On a hot summer morning we hiked through the open grasslands of the Barnes Lake Trails, then through the open forest hills and back through the grasslands to the start. Along the way, we stopped to enjoy wildflowers, insects, birds, … Continue reading →
We hiked the McQueen Lake Trails on a quiet summer day and enjoyed the ponds, meadows, and forested trails along the way. We were pleased to spot a rattlesnake plantain (an orchid) in bloom. Prince’s pine (a wintergreen) was in … Continue reading →
We hiked in the summit area of Greenstone Mountain and enjoyed the wildflowers at 1770m (5800+ ft). On the open south-facing ridges we saw showy daisy (Erigeron sp.), pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea), stonecrop (Sedum lanceolatum), yellow agoseris (Agoseris glauca), orange … Continue reading →
On a day of paddling Hyas Lake and hiking in to Pemberton Lake, there were lots of wildflowers to enjoy. On the shoreline of Pemberton Lake, marsh cinquefoil (Potentilla palustris) was flowering. Brooklime (Veronica americana sp.) with its tiny blue … Continue reading →
On a hot summer day I got an early start. The route was on the southern border of McQueen Lake to the Grasslands Community Trail, then back along Clay Lake and up through a forested route to the Lac du … Continue reading →
We hiked a loop route in the hills above Isobel Lake and enjoyed the birds, butterflies, and wildflowers. The route wound around the hill, through the forest, on open grassland routes, through glades, and into a hilltop meadow. Along the … Continue reading →
I drove the bumpy backroads to Badger Lake then paddled the lake. Yellow water lilies were blooming on the back lagoons of Spooney Lake. On the drive back, I drove down the Orchard Lake Road and made several stops to … Continue reading →
After paddling Paska Lake, I took a short nature walk in the open forest at 1450 m. There were many jacob’s ladder in bloom on the gravelly soils in open areas, but I also spotted lupines, paintbrush, shrubby penstemon, cutleaf … Continue reading →
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 … Continue reading →
We hiked Helliwell Provincial Park on Hornby Island at the end of April and enjoyed the park and the many wildflowers of spring. One of the plants that was in flower was slender toothwort (Cardamine nutiallii). It is a … Continue reading →
Wildflowers were blooming Just off the side of the road, some of them seldom seen at this elevation in our region. The star of the display was yellow glacier lily (Erythronium grandiflorum). All photos by the author on an April … Continue reading →
Bracted lousewort (Pedicularis bracteosa sp.) is a perennial in the Orobanchaceae (broomrape) family. Unbranched stalks grow up to 1m from coarse and fibrous roots. Alternate fern-like leaves with toothed edges emerge on flowering stems. Beaked and complex yellow-red-purple complex … Continue reading →
