From Red Lake I drove north onto the Tranquille Plateau to about 1500 m (4920 ft) and explored some of the open meadows and wetlands.

Above Saul Lake were patches of yellow monkey-flower (mimulus guttatus) in wet seep zones.

In a glade in a forested zone,  there were a few white geraniums (geranium richardsonii) in flower with their veined petals and hairy sepals.

Columbine (aquilegia formosa) was spotted in other open areas nearby.

I was pleased to find a slope of flowering trapper’s tea shrubs (ledum glandulosum) all in bloom on a slope above Saul Lake.

In a marshy near Strachan Lake I spotted a few emerging white bog orchids (platanthera dilatata), always a delight.

In the same area, were some tiny thyme-leaved speedwell (veronica serpyllifolia) with stems rooted in wet areas.

On a side road into the forest was a mass of early blue violets (viola adunca).

I am going back up to the area to paddle another lake, find some hidden waterfalls, and check out the trapper’s tea shrubs again.

I go out to hike or paddle primarily, but I am always hoping to find some flora or fauna along the way, with camera ready.