I paddled Pat Lake for an hour, then hiked through the Six Mile Hills for another two hours, stopping to photograph whatever interested me along the way.

Lemonweed (lithospermum ruderale)  had started to flower in the lower hills.   Their delicate small pale yellow terminal lowers are in stark contrast to the weedy stems and stalks.

A hornet was busy pollinating saskatoon flowers.

On the rocky, open south-facing slopes phacelia hastata had new leaves growing through last years foliage.   It was quite abundant in this area.

Cut-leaved daisies (erigeron sp.) were starting to form flowerheads higher in the hills.

In a shaded narrow damp gully, false solomon’s seal (smilacina sp.) leaves were unfurling on growing stems.

On sunny slopes arrow-leaved balsamroot shone in the afternoon sunlight.

Along the way were many birds, insects, and wonders of nature to enjoy.   Half of the experience is exercise and half is an immersion in nature’s gifts.

meadowlark

spiral twist