I want you to come along for a walk with me. I just feel in the mood to brag about my own personal park. I don’t expect you to flock to the big gate so let me show you the wild flowers here.
I know I should buy all manner of bedding plants. I do that in a sense. A petunia here and there with lobelia hanging over the edge of the pot. Tall cosmos as a backdrop for other flowers. After my walk along the trails I wonder why I just don’t go with all things wild.
Soloman seal just about in bloom, arnica frames the grassy trails. Fairy slippers have survived the winter. Little blue violets have popped up in the lawn. Of course I have the dandelions which I think are very pretty.
Many bushes are in bloom as well. Red osier dogwood blooms alongside yellow twin berry bushes. Just down the way cranberry is in full bloom. Look up and into the distance and you will see all the saskatoon bushes. Beautiful! In a few days the choke cherries will bloom as well.
I suppose these flowers don’t seem like much to you but I think it is grand. When I think of how many more flowers will bloom in the coming days I know my walks along the trails will never be boring. I see that many chocolate lilies are waiting for their turn. Soon buttercups will pop up around my pond. Forget-me-nots suffered some winter kill but I do see some making an effort.
Since I have many domestic trees planted in the forest more surprises are waiting for me. Even planters way out there are showing sign that flowers will soon be out. Jacob’s ladder, maltese cross, paint brush, oxeye daisy, yarrow, and that darn hawkweed.
I know I have missed some of today’s flowers. I was probably distracted by all the bird activity. Hummers must be nesting, american redstart finding a special spot, sparrows and many purple finch. Still have many evening grosbeaks. Crows are annoying me ever so much. They will not allow the woodpeckers to have a bit of peanut butter. Buster, a crow rescued here many years ago, is quite brazen. The other day he just walked himself into my enclosed porch. I did have a brief discussion with him about that sort of behaviour. One thing I would like to mention is to check your hummingbird feeders. With rain the water will often displace the sugar water.
I did have more to tell you but it is time to check the dogs who at this moment are chewing a big bone. I will take those away for another day and settle myself down to listen to the results for our provincial election.
If by chance you are out and about and would like to identify many of our wild flowers and all other things growing in our forest, have a copy of Plants of Northern British Columbia written by Rosamund Pojar and others. A great book which is loaded with lots of interesting information.
We’ll talk soon when you call 250-846-5095 or just email a thought to mallory@bulkley.net.