by Suzanne Stengl | Sep 27, 2024 | Nature
I love walking along the bike path and heading down to the Bow River, especially in the autumn. It’s a time to enjoy the beauty and nostalgia of September.
We call that island the Silver Springs Island. Canoeists sometimes stop there for a picnic.
“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.”
— Emily Brontë
“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”
— Albert Camus
Rose hip tea, anyone?
a big ole cottonwood on the banks of the Bow
at the river’s edge…
looking upstream, to the west
looking downstream, to the east — the morning sun dappling the water.
walking back up the hill…
past the beautiful fall colours…
and up, and up…
To the top of the ravine again! Now we are looking west. You can see the Stoney Trail Bridge in the distance, and beyond that, the Rocky Mountains. Today, they are cloudy. It’s probably too soon for snow up there!
by Suzanne Stengl | Sep 19, 2023 | Nature
This past weekend, we visited old friends in Edmonton. Before returning to Calgary, we spent some time walking in the Emily Murphy Park. At first, we could not find the road that led into the park, so we flagged down a car and asked for help. A friendly Edmontonian not only gave us directions but led us to the park entrance!
peaceful river
In much of Alberta, the wind is carrying smoke from the wildfires into the cities.
North Saskatchewan River . . . and smoky skies
quiet path
fall foliage
We are having a most enjoyable autumn this year. Usually there is snow by now. But, this year, the days are warm, the trees are holding on to their leaves, and the season is extended!
by Suzanne Stengl | Sep 30, 2021 | Nature
After a long summer of wildfires and too many days that were 30+ Celsius, it’s soothing to take a walk around town in the cooler days of autumn.
We parked by the river in Kensington and then walked the loop to Sunnyside and back.
“Wild is the music of the autumnal winds amongst the faded woods.”
– William Wordsworth.
The Peace Bridge
“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.”
— Emily Bronte
“As for marigolds, poppies, hollyhocks, and valorous sunflowers, we shall never have a garden without them, both for their own sake, and for the sake of old-fashioned folks, who used to love them.”
– Henry Ward Beecher
the beautiful Bow River
“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” — Albert Camus
We finished our walk with lattes at the the Espresso Café.
I think Anon says it best:
“If you don’t like fall, you can leaf me alone.”
Maple leaves from canstockphoto2523415
by Suzanne Stengl | Sep 21, 2021 | Nature
Earlier this month, Rolf and I hiked to Boom Lake. We’ve done this trip several times over the years. I wrote about one trip here. Since the last time we did the trail, this new boardwalk has been added.
Clear blue skies today!
Lots of wildflowers along the trail. This is Bunchberry Dogwood.
To the west, Mount Quadra . . .
. . . and to east, the “boom” – where an old moraine touches the surface of the water in a crescent to catch driftwood floating past, as if it were a lumber boom.
Here I am at the lake.
The sparkling waters of Boom Lake!
This is a favourite September hike. We had perfect weather and finished off the day with dinner in Banff. Can’t ask for more!
by Suzanne Stengl | Jun 27, 2021 | Nature
On Wednesday, Rolf and I drove to Bow Valley Provincial Park and hiked the Many Springs Trail. Well, it wasn’t exactly a hike. It’s more of a walk. The Many Springs Trail is flat and well-groomed and quite short. Only 1.6 km. (That’s about a mile.) It’s also famous for its wildflowers.
Here’s the map of the trail, which is a loop.
At the junction, there’s a sign pointing you to the right. You follow along and reach the boardwalk. The actual loop is only about 1.3 km.
Most of the Bow Valley is dry, grassy meadows with stands of aspen and evergreen. But the Many Springs Trail is a lush wetland fed by, you guessed it, many springs.
At this time of year, lots of people come looking for the Yellow Lady Slipper Orchid.
Yellow Lady Slipper Orchid
The first time you see one, you get all excited and take about a million pictures. And then you realize it is everywhere along the trail.
The Wood Lily is here too.
Wood Lily
And, of course, there’s the Prickly Rose.
Prickly Rose aka the floral emblem of Alberta
Prickly Rose aka the floral emblem of Alberta
Where the trail opens up, there are some peaceful views of the mountains.
Creeping Juniper with berries
Limber Honeysuckle
boardwalk
Meadow Zizia
Red-osier Dogwood
Mount Yamnuska
Purple Clematis
And everywhere there is Silverberry.
Silverberry
It was a morning walk with lots of time for pictures. We drove on the 1A instead of the busier TransCanada, which meant that we went through Cochrane. So, on the way back, we stopped in Cochrane at McKay’s Ice Cream.
Always a good way to end a trip!
by Suzanne Stengl | Feb 20, 2021 | Nature
I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather for the last week or so. No fever, so not COVID, but some kind of bug that has made me tired and achy. At any rate, I’ve been cooped up indoors. This morning, I finally felt good enough to go for a long walk. After days of extreme cold in Calgary, we are now above freezing, and the sun is shining. I decided to go for a walk along the river.
Here’s the view of the mostly frozen Bow River from a lookout on the pathway through Bowmont Park.
And now I am down by the river.
In the Dale Hodges Park, I like to visit my friends, the ducks.
I’ve always wondered why there are a few ducks that don’t fly south for the winter. I guess they find enough to eat on these little open patches of water.
Here I am on the snow-covered boardwalk.
This is the Dale Hodges Park. It’s a natural environment park along the north bank of the Bow River. Surprisingly, the area used to be a gravel pit. And now it’s been reclaimed.
The project was a joint effort between Parks, Water Resources and Public Art. Stormwater from several upstream residential communities flows slowly through the water structures and is filtered before entering the Bow River.
The park is connected to Bowmont Park and is a wildlife habitat. It has a system of boardwalks, cycling and walking trails, marsh and meadows, and views of the Bow River.
But now it’s mostly covered with snow.
Later in the day, even on a cold winter day, there will be a lot of people down here. But, early in the morning, there’s just me, and the ducks.
The silence is amazing and uplifting. After an hour and a half of walking, I am feeling much better and ready to get back to the world.
