This cheery bloom and accompanying bud were growing in the Calgary Zoo gardens on August 26th. Need colour this afternoon - after a beautiful morning of sun and blue sky, the weather has changed to overcast as the temperature rose. I think it was about -16C when I left home early this morning for a three-hour walk at Carburn Park. Everywhere was covered in ice crystals, especially along the river's edge, and vapour was rising up from the Bow River. Just looking at my photos makes me shiver. Sometimes, I look at photos like these, think of being tucked up in a nice warm bed, or sitting with a huge mug of hot coffee, shake my head, and wonder what stage of insanity I am at, LOL!!! Can it really get any worse, ha?