Yesterday, instead of venturing to Waterton Lakes National Park, I explored a local treasure. Just a forty-minute drive southwest of Calgary, near Millarville, five of us spent the day botanizing on Darryl Teskey's acreage.
The visit was a first for me, and I’m grateful I went. I would have otherwise missed remarkable finds, like this mushroom and several Red-belted Polypores (*Fomitopsis pinicola*), adorned with exquisite droplets—a phenomenon known as guttation.
In fungi, guttation is the process of exuding excess water, forming beads that can resemble tears, sweat, or even colored secretions like blood or milk. This trait is so distinctive in some species that it aids in identification. Seeing these delicate droplets up close was a highlight, made even better by sharing the moment with a fellow enthusiast.
We wandered through meadows and forests, navigating a hidden network of fallen logs. The landscape was alive with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of small Skipper butterflies, their bright orange flashes dancing over flowers of every color.
Our mission, as always, was to document every organism we encountered—from fungi and wildflowers to birds and insects. Our leader compiles these notes and photos into a detailed inventory for the landowner, making the day a rewarding exchange: we enjoy a deep connection with nature, and they gain a richer understanding of their land.
Luckily, the rain held off until our drive back to Calgary, though the gathering dark clouds reminded me of the tornado that had touched down in my community just the day before. Now, after so many summer expeditions, I’m left with the happy task of processing a wonderful backlog of images from this and other recent adventures.
