December, 2010

Forest / Photo of the Day — 1 Comment
31
Dec 10

Balsam Poplar at Beaverhill Lake

I’m taking one university class this winter, and I’m getting pretty excited about it. After getting half way through a design degree I’m switching gears completely and taking “Wildlife Biodiversity and Ecology”. Should be very interesting in a completely different way. This is possibly an explanation for my renewed interest in correctly naming trees and animals in my posts. I’d love to know all this stuff thoroughly.

I grew up differentiating poplars between white poplars (what I now know is trembling aspen – white poplar is actually a completely different tree from Europe) and black poplars (a kind of balsam poplar). Not sure if these were local names from Saskatchewan or mistakes. Anyway, these are a kind of balsam poplar near Beaverhill Lake. Not sure if they’re Ontario Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera) or Black Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa).

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Photo of the Day / Wildlife — No Comments
30
Dec 10

Columbian Ground Squirrel

I found this cute columbian ground squirrel in Sunshine Meadows in Banff National Park. They’re super tame in the parks, which is cool for taking pictures, but a little disturbing too. I think it was looking for a handout.

You can’t see it very well in this picture, but this guy has some serious claws. I’ll just happily continue assuming they’re for digging.

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Mountain / Photo of the Day / Water — No Comments
29
Dec 10

Blue Green Mountain Lake

Here’s a pleasantly bright respite from the winter blues.

I’ve enjoyed this tour through past photos but I’m looking forward to moving on. I’ve been working full time at McBain through December and I’m really looking forward to January when I should have time to get outside and get some new material up here. I have lots of projects I’m eager to work on, and I’ll share them here as they progress.

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Mountain / Photo of the Day — No Comments
28
Dec 10

Mysteries

Once things are discovered they lose some of their allure. With the imagination there are so many more possibilities.
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Forest / Photo of the Day / Plants — No Comments
27
Dec 10

Blackened Tree Trunk

Taken after a forest fire in Astotin Natural Area.
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Photo of the Day — No Comments
24
Dec 10

Merry Christmas!

I won’t be posting a picture for the next couple days, but here is a December sunset to tide you over. Taken on the trails at Chickakoo Lake. Hope you all have a great holiday!
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Badlands / Landscape / Photo of the Day — 1 Comment
22
Dec 10

Patterns Created by Erosion

Taken in the Red Deer River valley.
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Photo of the Day / Rural Decay — No Comments
21
Dec 10

Old House, Young Aspen

I think the whole reason I like this photo, and what brings it all together, is the yellow glow. Without that it is such a dark and weary scene, but the yellow seems to add some depth and some hope.
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Macro / Photo of the Day / Plants / Prairie — 2 Comments
20
Dec 10

Frosted Cow Parsnip

Backlit frosted fennel (edit: actually Cow Parsnip) in the morning. Taken in Cooking Lake Rec Area.
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Please correct me if I’m ever wrong in my plant or animal identification – I’m no expert.

Forest / Landscape / Photo of the Day — No Comments
19
Dec 10

Fall Birch Trees by a Small Lake

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Paper birch trees (Betula papyrifera).

Yes, these are getting shorter and shorter. But at least I’m mostly keeping up. In January I should have a bit more time to expound on all things photographical. Till then, enjoy the photos.

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