Wildflowers at Comox Lake Bluffs Ecological Reserve

/ Dave Ingram

In my previous post about the Comox Lake Bluffs Ecological Reserve I hinted that I had a few more wildflower photographs to share. The bluffs are definitely a fantastic destination for wildflower photography and there are many unique flowers that grow on the hot exposed bluffs.

Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria affinis)

Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria affinis)
The delicate nodding flowers of Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria affinis) grow
along the base of the shallow shelfs on the bluff.

Rusty-haired Saxifrage (Saxifraga rufidula)

Rusty-haired Saxifrage (Saxifraga rufidula)
The cog-edged leathery leaves of the Rusty-haired Saxifrage (Saxifraga rufidula) are often rusty-hairy underneath.

Grassland Saxifrage (Saxifraga integrifolia)

Grassland Saxifrage (Saxifraga integrifolia)
Grassland Saxifrage (Saxifraga integrifolia) is a second species of saxifrage that can be found at the Comox Lake bluffs. Its flower cluster is compact and it has wavy-margined leaves.

Naked Broomrape (Orobanche uniflora)

Naked Broomrape (Orobanche uniflora)
Naked Broomrape (Orobanche uniflora) is parasitic on a number of plants including stonecrops and saxifrage. The small, single, purple flower is easy to miss!

Meadow Death-camas (Zigadenus venenosus)

Meadow Death-camas (Zigadenus venenosus)
Meadow Death-camas (Zigadenus venenosus) was in bloom on the Comox Lake bluffs.

Silverback Luina (Luina hypoleuca)

Silverback Luina (Luina hypoleuca)
Silverback Luina (Luina hypoleuca) is a plant that is typically more common in rocky, exposed places at higher elevations.

I’ve recently been back to the Comox Lake Bluffs Ecological Reserve to scout it as a location for a future Comox Valley Camera Club photography field trip and, while most of these flowers are still in bloom, things are quite dry and parched after close to two weeks without rain. This year’s unusually warm temperatures in early May are more reminiscent of summer and the bluffs are quite exposed and hot. These plants could use some rain!