Reservoir just north of Eagle Butte, Alberta.

They would repeatedly swim in one direction then turn around and swim in the opposite direction, all the while excitedly flapping their wings.  Not sure what that was all about but they seemed completely consumed by the activity.

As soon as they spotted me they retreated to the rear of the reservoir, away from prying eyes.

It's always a treat to see pelicans.

Photographed on May 30, 2023.

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.

Summer Landscape

Lovely, n'est pas?

And now, gardening duties beckon.  See you soon.

Photographed near Westhazel, Saskatchewan on July 16, 2023.

Elkhorn Township School #4

The largest of the four schools in Elkhorn Township and it's a real beauty.  The design is one of the grandest I've seen in all of northern North Dakota.

This handsome old school is only about four miles southeast of the third schoolhouse.  And, to see all four schools is only a seven mile trip through the countryside...and a beautiful countryside it is.  Time well spent.  

Little school out on the prairie...

...and bales.

The State Historical Society of North Dakota has done an excellent job of documenting the past, making their website invaluable when it comes to research.  I've spent countless hours "finding" new spots to visit on my road trips.  "Thank you" for all your dedicated work in keeping history alive.   

Photographed in Elkhorn Township, North Dakota on June 18, 2023.

Elkhorn Township School #3

As with the previous two Elkhorn schools, this one stands just to the side of the road in a lush green pasture.

The original building was quite small though obviously there was an addition at some point in time.  Doesn't really look like a purpose-built schoolhouse, does it?  In fact, on my trip through the area in 2017, I drove right past thinking it was probably an old homestead.  Further research a couple of years later revealed it to truly be an historical school.  

Elkhorn Township School #3 is only about a mile southwest of the second one.  

Some prairie roses blooming on the east side of the building.  Yes, I did stop to smell the roses. 

Photographed in Elkhorn Township, North Dakota on June 18, 2023.

Elkhorn Township School #2

The second Elkhorn School stands barely three miles west of the first one.

I love the design of both schools...small but elegant  And here the bell tower is still upright, just as it was when I visited in the fall of 2017. 

East facing windows meant lots of morning light for the kids early classes.  

The many ponds and sloughs all through North Dakota were full from spring runoff and rain so this red-winged blackbird must have felt right at home.

Photographed in Elkhorn Township, North Dakota on June 18, 2023.