I love the part of the world that I live in, especially in May and especially this May for the wild flowers have been amazing. Whether it was was the -39C last winter which scared them or the ongoing drought that we have been experiencing, something has sent them into a frenzy of reproduction. It seems they are anxious to perpetuate their species with the abundance of flowers being produced. It is a most floriferous year.

All our cultivated plants have provenance somewhere in the wild garden of the world. Plant breeders’ meticulous care in selection and cross pollination have brought us many new cultivars. Alum Root, a Heuchera, Holly Grape, a Mahonia, Larkspur a Delphinium, False Soloman’s Seal all have cultivated garden plants bred or selected from their lineage. Sometimes plants throw us a new gift spontaneously on their own without human interference.

We live in an area that has many wild flowers, who share genes with cultivated varieties. Hiking in light rain a couple of days ago these are a few of the flowers all blooming at this time. Can you tell which garden plants might be closely related?

There are several species of Lomatium, Penstemon and Gromwells growing in the area in which I live, The East Kootenays of B.C. the southern east corner. Without close examination of flowers it is not always easy to determine which species.

All blooming now, the third week of May, 2024. Common Names followed by Genus.

If you have a chance at this time of year to get off the beaten track and go flower hunting, these are some of the treasures you might find. As we move into summer they will still be blooming at higher elevations along with more that choose only the higher peaks. Remember to take only pictures. Most of these plants will only grow in the conditions they are in and many have symbiotic relationships with particular soil conditions and fungi.

Dandelions are noticeable along trail edges where they have been carried in by hiker’s boots and bicycle wheels. It is beneficial to the environment to make sure your boots and bikes are clean before you enter these wild areas in order to preserve the local flora and ecosystem.

We are so lucky to have these natural wild spaces still available to us.