By Badger Creek
Badger Creek drains out of the high country lakes near Badger Lake and flows down through the hills towards the North Thompson River. The Badger Creek FSR climbs parallel to the creek past a series of ponds and small lakes and through forested hills. We recently hiked trails off the road and returned to paddle Badger Lake. Some flowering shrubs and forbs attracted our attention along the way.
False Solomon’s seal (Smilacena racemosa) flowers had recently emerged with white-yellow pyramidal inflorescences. Sticky currant (Ribes viscosissimum) was displaying bell-shaped pinkish-white flowers in clusters. Wild sasparilla (Aralia nuicaulis) had not yet flowered. The leaves become greener in summer.
Shrubby penstemon (Penstemon furticosus) is a favorite flowering shrub, gracing open hillsides in our area. Blue clematis (Clematis occidentalis sp.) features bell shaped flowers with no petals. Four blue sepals surround a cluster of yellow stamens and styles.
And, a turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) was perched in an aspen tree as I kayaked Badger Lake that day…
