Monthly Archives: June 2025

Lundbom Grasslands Nature Hike

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We hiked a series of trails in the Lundbom Grasslands in the hills southeast of Merritt in mid-June.   For over 3 hours, we hiked through open grasslands, open forests, aspen groves, glades, dales, and over ridges.    The south-facing slopes were dry and only grasses and a few summer-flowering plants were spotted.     On north-facing slopes, wildflowers had emerged over the last couple of weeks.    In forest glades, there was a mix of maturing plants and emerging perennials and annuals.    Many species were observed and only a few are shared here in a Google Photos gallery:

  • small-flowered penstemon (Penstemon procerus)
  • parsnip-flowered buckwheat (Eriogonum heraclepides)
  • prickly wild rose (Rosa acicularis)
  • meadow salsify (Tragopogon pratensis)
  • white catchfly (Silene latifolia)
  • shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa)(Dasiphora furticosa)

All photos by the author, taken that day.

The gallery can also be seen on Google Photos at this link – Lundbom Grasslands

We had hoped to spot blue-eyed grass in flower, but I suspect we were too late for this smaller species.    We have spotted them on these trails in the past.

Reinecker Creek Nature Hike

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We traveled to Shuswap Lake to hike some of the trails in Herald Provincial Park.   We started by hiking into Margaret Falls, then we did a loop route up the east side of Reinecker Creek, then back on the west side to the start.    On the south side of the slopes is open forest with gravelly soils.   As we … Continue reading →

Mara Meadows Ecological Reserve

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Mara Meadows Provincial Park is an ecological reserve “which contains unique calcareous fen ecosystem with diverse flora including rare orchids.”    Access is difficult.   We can drive back roads on the west side or on the south side, but there are no trailheads, no clear trails, and all routes require some bushwhacking.     We tried two routes on the northwest … Continue reading →

Vista Hills Nature Hike

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On a warm June morning I hiked through the hills on the western edge of Kenna Cartwright Park, including some off-trail routes across the south-facing slopes.    The goal was to hike a known route where blazing stars (Mentzelia laevicaulis) bloom in June and July.    This is an area I have visited in past years and I was not … Continue reading →

Stake Lake (Thrice) Nature Hike

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On a warm spring day I paddled around Stake Lake twice, then hiked on the trails around the lake for a two hour outing.    While hiking, I stopped to enjoy south of the wildflowers and flowering shrubs along the way.    Shared here are: Robbin’s milkvetch (Astralagus robinsii) Drummond’s rockcress (Boechera stricta) harsh paintbrush (Castilleja hispida) heart-leaved arnica (Arnica … Continue reading →

Buse Hill Nature Hike

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On a sunny early June day I hiked up Buse Hill, then along the rim and back through open forest and grassland slopes.  Wildflowers were in bloom, pollinators were out, birds were calling, and the hills were quiet on a weekday morning.    The hike was under 2 hours and had many fine views along the rim of the cliffs.  … Continue reading →

Neskonlith Lake Wildflowers

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After paddling Neskonlith Lake I checked out some of the glades near Creek where I had found mountain ladyslippers in late May in previous years.    This year some of the wildflowers I looked for seemed to be delayed in blooming, but I did spot a few, some of which are shared here.     mountain ladyslipper (Cypripedium montanum) red … Continue reading →

Red Hill Nature Hike

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Every year in the last part of May I combine a nature hike with another activity in the area to the south of Ashcroft.    At that time, bitterroot blooms on rocky, open slopes near Black Canyon, Elephant Hill, Red Hill, and on the slopes below the Venables Valley, and probably on other hills down toward Spences Bridge.    This … Continue reading →