Marston Creek flower exploration Off-Trail hike on 8-Jul-2024

Reports fromm recent RMRA trips described the flowers in Marston Creek as being fabulous. Three of us went there to see what was blooming.

Lupines everywhere - Silvery Lupine (Lupinus argenteus)

A field of cinquefoils - mostly Woolly Cinquefoil (Potentilla hippiana)

Admiring the flowers

It seemed that many of the flowers benefited from the wet spring and produced superlative displays.

Yellow Sweet-Vetch (Hedysarum sulphurescens)

Boreal Sandwort (Sabulina rubella)

Cut-leaved Anemone (Anemone multifida)

Gaillardia (Gaillardia aristata)

Stonecrop (Sedum lanceolateum)

I don't remember the numbers of Silvery Lupine nor the non-native Tall Buttercup in previous years. Some favorites from previous years such as Dwarf Lupine, False Dandelion and Western Groundsel seemed to be less prevalent. A great variety of species were seen including the Alberta Pentemon and all three species of Alumroot.

Dwarf Lupine (Lupinus lepidus)

Alberta Penstemon (Penstemon albertinus)

Littleflower Alumroot (Heuchera parvifolia)

Richardson's Alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii)

While a fairly hot day, as we got higher a good breeze from the south offset the heat. Thanks to Arnold and Carl in joining me in a very pleasant day.

Participants: Bill,Arnold,Carl