There's still colour in the garden

Even after all the snow and several nights of really cold weather, there's still a couple pansy's hanging in there.

The roses are done for the year, but I love the subtle things that happen with the colour and texture of the blooms after a frost.

These two buds never got a chance to bloom. I wonder if they'll hang in as long as these two bud-dies? You aren't likely to see as many shots of these as I did of the last pair. Those ones I could shoot from the driveway. These ones are entirely likely to get completely buried, and even if not, I'd need to put on snowshoes.

I've never really liked any of my rose hip shots, but this one makes me happy.

Roses, pre snow

Here's some roses from almost a month ago. Enjoy.

Thinking of my buddy Susi

It snowed last night. Very lightly, but undeniably snow. Yes, that white stuff is on the lawn, just a little beyond a really heavy frost.

I think our plants are done for the year, but there are still some not yet made public. Here's some, mostly purple, mainly for Susi, in her warm snug island home where it only rarely snows. She's asked me to come visit, and the temptation is there. But lots to do this fall, so I'm not sure.

Last week I was out helping my neighbours update their community association membership. It's one of those things that people mean to do, but in our busy world they need a reminder. I knocked on one door, and through the stained glass I could see two bicycles parked where most people would put a dining room table. I was so hoping they'd open the door.

She did. The living room faced south, and I was blown away by how she had converted it into an  office. A nice desk, various plants and flowers, some small sculptures, it was a beautiful working space. We had a nice chat while she renewed. She runs several companies, some related to industrial safety, and was talking about working towards the hygiene certificate. I talked a bit about how Susi had worked from being a P Eng in the oil industry, to an industrial hygiene officer for the province.

I've known Susi since we both started the same week at the same company, with offices across from one another. It seems like just an eye blink ago. She got me into triathlon, and is currently trying to uninsulated my 6 pack. An act of optimism if ever there was one.

It's funny, I've worked at lots of different jobs over the years, and it seems like I stay friends with someone from almost every job, even after one or both of us leave it. The local ones are easier to stay in touch with, but even with various technologies it's easy to let people slip away. I've been trying not to do that. So far, in retirement, I've had lunch or coffee with someone every week, getting caught up and maintaining friendships. If I haven't seen you for a while, and you can work me into your busy schedule, get in touch with me.

After some brilliant Fish Creek colour yesterday and the day before, here's a bit of different colour from our garden. Stay tuned, there's more Fish Creek coming, including one that is certainly a finalist for image of the month, at least, and probably even image of the year.

So what do we have here? Clematis, Dahlia, Clematis, Clematis, Dahlia. Enjoy.

A snake for Amy

Some of you may be nervous about that title, so yes, there's really a snake (a tiny one!) here today, but lots of other stuff to take your mind off of that, if you're nervous about reptiles.

A bit of a hodgepodge today. I was having coffee a couple weeks ago and looked outside. It took me a minute to focus because I hadn't even had the first sip yet. I did that, then ran for the camera. I didn't care that I was barefoot and the knees of my jeans got soaked in the dew. It was just cold enough overnight to freeze some of the dew or rain. I had fun playing with the camera settings.

Yesterday was a photo ramble in Fish Creek again, down the trail that ends up between bridge 4 and 5. It was lovely! No, really, stunningly lovely. Like this. I'd put an iPhone version of this on Instagram at the time, but this is what it really looked like. This isn't even one of the 4 star images from the day, and a couple of them I'm seriously considering 5 stars.

The path winds down a gully between two big outcroppings. Once the firetruck sirens went away it was peaceful and quiet. The light came and went, and eventually it clouded over, but the scenery was always beautiful. I spent some time sitting on a rock, listening to the creek.

I love walking along slowly, looking around, trying to find a beautiful shot. I'd been looking at the tiny little spring-fed trickle, when my eyes got back on the path and found this little guy less than a foot from by shoes. As soon as I shifted my weight he was off.

One of my Ironman buddies essentially bribed her kids to behaving on race day. She was liberal with her promises. One kid wanted a reptile. I think a python was mentioned. She talked him into a dog instead. (The dog had a long and happy life and recently passed away.) For a while the dog had some intestinal problems. One day the older kid called her at work, and in all seriousness said that he thought the dog had exploded, and what should he do about it? For years after, whenever I heard the dog had problems, I reminded her that she could have had a snake. Nobody has ever called and asked what to do about an exploded snake.

