Calgary Parklands: Elliston Park and the Greenway

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The C Hikers met at Elliston Park under gathering dark clouds. As Wendy remarked, a few “chinks of blue sky” shone through. Our mood was cheery when Sylvia led us part way around Elliston Lake, up to 17 Avenue, and onto the Calgary Greenway. Spreading out along the groomed path, we found our pace. Because this part of the Greenway is along Stoney Trail, we had the weird sensation of looking one way to see thundering goods trucks and the other way to see the wildness of our prairie landscape.

As the route moved slightly up hill and down, wildflowers took over from long grasses. Goldenrod and Vetch spread in broad swathes, a background for Oxeye Daisies and Yellow Toadflax. Red and white clover formed a natural herbaceous border. Rusty red Dockleaf spears poked their accents above the spectacular displays. This part of the Greenway was built on disturbed land, attracting flowers that elsewhere would be considered weeds. Some Wild Roses and cattail reeds flourished amongst their less reputable neighbours.

Returning to the park, we strolled around the rest of the Lake. Although at first we walked close to the shore, Calgary’s frequent thunderstorms had raised the Lake’s level over the path, fulfilling its role as a storm-runoff-collector. Startled by having to climb up a significant hill, we rejoiced in the sudden embrace of woodlands. Finally, out in the open we had a magnificent view of the park and the lake - an excellent place for lunch.

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Photos

Elliston Lake
A most elegant storm pond

Yellow Toadflax and Purple Vetch
A most pleasing colour combination

Elliston Park entrance
A new park for me

Cultivated roses
An ornamental introduction

Pine cones
Intimations of fall already

Flowers in the grasses
Left to grow as nature intended

Dockleaf
That all important vertical to catch the eye

Clover lining the Greenway
A natural border to the path

Scotch Thistle
Not a weed in Scotland!

Tiny wildflowers on the Greenway
Looking low yields wonders

Swathes of wildflowers ...
... as far as the eye can see

Oxeye Daisies and Red Clover
Astonishing variety!

Cattails
Anonymous stream

Duck
Full menu of grasses and reeds

Wildflowers in Elliston Park
Taking advantage of both sun and rain

Comments

[Isabel Gibson]

I'd never heard of Elliston Park or the Greenway. When I see where it is, I'm not super surprised - the only City quadrant I know even remotely well is the NW. Visiting all these City parks is a great idea for a staycation-style excursion. And it's good to see swathes of the City being left in a more-or-less natural state, threading wildlife corridors through a built-up area.

[beentouring]

Changes in Calgary
The Greenway is a relatively new innovation, and I learned today that it is longer than the ring-road.