Blogs from Alberta, Canada, North America - page 7

Cascade Gardens The Cascades Of Time Gardens are a little oasis just minutes walking distance from downtown Banff and this morning Pam took us to these beautiful gardens but not before showing stunning views from both sides of the bridge overlooking the Bow River. Parks Canada took over the Brett Sanatorium and Hotel built in the 1880s, when it burned down in 1930 and converted it into the present day gardens. Ontario architect, Walter Beckett, planned the Parks administrative building and the gardens in the ~12 acre site, which was completed in 1935. The gardens were made as a geological garden to explain the geology of Banff National Park. But they evolved into a rock garden with rustic features and extensive floral bedding. Over 50,000 flowers are planted every year. We wandered along the garden’s many ... read more

Day 8. 3447Km. I forgot to mention yesterday that I did not see a welcome to Saskatchewan sign on the highway. The sign at the Alberta visitor centre was underwhelming but to be fair I was no longer on Highway 1, the Trans Canada Highway that runs coast to coast. The rolls in the landscape got a little bigger once I entered Alberta. I’m basically camped in the valley of the last couple road pics. The river is shallow now but it’s obviously a large flood plain right beside the campground. It’s been quite dry here lately so there is a fire ban. Two nights is a row with no campfire! I’m not coping well. There are large irrigation ditches I passed over and lots of field sprinklers running too. It looks like a corn producing ... read more

Thirteen walkers met under glorious skies at Elliston Park to enjoy the “cool” day of the coming week. Shining light created vivid pictures in the still water of the pond. A quintet of Brown-headed Ducks serenely paddled across the trees’ reflections. In a side pond, Shovelers steadily scooped up bits, attracting our bird watchers and photographers. Franklin Gulls acted as sentinels, fluttering as our wary footsteps rustled in the dry grass. The many Brown-headed Cowbirds were braver, walking on the stones along the shore. Flowers were scarce, although we did see a long pink field of Wild Roses. On the Greenway walk, as we gazed at the gentle slopes down to the stream, we spied a coyote that definitely stared at us, even though we were hundreds of yards away. On our way back, we returned ... read more

2021 June 18 On a perfect day, seven members of the C group met at the Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area, a new location for some walkers. Eventually walking 9 km, we first chose the Aspen Trail, which led us into a woodland filled with bird song. Most of the birds stayed well hidden in the waving aspens that shaded our trail. One song was so beautiful that we all halted, magically catching sight of the bird trilling his mating call. To our delight he ignored us, posing unconsciously for photos, albeit at a great distance. Some research later identified it as a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Wild flowers abounded, engaging our memories as we tried to match names to blooms. Many were LWFs, an acronym Wendy revealed as “little white flowers”. Yellow arnica sparkled in ... read more

Dorothy invited our group to gather at her home. Each of us chose one of three walks: Ranching Country, Woodlands and Mountain Views. To the south of Lower Springbank Road was the “Alberta Ranch Habitat – Open Space Zone”. Bright sun illuminated the rolling landscape from the grassy fields to the shining mountains. A classic red-roofed barn and out-buildings stood out in the verdant spring growth. Warmth and calm led us along the gravel road, leading to the homestead of the historic Colpitts Ranches , established in 1921. While no people were about, a horse in a far field heard us and long-stared in a curious, perhaps challenging pose. Birds twittered everywhere, yet we only saw a few – fluttering quickly from post to grass, keeping out of sight of a hawk soaring in the thermals. ... read more