One of my other buddies has a kid, (or kids, I'm not sure) that is/are deeply interested in reptiles. I think she is not quite so sure about this, but is bravely facing the challenge. There was a photo of her that looks like she is getting ready to kiss a lovely boa constrictor.

I first met a snake in person in grade 5. One of my classmates brought in a garter snake several feet long. It took me a bit to work up the courage to hold it. Then many years later, I got a chance to hold a much bigger snake, a python about 5 feet long. It was really cool to feel it's muscles pushing itself along my arm.

The only other snakes I'd met were in my bad dreams. Tree roots turning into snakes. Chasing me. Glowing eyes watching me in the night. I'm glad I outgrew that, or learned to take control of my dreams. When they made me unhappy I'd change them.

Here's the first bit of red I found on the walk. There is more coming. A sea of it, and I don't mean a hockey game. Stay tuned.

I'll leave you with this fun reflection photo.

Some mostly, temporarily, happy dahlias

You might have got the idea, somehow, that I like photographing dahlias. Can't imagine where that came from. They're tricky in this climate. They get a bit of a late start, and really start coming into their own in August. But September weather in Calgary can be, well, anything. We've had lovely long  Indian summer and we've had several feet of snow land just after Labour Day and never really leave.

This year we had a bunch of misty cold damp kind of rainy miserable days in a row, which explains why I don't live in Vancouver. I'd be homicidal half way through a Vancouver winter. 

These photos range from very late August to mid September or so. We are amazed they are doing so well. They are still hanging in, just barely, with Linda diligently covering them up every night. One of them opened just enough we can see what colour it will be. Linda wants to make notes, and we might try to start them in a temporary bed in the basement, suitably protected from cat depredations, of course.

Still, we know the end is coming soon for them. Maybe over the weekend. I will miss them.

Dahlia and steel, front and back

This is one of the new blooms from Sept 24. No idea if it will make it much further into the season, but I was struck by the contrast with the steel cattail sculpture nearby, and the reflections off it.

The red dahlia

Here's the lovely red dahlia that lives in the back patio.

Sept 9

Yes, this is still it, peering out through the white fabric we draped over it to try to protect it from the frost and the snow. Sept 14

And then Sept 17, looking a little worse for wear, but considering we thought it would have packed it in for the season, we're quite pleased.

Shortly after taking this photo I was out firing up the BBQ. We didn't eat outside, though. I think we're done with that for the year.

And then, last one. Sept 24. We are amazed at how well the various other dahlias have come through the cool damp weather. One morning there was actual ice on some of the plants, but most of them shrugged it off. This particular blossom is essentially done but it likely would have been anyways regardless of the weather. There are some other ones starting up in an act of optimism or something. There are a few nice days ahead, but it's the low overnight temperatures that are going to do them in soon.

There are other photos from today including a bedraggled bee, stay tuned.

More lilies

These are several weeks old now. It's the last of the not-day lilies. I'm not sure if they're tiger lilies, or some other kind, but I know they're not day lilies. The transition from the red to the white is fascinating.

An update as of the 19th. We didn't cover this lily. We figured it would either make it through the cool and rainy weather over the last little while, or it wouldn't. As you can see during the sunny afternoon the other day, it's still hanging in, though looking a little worse for wear.

We are getting a bit more almost sunny warmth this afternoon, and have to soak it up while we can. Even though I swam this morning (500 m 9:20 moderate pace, 300 m backstroke easy, water yoga and water running) I might go for a bike ride while it's nice. Maybe I'll take the camera.

More bees!

As always the bees are loving the dahlias and I think the other flower is lamb's ears. These aren't quite macro shots, but getting there. I always think the bees are giving me the eye, wondering if I'm going to do something to them. Not at all, little bees.

This dahlia is open now and it's just lovely. I'm just completely captured by the yellows and orangey reds. I could photo it all day. I hope I get a chance a backlit shot while this is in bloom.

Lilies, to cheer us up.

Oh, and a couple clematis snuck in.

This was back at the end of July when there was still sunshine. We put this clematis here almost as an experiment, and it very quickly reached the top of the lattice. It's been struggling to get up on top of the trellis, but I'm sure it will make it. Then a close up of the blossom. It seems to be happy here.

Now the lilies. Sorry to make you wait. I don't think I need to say much about them. I think these are all pre-hail, or between at just the right time.
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Now we get rainy smokey, or smokey rain, whichever you prefer. You'd think the rain would clean out the gack, but not so's you'd notice. Sooner or later it must end.