Scrambled Eggs

"Scrambled Eggs" (Corydalis aurea)

2008 May 23

2008 May 23

2008 May 23

2008 June 1

I only found one patch of these growing (2008). Apparently, the seeds can lay dormant in the soil for years until some disturbance triggers their growth. It seems ants really like this plant ... I've seen other photos on "the net" where the flower has its token ant or two or three. I guess they are the bacon bits in the scrambled eggs??

"Use Medicinal: Amerindians used tea for painful menstruation, backache, diarrhea, bronchitis, heart diseases, sore throat, and stomach aches; inhaled fumes from burning roots for headaches. May be toxic.
Warning: This plant is believed to be poisonous to livestock if consumed in quantity. Humans should generally avoid ingesting plants that are toxic to animals." ~~Direct quote from this site ~~

If you click here, you can read the various other ways this plant has been put to use.

Saskatoon

"Saskatoon, Service Berry or June Berry" (Amelanchier alnifolia)

2008 April 13

2008 May 5

2008 May 16

2008 May 18

2007 May 24

2007 June 17

2007 June 19

2007 July 20

2007 July 20

These add a really nice flavor to blueberry pie ... kind of perks up the blandness of blueberries. When I was a VERY young 'un and lived up in Taylor flats ... we not only had to pick buckets full of these berries in the summer but we practically lived on them through the winter. They were our fruit, but I can't call them my favorite food. I'm sure they are VERY good for you.

Hoofed animals browse on the Saskatoon bush in winter/spring and birds eat the berries. Native peoples ate these berries fresh, dried in cakes or dried like raisins. The plants can get as high as 4 meters tall! Sampling berries as I walked around the lakes in 2007, I noticed quite a difference in flavors, depending on where they were growing. The juice has a mild laxative affect.

Salsify

We have two types of Salsify here. These plants are biennial and propagate by seed dispersion. Apparently the roots, young stems and base of lower leaves are edible (see this link). We haven't ventured to try them yet. Salsify is an introduced species.

"Meadow Salsify or Yellow Goat's Beard" (Tragopogon pratensis)

2007 June 19

2007 June 8

2008 June 22

2007 June 27

"Yellow Salsify or Western Goat's Beard" (Tragopogon dubius)

2007 June 18

2008 June 22

Notice that there are 13 floral bracts that extend beyond the flower (Meadow Salsify has only 8 that are pretty much aligned with the flower). The flower is a little paler in yellow than the Meadow Salsify. The foliage is also more blue/gray in color.

2007 June 18

2007 July 20

2008 July 9

2008 July 9

Sagebrush Buttercup

Sagebrush Buttercup "Ranunculus glaberrimus"

2008 April 4

2008 April 4

2008 April 4

2008 April 5

2008 April 5

2008 April 4

These are very early bloomers, appearing on the heels of the snow melt in arid, grassland type areas, thus announcing Spring's arrival. A brilliant yellow, they can't help but catch your eye ... but beware, these beauties are poisonous. First Nations people used this plant to poison their arrowheads and warned their children against its handling.

Round Leaved Alumroot

"Round-leaved Alumroot" (Heuchera cylindrica)

2007 June 19

2007 June 19

2008 July 4

2007 July 16

2007 July 16

2010 February 2

It was a medicinal plant for First Nations Peoples who used the pounded and dried roots for poultices on cuts and sores ... to stop bleeding (it is astringent) and promote healing. It is also used to set dyes. The leaves looked nice, the flower looked like it had potential but, it was one of those, look like I'm going to be impressive but not, type flowers when it finally flushed out ... as you can see.

Rose

There are various wild roses in our area. I'm only getting into this so didn't know to take the time and individually photograph them. Come spring 2008, I'll try to watch out for the various species more carefully. With help, these have been identified as:

"Clustered Wild Rose" or "Peafruit Rose" (Rosa pisocarpa)

2007 June 7

2007 June 7

2007 June 12

Rose Hips are very high in Vitamin C as well as other good things. When my Mom heard this, I was about 8, she had us all go out and collect buckets of these things. She proceeded to make jam. All I can remember thinking was, "Yuk"! If you do want to sample, just eat the outer part, not the seeds. The seeds can be pressed for the oil they contain, which is used in the cosmetic/spa world as a regenerative for the skin. Critters such as coyotes and bears also eat rose hips.

The wild rose is very difficult to get rid of from your garden as it has a very well developed root system that travels for ever! Tell me about it ... I have pulled out any suspicious root or piece of root in my vegetable garden ... and a rose still, occasionally, pops up. But in the back yard, which has been left wild, they can grow all they like.

Rose petals may be eaten (a pretty addition to salads) and leaves can also be used for and in tonics.

Rein Orchid: Round-Leaved

"Round-Leaved Rein-Orchid" (Platanthera orbiculata)

I saw this plant on the forest floor in May. Not knowing what it was, I began tracking its progress:

2008 May 16

2008 May 21

2008 May 23

2008 June 19

2008 July 8

A Round-Leaved Rein Orchid! It is growing in a deep covering of trees and woodland plants. If I wouldn't have noticed it before the other forest floor "stuff" had grown up, and marked the spot, I would have missed this plant all together. I have only found one off these. We live in an arid area so am surprised to have found one at all! Again, it is growing in that area where I suspect an underground water source. I took the pictures without a flash. The last picture was so shady I had the ISO cranked up to 800 ... not quite as sharp as I would have liked. If I get a chance, I'll try again. Usually the mosquitoes are attacking me as well ... a bit distracting ... trying to be still enough to take a shot while they are sticking their stickers into your hand ... in full view! Arrrgghhh!!!

First Nation peoples made a poultice of leaves which they applied to sores caused by scrofula, to cuts, as well as to blisters on hands and feet.

This species apparently has the largest flowers of all western rein orchids. I read that several kinds of moths feed on this plant's nectar and probably pollinate the flower.

Red Osier Dogwood

"Red Osier Dogwood" (Cornus stolonifera)

2008 May 15
In Bud

2008 May 18

2008 June 11

2008 June 22

2008 June 14

2008 July 10

2007 September 3

2007 September 3

2007 September 3

2007 September 3

We found this shrub growing on a trail that would seem to be in a very dry area. we are pretty sure that there is an underground stream that runs through this area for there are a number of water loving plants in the vicinity. However, most of these plants seem to be under stress and we think it is because our water tables have dropped over these last few years of drought like conditions. In any event, this plant looks healthy even though they normally grow in moist soil ... an osier bed is a river bed.

Moose love feeding on this plant and soon after I took those pictures in September of 2007, a moose went through and gave this shrub a severe hair cut. None the less, 2008 found it making a fine come back.

The First Nations peoples put this plant to any number of uses:

• berries added to saskatoons for a sweet and sour affect
• berries used as a mouth wash
• inner bark was boiled and used to treat any number of things
• branches were used to make fishing devices
• bent branches used to mjake sweat houses
• wooden skewers

It is also a very attractive plant ... easily propagated by cuttings ... would look nice in our yard but our yard isn't all that moist!