Thursday, December 29, 2011

Pink Lady's Slipper and Yellow Beadlily

  Pink Lady's Slipper 
- the flower emblem of PEI.

The following photos show
the first shoots to 
the seed pods in the late summer.


    May 19, 2011   
Yes, this is a seed pod - from the previous summer!

New shoots of Lady's Slipper

This is a Yellow Beadlily - the leaves are similar to 
Lady's Slipper, but appear well before 
the Lady's Slipper in the spring.
The flowers are not far from blooming.
 Beadlilies are much more commonly seen 
than Lady's Slippers.




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      May 31, 2011    
Lady's Slipper leaves -
note the three vertical veins, 
as compared to the one central vein of the Beadlily.



Lady's Slipper with flower bud.
The stalk is thicker than that of the Beadlily.



More buds!

These are beginning to turn pink.

In the middle is a fern beginning to open its leaves 
- it's taller than the Lady's Slippers.

Coming from the base of the Lady's Slipper 
and leaning to the left, 
is last year's flower stalk with the seed pod.


Growing through a tangle of dead spruce branch, 
leaves, moss and new shoots of other plants.
They grow where the trees are a little more open, 
allowing in some sunlight, 
and where the undergrowth is not too thick.



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    June 3, 2011    
 Yellow Beadlily in bloom.
The often form large thick patches, 
also where sunlight comes through and 
where there is not 
too much undergrowth.


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    June 7, 2011    
 The flowers stalks are taller and the bud is more developed.

This one is white before turning pink...

...and these are well on their way to pink.




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    June 14, 2011    
 In full bloom.

A side view.
The Lady's Slipper is an   Orchid  .


Two by two, back view.

 A nice patch with ferns behind.
The small white flowers in front 
are False Lily-of-the-Valley.




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    June 20, 2011    
Seed pods of Yellow Beadlily
The flower stamens will 
dry up and fall off


Lady's Slipper in full bloom and colour.




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    July 7, 2011    
 Their colour is fading and turning brownish.

The flower stalks have grown longer 
and the leaves are flatter and closer to the ground.

The dead flower hangs on to the tip of the new seed pod...

...still with the little green leaf... 

....above the pod. 


Meanwhile, the seed pods of the 
Yellow Beadlily have grown larger.
They will turn a dark blue -
 for this reason this plant is also named 
Blue Beadlily, or Yellow Blue Beadlily.

  July 20  



The fruit is well on its way to the dark blue colour.





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    October 4, 2011    
 They still look quite green, but the leaves 
are being eaten, and are breaking down.

The old flower hangs on, sticky and gooey.
The seed pod is fuller and developed...


...and the stalk is longer and leaning to one side. 

 Some stalks are turning brown, as are the ferns, 
from the colder temperatures and the frost.


When the pod is mature and opens, the seeds 
are very fine, like a dust, 
that blow away in the wind.
 They must land on a fungus to be able to germinate
The Lady's Slipper seed and the fungus have a 
 symbiotic  relationship  
 - this means that each plant helps 
the other out in some way.  
For this reason only a few of the many seeds 
will grow into new plants.


For more detailed information click on this link below.
It explains the 
  symbiosis   
with the fungus,
   germination  
of the seed,   
     growth   
and
   fertilization  
of the flower    
 by   bumble bees  
(very unique!) 
...and other interesting things about this plant


http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/pink_ladys_slipper.htm


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Sunday, May 15, 2011

Ring Neck Doves Photo Diary DAY 35

To see  DAYS 1-34  click on links in Blog Archive in the right sidebar.


To see:
Egg hatching - shows the hatching out step by step.  
See  DAY 2  April 12
Feeding their young.  
See  DAY 5  April 15  and  DAY 7  April 17


DAY 34   MAY 15   2011
The second egg hatches from the parents of the younger set.
He made it out!


Two together.

Their siblings, the younger set.

These fellows are really sizing up. 

The older one is on the right.

Ring Neck Doves Photo Diary DAY 34

To see DAYS 1-33 click on links in Blog Archive in the right sidebar.


DAY 34    MAY 14   2011
The first egg of the parents of the younger set hatches out.
These guys are growing very fast!

They will be the colour of the Dad or more grey.

The older set are settling down in their new home.
The parents were getting quite aggressive towards them.
In a few days we will move them to the barn into a large area, 
with other offspring.

The whole family, still fairly peaceful.
The first time perching for the young.

The first egg hatched out.

A closer view.

You can see where the hatchling is pecking away 
from inside the egg.

Ring Neck Doves Photo Diary DAY 33

To see DAYS 1-32 click on links in Blog Archive in the right sidebar.


DAY 33     MAY 13   2011
The parents of the younger set wait; 
the new hatchlings of the older set grow.
The parents of the older set and the new hatchlings 
changing shift.

Mom on duty.

Her feathers are fluffed out around the hatchlings.

The older one is on the left - so much bigger!

The younger set.

Ring Neck Doves Photo Diary DAY 32

To see  DAYS 1-31  click on links in Blog Archive in the right sidebar.


DAY 32   MAY 12   2011
Waiting, waiting.  The second set of parents are waiting patiently.
The parents of the older hatchlings.
These new babies are growing fast!

Dad of the younger set waiting patiently for the eggs to hatch.

The younger set of babies.