Photo of the day - 2015

Alpine tundra in northern Banff N.P.:

Many small grasses... and two birds on the left side of the boulder, water pipits, well camouflaged:

Photo from a stroll on Monday

Vegetable sheep (Raoulia eximia) and an animal sheep (Merino)

Been waiting awhile to record the two together

Was in Tapanui , West Otago yesterday . The town is being americanised for the filming of Pete's Dragon starring Robert Redford and Karl Urban . The zip code 10651 doesn't exist in the US (must be a special one for movies?!) but 10650 is in New York state and I think Tapanui will become Millhaven , NY . I hope the film is set in winter or they may have to wait a bit to film outside

[quote=Steve Newall]

Was in Tapanui , West Otago yesterday . The town is being americanised for the filming of Pete's Dragon starring Robert Redford and Karl Urban . The zip code 10651 doesn't exist in the US (must be a special one for movies?!) but 10650 is in New York state and I think Tapanui will become Millhaven , NY . I hope the film is set in winter or they may have to wait a bit to film outside

[/quote]

'Sussing' out a potential lead role were you Mr Newall

I auditioned for the part of a troll but dipped out because I was too ugly

Looks like it will be Millhaven in Washington state apparently . There goes my detective work on the zip code

Was back in the hills again last week

Eriophorum sp., cotton grass, in Kananaskis Country, AB, Aug. 10/15:

Frozen lake, Banff N. P., Oct. 22/15:

Orchid, Platanthera dilatata, and leather-leaf saxifrage, Leptarrhena pyrolifolia, in wet subalpine meadow:

Castilleja rhexifolia(?), Kananaskis Country high elevation roadside, Rocky Mts., AB, July 20/15:

Antennaria aromatica in Kananaskis Country, AB, ~2200m elevation:

I wondered what this beauty was for a long time but I think the ID is finally confirmed.

Lori, you get around, fresh off the heels of the Facebook thread by Panayoti, and the mystery Antennaria, this indeed looks just like A. aromatica, with foliage as good as any Eriogonum.  This species is found in Alberta. Nice photos and specimens.

I was very interested to see that discussion.  With that help, and the simplified keying-out info in the Pojar and MacKinnon book, Alpine Plants of British Columbia, Alberta and Northwest North America, I think I can finally put a name to this incredibly beautiful alpine!  Thanks for doing the sleuthing, Mark!

Rhodiola integrifolia ssp. integrifolia, Alberta Rockies:

Alpine larches, Larix lyallii, Sept. 28/15, Kananaskis Country, Alberta Rockies:

Saxifraga oppositifolia, all tucked in for winter, Oct. 13/15, Kananaskis Country, AB:

Partridgefoot, Luetkea pectinata and wet alpine tundra habitat in Banff N.P., AB:

Stellaria longipes, Kananaskis Country, AB:

Salvia blepharochlaena:

That's a beauty, Lori!

but you know I love salvias

cheers

fermi

PS I have one seedlings from the seed you sent me awhile ago!!!

that is spectacular-hope to find some seed in the exchange

Good news, Fermi!  Glad to hear you got at least one seedling.  It's a great plant that blooms over a long period here.

Harold, you'll be pleased to know that I did send seeds to the NARGS seedex!  Keep an eye out for the seed list.  

Minuartia erythrosepala:

Monardella odoratissima var. odoratissima - seeds available from NARGS seed exchange:

Campanula stevenii ssp. turcaninovii (Campanula turczaninovii) with its interesting dark, upright buds and fuzzy, white calyces - seeds available from the NARGS seed ex:

Very eye-catching!  And nice Rheum, etc. in the background, too.

Ophiopogon umbraticola

Hi, Rick!  What beautiful seedpods - I wish it was hardy here!  (Or maybe it is?  Who knows?)

Eriogonum androsaceum in fall colour:

Larix lyallii in late September, Banff N.P., AB:

Gentiana glauca in alpine tundra, Banff N.P., AB:

Love the pics of your garden and the wild plants.

Thanks!  Feel free to join in at any time!

Bow River valley in Banff National Park, an example of an inverted treeline where cold air swooping down the valley creates tundra conditions at lower elevations than the surrounding forested slopes:

This morning this little clump of rain-lilies was looking good.

This is a seedling of the Habranthus robustus selection or hybrid called 'Russell Manning'

cheers

fermi

Beautiful, Fermi!

I'm trying to figure out the IDs of some Erigeron species seen on our hikes. 

Erigeron grandiflorus(?) from an alpine ridge, ~2200m elevation, Alberta Rocky Mountain front ranges: 

Saxifraga sancta var. macedonica:

Onosma sericea and Dianthus deltoides (or similar spp.?):