More Flowers in Paradise Meadows

/ Dave Ingram

While the Jeffrey’s Shootingstar display in Paradise Meadows, Strathcona Provincial Park, British Columbia is exceptional right now, so are many other flowers in the meadows. The late snow melt has compressed the wildflower bloom into a shorter time frame and as a result many early spring flowers are blooming at the same time as late summer flowers. Further into the back country, (and higher in elevation) the snow is just beginning to melt enough to expose the ground, making it possible to walk from the trail head “back in time” to early spring conditions.

Here’s just a few of the many flowers that are in bloom in Paradise Meadows this week:

Sitka Valerian (Valeriana sitchensis)
Sitka Valerian (Valeriana sitchensis) is common in the wet open meadows and along stream edges.
Globeflower (Trollius laxus)
Globeflower (Trollius laxus) is in bloom in many wet areas in the meadows. Be careful not to confuse it with Alpine White Marsh-Marigold (Caltha leptosepala)!
Deer-cabbage (Faura crista-gali)
Around the edge of every wet meadow and trickle of water, Deer-cabbage (Faura crista-gali) grows profusely.
Oval-leaved Blueberry (Vaccinium ovalifolium)
One of the key features used to separate Oval-leaved Blueberry (Vaccinium ovalifolium) from other blueberries is the fact that the flowers generally appear before the leaves.
False Azalea (Menziesia ferruginea)
The False Azalea (Menziesia ferruginea) has delicate, urn-shaped flowers that resemble the flowers of the Vacciniums (blueberries).

If you get a chance this week head up to Paradise Meadows and take a short walk along the boardwalk and enjoy the wildflower display. Check with the Strathcona Wilderness Institute blog to see what’s been sighted recently. There is so much in bloom that you’ll be glad you did!