Below are photographs of the flowers I pass by during spring morning walks on the mountain where I live (one flower I could not identity). Since these photographs were taken, many new varieties of flowers have bloomed. I could showcase so many more exquisite varieties but for now the selection below will suffice.The mountain never ceases to be alive with wondrous beauty. I hope these flowers provide you with a virtual visit to the Okanagan Mountain landscape in the spring.
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| Meadow Death-Camas Note: The Okanagan people mashed the bulbs as arrow poison. |
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| Balsam Root |
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| Chocolate Lily |
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| Vetch |
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| Oregon Grape |
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| Woodland Star |
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| Figwort: Red Paintbrush |
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| Stonecrop Note: Okanagan people used infusion of leaves, stem and flowers as a laxative and to clean womb after childbirth. |
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| Pussytoes |
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| Round-Leaved Alumroot |
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| Thread-Leaved Phachelia |
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| Bluebells |
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| Yarrow |
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| Sunflower (Rocky Mountain Butterweed) |
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| 1. Need help with this one–any ideas what it is? |
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| Orchid: Mountain Ladyslipper Note: The Okanagan people call this orchid ‘Moccasins.’ |
* Info on plant I.D. and Okanagan plant use: Plants of Southern Interior British Columbia Parish, Coupe & Lloyd
Unknown
Love the pictures of the flowers. Don’t think I have ever seen pussytoes.
Mix Hart
They are really interesting flowers. It’s amazing how much I taught myself about the local flowers just by doing this blog. Now when I walk in the forest I look at each plant very closely.
Harold Rhenisch
the unknown one … if it’s a shrub, a likely candidate is mock orange … if it’s not a shrub, what does the stem look like? Take a look at the mock orange here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wcweber/4195744172/in/set-72157622901171055 Best, Harold <>
Mix Hart
Thanks Harold, It’s a teeny tiny little stem with a thatch of little flowers on the end. Perhaps it’s not native to this region?
Alexis
where a bouts in the okanagan is this? I’m planning on doing a photography shoot and looking for places with patches of bluebells specifically!
mixhart
This pictures were taken on Knox Mountain.