They’re wild, they’re really out there, and they’re waiting for you to drop by for a visit.
Wildflowers in psychedelic colours, everything from hot pink to candy stripe to neon blue are now in full bloom alongside nature trails and river pathways.
What better way to spend the coming weekend than to head out on a wild flower hunt...camera in hand – and perhaps a native plant field guide.
As a family activity, there’s nothing better – it’s a free scavenger hunt – compliments of Mother Earth.
Today’s nature half-dozen includes six wild flowers currently blooming alongside most river or streamside nature trails.
Challenge yourself to find all six…but be justifiably proud if you can find one or two.
As a special challenge, all readers who e-mail me a photo of ANY ONE of these wild beauties will win a copy of my trailbook: Nature Campbell River.
So get out the camera, go for a flower hunt and have some fun this weekend. Deadline for photos is June 4.
Cow-parsnip: Found in wet places, riverbanks. Alongside the Campbell and Quinsam Rivers. Can be confused with poisonous water-hemlock, poison-hemlock and giant hogweed.
Red-flowering currant: Found in dry open clearings, roadsides, woods. Among the hummingbirds’ first nectar sources.
Blue camas lily (common camas): A dry-land flower, found on Mitlenatch Island. Bulbs were historically eaten as food by First Nations groups.
Henderson’s checker-mallow (marsh hollyhock): A rare plant of tidal marshes, estuaries and seasides. Found at the very end of Myrt Thompson Estuary Trail.
Candy flower (Siberian miner’s -lettuce): Found in moist places, riversides, seepage areas. Locally found beside the Campbell and Quinsam Rivers.
Fringecup: Found in moist forests, riversides. Small fragrant flowers with pink petals turned backwards.
E-mail your photos to Christine at wildernesswest@shaw.ca. Poster: Backyard birds of Vancouver Island available at Coho Books and Campbell River Museum.