In Arizona, we live in a community that encourages low water use desert plantings. This means gravel yards instead of grass. Landscaping is done with cactus, succulents and plants that don't use much water. Residents are also expected to keep weeds under control. This past spring, the vacant house and lot next door to us … Continue reading Attitude Adjustment Time – Not Weeds – Wildflowers!
I'm not really finished my 'Time Off Break' - I just forgot that this post was scheduled. The timing is good though. These orchids, which grow in a rural ditch, were ready to bloom in the next few days - but the county mower came through yesterday and chopped off their heads. I know it … Continue reading Lady’s Slipper Orchids
I've blogged about the Lady's Slipper Orchids several times: Lady's Slipper Orchid - Surprise in the Ditch and Lady’s Slipper Orchid Mimics the Old Masters. In that post, I mentioned the fate of the orchids when the county mower bears down on them. This year the mower arrived earlier in the season than normal and … Continue reading Lady’s Slipper Orchids – No Match for the Mower
Spring Wild Flowers in and near McDowell Mountain Regional Park, Arizona. The challenge in taking these photos was that I only had a camera with a zoom lens and it was a breezy day. In essence, I was trying to hold the camera still while zooming in on a moving target... while watching for snakes... … Continue reading Arizona Wild Flowers
The Belchen (35 Km south of Freiburg) is a mountain in the Black Forest of Germany. The Belchen Cableway takes you up to scenic viewpoints and hiking trails.
When the Internet publicity began, I remember being struck by how much the world was not the way we thought it was, that there was infinite variation in how people viewed the world. - Eric Schmidt - The Belchen (35 Km south of Freiburg) is a mountain in the Black Forest of Germany. The Belchen … Continue reading Grass, Bees, Thistles – Half a World Away in Belchen Germany
With tiny flowers only 1/4 inch (6mm) wide, that only open in the morning, it is easy to see why I've only found Blue-Eyed Grass in my Alberta yard on three occasions. This time my transient wild flower popped up in a bed close to the garage. I just happened to pass the bed in … Continue reading Blue-Eyed Grass – Easily Overlooked
I thought I had met most of the residents of my forest (north of Calgary, Alberta) - I've been tromping along it's paths looking at plants and birds and bugs for 26 years! But in early June, I discovered a 'new to me' plant - a Striped Coralroot Orchid. I don't know how long this … Continue reading Striped Coralroot Orchid – On Going Unnoticed
There is no denying the beauty of the flowers of the Canada Thistle. Unfortunately, the plant's prickly nature and highly successful ability to propagate, have caused it to be labeled a noxious weed in most of Canada and about 35 U.S. States. Ironically, it isn't even native to Canada, having come from the Mediterranean region … Continue reading Canada Thistle – Success Breeds Contempt
There is a small patch of Lady's Slipper Orchids in the ditch near our place. It really is a miracle that this small group of delicate flowers continues to live where they do. Browsing deer and the county mowing program reduce the chances that the flowers will multiply by seed. Here are the photos I … Continue reading Lady’s Slipper Orchid Mimics the Old Masters
