Woodland Star

"Small-Flowered Woodland Star" (Lithophragma parviflorum)

2008 April 4

I first noticed this plant for the first time on this date.
It seemed to growing almost like a ground cover up on the bluff.

2008 May 9

2008 May 20

2009 May 20

A perennial.

Violets: Early Blue

The leaves and flowers of all violets are edible, the flower being a colorful salad addition. Flowers can also be candied and used as cake decorations. (I've looked at the process but decided it wasn't worth my effort ... but then, I'm not into cake decorating.) Plants were also used for such herbal remedies as a mild laxative, to relieve coughs and lung congestion. Pansies are also violets ... no wonder the deer munch back the flowers on all of my pansies!

"Early Blue Violet" (Viola adunca)

2008 May 18

2007 May 14

2007 May 14

The violets in the last two pictures were growing up amongst some Kinnikinnick so you'll see the leaves of both plants in those pictures. In fact, the two little pinkish red buds in the last picture are Kinnikinnick buds.

Strawberry

"Wild Strawberry" (Fragaria virginiana)

2008 May 19

2007 July 13

2007 July 13

The wild strawberry is so small but tastes SO good.

The First Nation peoples ate these berries raw and sometimes mashed and dried them into cakes for winter stores. A tea was made of the leaves to ease diarrhea or to sooth sore throats.

Shooting Star

"Few-Flowered Shooting Star" (Dodecatheon pulchellium)

20008 May 20

2008 May 20

2008 May 20

Some First Nations people made an eyewash from an infusion of this plant, others made a charm out of the flowers in aide of increasing their wealth. A very pretty, dainty flower, I was just happy to come across a few of these up on the look-out bluff.

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.

Penstemon (Shrubby & Small Flowered)

"Shrubby Penstemon" (Penstemon fruticosus)

2008 May 28

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2008 May 28

2008 May 28

2008 May 28

2008 May 28

This plant is not only pleasing to the eye but very useful as well. It was used by First Nations people to make a dye, as a flavour enhancer for root veggies, and medicinally: as a purgative, as a treatment for ulcers, to bathe sore eyes, and to sooth the aches of rheumatism and arthritis.

"Small-Flowered Penstemon" (Penstemon procerus)

2008 May 31
Shown with old seed pod.

2008 May 31
Old seed pod up close.

2007 June 18

2007 June 19

2007 June 20

This flower is one that doesn't look like much from afar but get up close and it really is quite amazing both in color and shape of flower. It grows in little clusters that look quite raggedy when they finish blooming. You could well pass them by so be on the look out.

Lemonweed

"Lemonweed" (Lithospermum ruderale)

2008 May 20

2008 May 20

2008 May 20

2007 June 20

2007 July 30

2007 August 9

The common name is due to the pale, yellow color of its flowers. The seeds were used as decorative beads so I had to make sure a got a picture of them. Other uses: an infusion was made from the roots to stop internal bleeding and as a diuretic for kidney complaints. Leaves and stems were dried and ground to a powder which was then made into a poultice to relieve rheumatic pain. The plant was made into a charm to call the rain in by one tribe and used, as a charm, to stop thundershowers by another tribe! A red or yellow dye was produced, most likely from the root.

Larkspur

"Upland Larkspur" (Delphinium nuttallianum)

2008 May 9

2008 May 20

2008 May 20

2008 May 20

2008 May 20

2008 May 28

2008 May 28

2008 May 28

2008 May 28

2008 June 22

In my first year of wanderings, I only found one of these plants ... perhaps my senses weren't sharpened up enough, to spot more. I found a number more in my 2nd year of wanderings. Pretty, especially the colour.

Larkspurs contain delphinine and are poisonous to cattle and humans but not to sheep! (Beware the beauties!) My book says the seeds are highly toxic ... the plant itself is more toxic in the early spring, before flowering.