Active by Nature

 October Photo Blogging Challenge: Potpourri 

I went with this definition of potpourri for this month's challenge:  "A mixture of things"

Here we go:

1.  A Potpourri of Rocks

In our garden, we have a collection of rocks.  These are rocks that we have picked up on our travels and hikes around the world.  For a number of years, they were placed in a small rock garden.  This summer, my husband Colin decided he was going to create a waterfall feature in our back yard in which to showcase these rocks.  They definitely are enhanced when they are wet.  He tackled the project with gusto with the help of a couple of our friends.  First of all, the cement mixture used to form the waterfall, channel and pond did not set properly.  So they had to rip it up and start over.  Then once it was complete, it turned our there was a small leak somewhere as the pond slowly but surely loses water.  So this shot was taken as the waterfall was put to bed for the winter, with the rocks shiny from melting snow.  It looks like the project will need a third re-do to get it working.  I was so disappointed not to have it functional at the end of the summer.  On the brief occasions that we had it running, it was delightful and the birds and squirrels flocked to it to bathe and drink.

2. A Potpourri of Petunias

This photo was taken on October 29th.  My petunias were still in full bloom on October 31st.  If that isn't scary, I don't know what is.  Climate change is real and it terrifies me.  

3. A Collection of Fall Leaves

I guess a collection of various leaves, as experienced in an Ontario fall, would more fit the potpourri theme, but unfortunately, we don't have that kind of foliage here in Alberta.  So I had to settle for a mixture of different aspen leaves with their varying shades of yellow, coated with frost crystals.  I'll take it! 

4.  A Potpourri of "Push" 

This is a piece of public art now on display at the Canmore Nordic Centre.  It is the work of Canmore's very creative Lesley Russell.  Lesley is a senior partner in the Canmore firm Russell and Russell Design Studios where her major role is designing beautiful homes, inside and out.  Lesley has a degree in fine art and a masters degree in public art.  She was the instigator of Canmore's beautiful spur line art walk, a community art project that beautified the town's trail that connects the downtown with the iconic Engine Bridge and the Bow River. 

5. A Typical Canmore Potpourri!

What is October in Canmore without large gatherings of elk?  Often huge herds gather that are a mixture of moms and babies, battling bulls, with the young male elk hanging around at the periphery and getting chased off by the big guys.  In this shot, I have a mixture of elk and a collection of aspen leaves on the ground.  So.... I finish with a double potpourri?!?!?