Bitterroot Bloom in May
Every year near the end of May we drive west to witness local bitterroot (Lewisia redviva) in bloom. It can be found at various locations between Cache Creek and Spences Bridge, usually above the highway in the hills on southwest-facing rocky slopes. There are probably lots of spots, but we have so far found them on Elephant Hill, Red Hill, the Venables Hills, and the hills above Black Canyon. It grows on dry, gravelly soil. Flowers emerge from short stalks before any leaves appear:
More information on bitterroot.
While hunting for bitterroot flowers we encountered a number of other wildflowers – gaillardia, milkvetch (Astralagus sp.), blue flax (Linum), leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), and erigeron. All photos by the author from that day. Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption/ID.
We stopped in at Desert Gardens in Ashcroft on the way back and brought some new plants back to our Kamloops garden. Some of these will be featured on A Gardener’s Journal.