August 2009

NEW . . . Manitoba Wildflowers gallery is now on-line. It is sorted by colour and when your cursor is placed over the thumbnail the name of the flower/plant will appear. You can find the page at the menu to the right in the “GALLERIES” section.

Keeping up with the  Manitoba Wildflowers is proving a challenge.   More today from within Winnipeg city limits.  This delicate little blue wildflower is called “Blue Bur”.  This is one of my favourites – I just love the shade of blue!  It is a small plant but very showy.

Another view of Blue Bur showing more of the foliage and plant.

Below are two plants I am sure everyone has growing around their property and if you are fortunate enough to be weed free it is still likely you have seen these.  They are very common and invasive.  The photo below is a “Pineapple Weed” – aptly named if you take a close look at the plant.  Sometimes I let the “weeds” grow in my garden as I know they will produce a lovely flower but for the Pineapple Weed and Common Peppergrass this is not the case.

Below are two views of “Common Peppergrass”, one view showing the white flower of the plant which is very tiny and plain.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

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One cannot mistake the hammering sound of a Pileated Woodpecker coming from the forest.  Often, they will be perched in the open on a hydro pole happily searching for grubs or insects that live in the wood.  Their favourite trees are unmistakable as they are full of  large holes.  These are the largest of woodpeckers in our area and are adorned with a beautiful crested red head.  They have a thick looking head, large sturdy beak and long claws that allow them to get a good grip on the trees or poles.   They are very flighty and although I have seen many of them it has proven a challenge to get a good photo as they tend to fly as soon as they see motion.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

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Summer is the time for hummingbirds and they will be gone all too soon now.  Below are some photos of a Ruby Throated Hummingbird.  I love the way they twitter and chase each other as they are very territorial when they are at a food source.  One old myth is that they hitchhike on the back of geese when migrating – nice thought but it truly is just a myth.  Amazing and delicate little birds.

Below a male and female Ruby Throated Hummingbird at a feeder.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

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