Glenbow Ranch Crocus Hunting

I'm still concentrating on capturing crocus photographs to make collages!  The season is so short, the forecast will not be forgiving and I only have a few more days on my side before leaving for a change of scenery! I have a lot to pack in before packing up, so on this morning I went to Glenbow Ranch Provincial park where I had insider information that crocuses had sprouted here.  The forecast was what it was, no matter what, I was going anyway!  As I hit the trail, the sky began to open up and shed some sweet shades.  

Within a matter of minutes, the sweet shades turned shady on me and snow showers started.  It was cold with a high windchill which allowed the snow to accumulate.  It was just enough to leave the pathway white then those sweet shades began to shine bright again.  

Even though a bright blue sky transpired, it remained cold the entire hike.  It was cold enough for the birds to puff up there feathers to stay warm.  I was surprised to see the Northern Shrike still here, it will soon head far north to where it spends the spring and summer.  

This is my collection of crocuses!  

After passing by the areas where I knew the crocuses grew, I then picked up the pace to get warm again and to complete the circuit.  Movement to the side caught my eye and this coyote spotted me long before I spotted him. He monitored me to make sure I moved along.  Then he dashed off into the trees.

Mission accomplished!  I still have more of these missions in me but the weather will be the telltale sign whether crocus hunting will be worthy!

meaningful details through sketching

On some days, for a few hours, I get lost!  This kind of lost does me the world of good!  By getting lost, I learn, I grow!  During these hours, it's the tiny details that distract me and take me to a place, a place where it almost feels like it is my reality!  One day soon, it shall be!

This small sketch was done on mixed media paper measuring 5.5 X 8.5 inches.  I am learning that I prefer using coloured pencils on smooth colour pencil paper rather than on mixed media which has deeper teeth.  Because this sketch has lots going on and it is on small paper, all items are little and it took work to get the scene to work!   It is made up of a mix of coloured pencils and india ink. I see this as a seaside cafe that serves cheese and grapes with your wine!   

A few weeks ago, I ventured down the path of making bookmarks using watercolour brush pens.  I learned to laminate them, then decided they might look cute with a charm and a twist of twine looped through the top.  I made three that I gifted to friends who I know read books.  I made this one for me.  It takes a steady hand to place the watercolours in a small space. I used india ink after laying the colour, to outline and show off the tiny details.  I see this as a spot on the beach where it would be enjoyable to pass time getting lost in the plot of a good book!  

Whoa what a load of red and black I used to complete this flamenco dancer!  It was done on watercolour cold press paper measuring 7 X 10 inches.  Instead of using watercolours on the watercolour paper, I used coloured pencils.  It took many many many layers to get to the point that I called it a finish project which is what I share with you here.  In fact, it still has loads of white spots that the colour did not dig into it.  Enough was enough and I had enough!  While I am very happy with the smaller details in the fan, her hair, her face and her hair decoration, I have to be content with her dress.  I see this as a symbol of Spain!

 

new colours of Nose Hill

I have been up on Nose Hill often lately, I still want to visit there but would like to see something different!  Like before, I went for sunrise but this time I wanted to capture photos of the crocuses before the sun was fully up.  I also planned to walk through the area that had burned back in February.  That was my plan and I had success with accomplishing that yet I came away with so much more!  

sunrise shades

admiring the crocuses while watching the sun rise

successfully raising the little ones

With the sun fully up and having invested plenty of time admiring the crocuses, I motored for a few kilometres to cover loads of ground.  I still stayed aware of the beauty around me.  It was a blue that caught my eye and seeing a Male Mountain Bluebird at Nose Hill is an unusual sight.

In previous visits to the Park, I could see the scorched ground down below while high on the Hill.  On this visit, I ventured in that direction and walked trails that meandered throughout the blackened area.  I was surprised to see shades of pink and purple glowing.  The most beautiful and healthy crocuses were growing throughout the burned field.   

The sketch in the collage story at the top of this post, is my tribute to "beauty blooms" !   

crocusing & birding at Confluence Park

 

springing along through spring

Oh what should I do today is the question I threw out to myself when I woke on this morning!  Chase crocuses?  See a sunrise?  Be a birder?  The photo collage from Nose Hill Environmental Park depicts what I went for!  On this gusty cold morning, spending loads of time close to the ground being one with Mother Earth, was a great way to avoid some of those bigger gusts but more importantly it allowed me to get up close and personal with the crocuses.  The majority of them are a bit beyond being buds yet there were hundreds more that were barely buds yet.  I will be back to see them in full bloom wide open showing off their hearts of gold!   

some of the hills that populate this section and it's where lots of crocuses thrive

just call me the coyote whisperer 

gorgeous view as I left the crocus hunting behind

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Oh what should I do today is the question I threw out to myself when I woke on this morning!  Chase crocuses?  See a sunrise?  Be a birder?  The photo collages from Whyndam-Carseland Provincial Park depict what I went for!  This was my first sighting of Red-Winged Blackbirds for this season.  I am learning that first seasonal sightings are a big thing in the birding community and I am beginning to realize why!  The sightings for me represent hope and promise!  I was the first to arrive and saw no one until when I was nearing the end, many others were just beginning their hike.  The colourful foliage is coming along, the ground is softening and soon the campground section will be open to campers.  I spotted a few sites that would be ideal for me, one which I shared in the bottom collage.  When the time is right, I will be back here for some kind of a visit!  

 

The Noses & The Crocuses

I was secretly hoping to find crocuses this past week as it would have been the earliest in the season if I had success!  On this last day of March at Nose Creek I had my first sighting of the season and the second I saw the crocuses, I expressed a shriek of joy!  Firstly though, I enjoyed a hike along the paths by the creek and meandering through the birth forest.  Being here on this morning was not my plan, I landed here when the Deerfoot 500 was at a standstill. I had not completely committed to the second lane so was able to veer off.  Nose Creek became my "save the day" place for an urban hike, it became the "consolation location"!  From my experience here, this was the winningest park to be today!  The area is dry and on the brown side but it is so alive with the smells, the buds, the running water, the bird songs and then there are the crocuses! The following photos show a few of my favourite sights today while saying goodbye to March!

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I was raring to get out the door to catch what ever Mother Nature had to offer for this first day of April up on Nose Hill!  I was sure I would see birds and I hoped I would spot crocuses.  The first photo shows the trail marker with the crocus cut out off the top.  While the sun was up, I captured this photo when I dipped down a steep hill and looked back.  When I turned again and looked forward, I saw the hills I wanted to ascend because I knew they would lead to where the birds hang out.  As I crested a hill, right in front of me sitting in the middle of the trail was a coyote basking in the sun.  It sprang to its feet as I am sure it was just as shocked as I was.  I yelled and pretended to go forward and it took off into the forest like a bolt of lighting.  I carried on up the hill!  I believe these may be Trumpeter Swans flying overheard. These male (with the red) and female Downy Woodpeckers played chase and offered me entertainment.  It was then time to cross country over the hills and aim for where I thought the crocuses might be and yes there they were!  The following photos show a few of my favourite sights today while saying hello to April!