Image of the day

[Lori S.]

One might say that there are not many plants there, perhaps... but what's there is choice!!  

 

   

[McDonough]

One might say that there are not many plants there, perhaps... but what's there is choice!!  

Great shots.  You already know my penchant for that Silene (or whatever we last concurred was the correct name), but what's the delightful Erigeron?  Is it E. humilis?

[Lori S.]

Thanks, Mark!  The plants are Crepis nana, Silene uralensis, and my first thought for the last was Erigeron humilis but I see some lobing on the leaves... need to check it out further.

[RickR]

Now that's a BIG rock garden! 

Thanks, Lori!

[Lori S.]

Yes, it is, with plants nicely spaced to draw one's attention from one to the next!  You're welcome!

Here is another photo of the third plant... from keying it out, the main factor being the leaves (Moss & Packer, Flora of Alberta: "leaves... oblanceolate to spatulate, up to 2.5 cm long, some of them 3-lobed at apex, with broad rounded lobes"; all else seems to fit too) , I believe it's Erigeron purpuratus ssp. pallens.  Someone, please correct me if I'm wrong.


Here's the eflora of BC entry:
http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Erigeron%20pallens

[Hoy]

Lori, has the glacier recently receded?
That Erigeron is a very gardenworthy plant. Have you ever tried it?

[McDonough]

I agree with Trond, such a wonderful garden-worthy little Erigeron!

The link to the eFlora of BC reminds me just how good the eFlora of BC site is; all floras should be as good as that one.

[Lori S.]

Lori, has the glacier recently receded?

In the geologic sense, yes, but not in recorded history... but here are some nearby glaciers:
In the distance (center of photo) is Hector Glacier on Mount Hector:


And here is a rather closer view of Crowfoot Glacier (about 1 2-3 km?? away as the crow flies, and on the other side of the highway) from up there, and the more usual view of it from the hike up.
 

Yes, the little Erigeron is a beauty!  No, I have not grown it... it's the first and only one I've ever seen (or at least, identified!)  
The eFlora of BC site is very useful, I agree!  It's excellent that it includes the description and line drawing.  I see that there is no photo for Erigeron pallens though... I'm thinking I may offer the photos of this plant, and if they determine that the ID is correct, perhaps it could be added to the site.  

[Hoy]

We have about 1600 glaciers and 1% of the country is permanently covered by ice. But the glaciers melt away - in 100 years almost all will be gone if this melting continue as fast as now.
Fun if you get your photo in the eFlora

[Lori S.]

It rained here on Monday, and snowed in the mountains... the overnight low was 3 degrees C on our thermometer! 
There was still fresh snow on the flanks of Mount Bogart today...

   

[Hoy]

Now snow here but heavy rain! This weekend we are at our summerhouse. Friday morning (before we arrived) heavy rain damaged the path from the pier to the house. Never seen such damage before. However we arrived in sunshine and the sunshine continues.

The sloe (Prunus spinosa) has no flower now, however the drupes are ripen but unpalatable.

[Lori S.]

Is that the fruit used to flavour "sloe gin"?   (... Something I have never tasted but am curious about!)

[RickR]

Well who would've thought...

A one minute video of Prunus spinosa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw8bdvk2tJ4

[Lori S.]

Well, there it is... right from flowering, fruiting, a bit of chemistry, to the making of jam/jelly/sloe gin... ?  (I dunno... there is no narration.)  Amazing what one can find, Rick!

[Hoy]

Is that the fruit used to flavour "sloe gin"?   (... Something I have never tasted but am curious about!)

Yes, you can use the berries to make a strong astringent liqueur. I have done it once but in my opinion other fruits are better suited to make drinks of! The colour however was superb.