Nose Hill Park -- Wild Flowers

This morning I went on a Nature Calgary walk with the president. It was a small group, so I learned a lot.  Just a few highlight pictures are here. The first one isn't even a flower!

This is just an Aspen leaf. The Aspen Serpentine Leafminer (Phyllocnistis pupuliella) is a small moth that lays its egg on the leaf. The miner feeds inside the leaf, between the layers. The black track is its ... poop.  It then moves to the edge of the leaf, curls a small amount up, forms a pupae and then changes into a small moth. Very cool! 

Olympus OM-1, 30mm Macro ISO 400, 1/250, f/18. June 17, 2023, 11:00 am. Nose Hill Park, Calgary.

Olympus OM-1, 30mm Macro ISO 400, 1/200, f/18. June 17, 2023, 11:00 am. Nose Hill Park, Calgary.

There were lots of roses in the hill, but amongst the roses were some StickyPurple Geraniums (Geranium viscossimum). These really stood out as the colours didn't seem to fade in the sun like the roses do. 

Olympus OM-1, 30mm Macro ISO 400, 1/250, f/18. June 17, 2023, 10:50 am. Nose Hill Park Calgary.

The next flower seems to mean that Spring is finally here in Alberta. These flowers are American Harebells (Campanula rotundifolia).  These are quite a delicate little wildflower and are just about done for this year. The contrast of the yellow from the faded rose really highlights the blue. 

Olympus OM-1, 30mm Macro ISO 400, 1/40, f/16. June 17, 2023, 11:30 am. Nose Hill Park Calgary.

This Bog Wintergreen (Pyrola asarifolia) was hidden in the Aspens, in the shade. 

Olympus OM-1, 30mm Macro ISO 400, 1/25, f/16. June 17, 2023, 11:20 am. Nose Hill Park Calgary.

No, the following picture is not an Aster, it is a Smooth Fleabane (Erigeron glabellus). I only know that because I was told.  

Olympus OM-1, 30mm Macro ISO 400, 1/250, f/18. June 17, 2023, 10:50 am. Nose Hill Park Calgary.

And finally, my favourite of the day is this Mountain  Deathcamus (Anticlea elegans).  It is quite a small delicate flower and I love the small green hearts on the petals. Given its name, it is a little more dangerous than it appears. 

Olympus OM-1, 30mm Macro ISO 400, 1/160, f/18. June 17, 2023, 10:45 am. Nose Hill Park Calgary.

This large erratic boulder near the top of the hill caught my attention. The lichen formed an interesting pattern on the sun side of the boulder. 

Olympus OM-1, 30mm Macro ISO 400, 1/6400, f/18. June 17, 2023, 11:51 pm. Nose Hill Park Calgary.

The view from the top of the hill, toward the end of our walk was worth the uphill hike.

Olympus OM-1, 30mm Macro ISO 400, 1/400, f/18. June 17, 2023, 12:05 pm. Nose Hill Park Calgary.