Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar

Danny found this caterpillar.  It was the first time I have ever seen one like this.    It turns into a yellow and black butterfly.  see photo http://www.albertawow.com/wildlife/Tiger_Swallowtail_Butterfly/Tiger_Swallowtail_Butterfly.htm

Adventures of Shannon, Cathy and Cheryl

Decided to go kayaking on the Ottawa River.  Shannon had a short try at it yesterday before we decided to cross the river over to Fitzroy Harbour.

Here's Shannon taking pics of geese on one of the islands.

In front of the dam.

I

How do we get out of here?

Cathy took a few pics of Shannon and I above.

I didn't realize there were so many different dragon flies.  I captured four here.

At the power lines we heard screeching.  Looking up, we saw a osprey.  I captured him here just landing on the huge nest.

If you look close, you can see him looking over the nest glaring at us.

On our way home, just made it in time before the storm.  We were at the BlackJack wharf when we first started hearing thunder.  OK Shannon, now you learn to go fast, before the storm breaks.  We only saw one flash of lighting.  Just reached the shore and a few raindrops starting falling.

Waiting for the Ferry

It was a great trip to Purdon Fen but always nice to return home.

Purdon Fen - in Larnark County

Purdon Conservation Area is a unique wetland famous for its exceptionally large native colony of Showy Lady's Slipper Orchids. My sister and I visited June 25th.  Each year between mid-June and early July orchids burst into bloom. It is extremely rare to find a colony of this size and Purdon is the largest in Canada.

The Iris' were beautiful also.

Passed it's peak but still beautiful.

This plant was most interesting.  Pitcher plants are carnivorous, meat eating plants  It's leaves are shaped like a tube called a pitfall trap. Inside the tube are little hairs, or tentacles, that point toward the bottom of the inside of the tube. This is so that the insects that get into the tube cannot make their way back out. At the bottom of the tube of a pitcher plant is a gel substance that digests the trapped insects.

Not sure what these two were (above and below).

Yellow Loosestrife

There was a 400 metre wooden boardwalk through the colony allowing you to have a close-up view of the delicate pink and white orchids.  The wetland was originally part of Mr. Purdon's farm and he began to manage the few dozen plants he discovered growing there in the late 1930s. Mississippi Valley Conservation acquired the site in 1984 and pledged to preserve it for the enjoyment and enrichment of future generations.
It was an enjoyable learning experience about fens and what grows there.

Flowers in my Garden

I can't believe it! My roses are in bloom, along with the peonies and a Columbine I think.

I was in the paper June 1, 2011

Here's a write-up from the Equity - showing my cow painting and my friend Shannon's paintings.

Opening vernissage of Regeneration

This exhibition will continue for two weekends and will end on June 5, 2011.  Was fun meeting all the artists again and to see what everyone was doing over the winter.  This was my friend Shannon's first exhibition.  We shared some food and a glass of wine.  Shannon and I will man the gallery next Saturday.

Here is a link to the 2011 expositions - In August, Cathy, my sister,  and I will share our work "Walk on the Wild Side".
http://www.pontiacartistsassociation.com/events.html

Spring on the Hill

Here are a few from the Hill on Friday the 13th.

The Tulip Festival - such a beautiful time in Ottawa.

The History - In 1945, Princess Juliana of the Netherlands donated 100,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa to thank us for our hospitality during the Second World War. The Dutch Royal Family was exiled and came to Ottawa for a place of safety. Princess Margriet was also born at that time in one of our hospitals. The first Tulip Festival was held in 1953 and continues on.