The wildflower display on Mt. Revelstoke is well-known and attracts many visitors.    The 25 km parkway climbs to subalpine meadows in the National Park and a number of trails lead off to subalpine and alpine zones.    On my last visit, I drove to the parking area and hiked to Eva Lake, Miller Lake, and Jade Pass, and back, a 20 km route.    The day’s goal was not to investigate wildflowers, but I stopped to take some photos along the way, a handful of which are shared here.

My favorite photos of the day were taken in the fell fields which we wound through in the alpine zone near Jade Pass.     In the rocks, I topped to photograph fringed willowherb (epilobium ciliatum ssp.).   It is more likely to spot alpine willowherb or glaucous willowherb in the Interior of BC, but the flowers and leaves match up pretty well.   Do you have and alternate id?

Valerian was in bloom along the trail and butterflies and other pollinators were active.   An Edith’s checkerspot (Euphydryas editha) posed for a photo.  It is a member of the nymphalidae family which has many variations in coloration, wing length and body size.

Pink monkey flower (mimulus lewisii) flowered in wet seep zones.   The perennials grow from rhizomes and the stems have a soft and sticky feel.   Showy pink flowers are abundant in season.

A favorite in the alpine zone is alpine speedwell (veronica wormskjoldii).   The perennial herb has violet-blue flowers at the ends of stalks.   Cusick’s speedwell is quite similar, but is found in more southern alpine regions of the province.

Shrubby penstemon (penstemon fruticosas) is a woody shrub that grows on rocky slopes above the seep zones.

Fireweeds and willowherbs can be found in subalpine and alpine zones.   Broad-leaved willowherb, sometimes called river beauties are lower growing with showy flowers.   They often grow on rocky or gravelly spots where small streams and rivulets are present from snow melt.

Eva and Miller Lakes are picturesque spots on the east side of Mt. Revelstoke.

On the way back, I spotted this distinctive purple vetch.   The challenge with identification is that I should have taken more photos of the leaves and base for accurate identification.    I think it is one of the sweetvetches.

Some summer forest fire smoke was in the air as I returned down the mountain, tired after a long day of hiking.

My next hike on the top of Mt. Revelstoke will be a shorter route, with more stops to enjoy the flora and fauna.   The wildflowers call and I will return.