We hiked the Baileys Chute – Marcus Falls – Myanth Falls – West Lake Trails in Wells Gray Provincial Park in late May, enjoying the Clearwater River and the quiet, green forest.

There were some wet spots and skunk cabbage (liischiton americanum) was developing with the spadix now showing.    Yellowish green flowers will emerge soon.   The spathes (hoods) were still growing.

Ferns were growing all over the wetter parts of the forest.   Most abundant were the northern oak ferns (Gymnocarpium dryopteris).

On the river bank black twinberry (lonerica involucrata) was starting to flower.

In the mosses evergreen rattlesnake plantain (goodyera oblongifolia) was looking winter-battered, but the leaves will expand and a stem will rise in the summer with white-greenish small flowers.

Queen’s cup (clintonia uniflora) was also abundant, growing near wintergreens.    Stems and flowers will follow in the next 6 weeks.

Unfurling ferns were growing taller and starting to open up in the damp forests.

The beautiful cedar-hemlock forest along the way was enchanting on a warm spring day.

This was the first of several trips to Wells Gray this year, and each one will bring new arrivals to enjoy.