Many species of wild flowers thrive in Big West Country. Each has its growing season, where it adds its beauty and colour to the area. Then it is gone, and another takes its place.

A few wild flowers remain in bloom for considerable time during the warm weather, adding their colour to an already spectacular landscape.

PLEASE DO NOT PICK WILD FLOWERS.

When flowers are picked, the balance between stored energy in leaves and roots, and energy required to survive the winter, is disrupted. The plant is weakened, and may be winter-killed.

Many of our wild flowers are decreasing in numbers, as visitors increase. It is essential that flowers be left to grow, and spread their seeds. Each wild flower picked also means potential seeds lost.

Wild Roses

Also called the Prickly Rose, this flower became Alberta's emblem in 1930.

Wild Roses bloom throughout the entire area, adding their bright splash of colour from late June through July and, in some areas, the blooming season extends well into August.

This flowering shrub is found in and around open woods, clearings, fields, burns, roadsides, riverbanks, and bluffs

It is a bushy shrub with prickly stems, has dark green foliage, and large, open-faced pink flowers which measure 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 cm) across. It grows from 1 to 3 feet (.31 to .92 meters) in height.

Western Wood Lily, more commonly known as the Tiger Lily

One of the most colourful of the wild flowers of the area is the Western Wood Lily, more commonly known as the Tiger Lily.

These lovely flowers are decreasing in number, as they are especially vulnerable. When picked, the energy balance is disrupted and the bulb dies. As a result, it now is against the law to pick these wild flowers.

The flower is simple in structure, with all parts in 'threes' or multiples of three. Its growth height is 1 to 2 feet (.31 to .61 meters).

The Tiger Lily grows in profusion along the lower slopes of the Front Ranges of the Rocky Mountains, in Big West Country. It is found during June and July.

In past centuries, the edible bulb of this flower, which could be baked, boiled, or dried, was used for food by First Nations people.

Calypso Orchid; Venus Slipper. Often (incorrectly) called Lady Slipper.

A favourite flower of early Nordeggers, this little orchid, although commonly called Lady Slipper, is actually the Venus Slipper. A delicate appearing little flower, it is more formally known as the Calypso Orchid.

The lip of this tiny purple, pink, and yellow orchid resembles a shoe.

This perennial frequently is found in mossy areas, commonly under pine.

The growing season is June and July

Shooting Star

Another favoured perennial, that is common and widespread in the Nordegg area during June and July, is the Shooting Star.

It is found in moist areas, shaded woodland, and along the edges of lakes.

It is of the typical primrose form but, instead of flattening out, the five lobes bend straight back. This shows off the bright bands of yellow and red around the stamens.

Lungwort, usually refered to as Bluebells: (shown here at the 4th green of Nordegg's Historic Golf Course)

Bluebells grow in abundance in open woods and along shady stream banks in wooded regions of Alberta.

These purplish-blue dainty flowers, about one-half inch (1.27 cm) long, are grouped in several loose, drooping clusters at the end of stems, which can extend to 3 feet (.92 meter) in height.

The growing season is largely June and July, but it also can extend into August.

Common Red Clover

In "old" (mining town) Nordegg, the smell of sweet clover filling the air and the warmth of the summer sun meant it was time for "...those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer...".

Pinkish-purple in colour, the one-half to three quarter inch (1.27 to 1.91 cms) long petals are numerous in a densely crowded, rounded head, which measures about one inch (2.54 cm) across. This clover is found throughout Alberta from June to August, filling the air with its sweet scent.

Although it was introduced into Alberta as a hay crop, and is used in long-term rotation with grain crops, it has become so common along roadsides, in thickets, and at the edges of woods, that it often is regarded as a wild flower.

The roots of this plant return large amounts of nitrogen to the soil, and the plants produce great quantities of nectar, which is gathered by the honey bees.

Red Paint Brushes, also known as Indian Paint Brushes

Common in the mountains, foothills, and wooded regions of Alberta, this brightly coloured perennial grows from June through September.

Paint Brushes grow to a height of between 1 and 2 feet (.31 to .61 meters). It is one of the few flowers in the Rockies that attracts hummingbirds.

The actual flower is pale green, and is partly enfolded in a bright red bract which is almost as long as the flower portion of this plant.

Although the Red Paint Brush is most common, it also can be found in white, cream, yellow, coral, and maroon.

Purple Clematis

Usually found from May to July, the Clematis is found in meadows, open woods, thickets, and rock crevices, and is sporadic in the forested areas of Alberta.

This graceful flower is part of a climbing or trailing vine which varies in length. The young shoots twirl until an object is touched. Then movement ceases and the vine begins to curl. Once the stem is curled, it becomes very hard and tough.

The flower is bluish-purple, and showy. It can reach 2-4 inches (5.1-10.2 cm) across.

Poppies

Many people, of the mining town era, had Poppies planted in their gardens, along with pansies, forget-me-nots, alyssum, delphinium, etc. Some of these flowers, which now grow wild in the Nordegg area, originated in the gardens of the mining town homes.

These Garden Poppies, coloured white, yellow, and orange, all were found throughout "old" Nordegg. They soon spread beyond the gardens, into ditches and along roadsides, giving the impression they were wild poppies.

Each hairy stalk of the Poppy supports a closed bud, containing the petals. When the bud opens, the crumpled petals spread out, and the stalk straightens up, turning to face the sun.

At the centre of the Poppy, is a ring of golden stamens which surround a green centre. This centre, after pollination, grows into a seed capsule from which the seeds are shaken out and scattered when the wind blows.

They thrive in the area during July and August.

Gaillardia, also commonly called the Brown-Eyed Susan

The Gaillardia is erect-stemmed, growing to between 8 and 24 inches (20.3-60.96 cm) in height. This perennial prefers to grow in gravelly ground.

It has a taproot that can reach down as far as 29 inches (75 cm) into the soil to locate deep moisture. There also are tiny roots very near the surface which can pick up the rainfall which is too light to soak into deep ground.

It has numerous grey-green hairy leaves, yellow wedge-shaped petals, and a large purple-brown "bull's eye" centre by which it is recognized.

The flower-heads are large and showy, measuring between 1.75 and 2.5 inches (4.45-6.35 cm) across.

Heart-Leaved Arnica, often called a Sunflower

Like all the flowers that are called "sunflowers", the Heart-Leaved Arnica is a member of the daisy family. It is the most common, and the most recognizable, of the Arnicas.

Bright yellow, this plant usually has only one flower head, which can grow to be 3 inches (7.6 cms) across. It also has distinctive heart-shaped leaves.

The Heart-Leaved Arnica is common in the forested land of Western Alberta, growing in areas of rich moist coniferous woods. It grows in both shade and in moderate sun, prefering mossy areas that have sunny openings and clearings.

If the Arnica is growing in the shade, the leaves are large and thin, often light green. Those flowers growing in the sun have smaller, thicker leaves, and are darker green.

The Heart-Leaved Arnica thrives from June through August.

Alpine Forget-Me-Not

The Alpine Forget-Me-Not stands from 3 to 9 inches tall. The flower, which is small and showy, is bright blue with a yellow centre, and closely resembles the garden variety of this flower.

It is found in high elevations of the Rocky Mountains from June through August.

The Alpine Forget-Me-Not was a favourite flower in the gardens of early Nordegg people. A major source from where these delicate looking little flowers were obtained was near the top of Coliseum Mountain, where they grew wild and in abundance.

It has the smallest known pollen grains.

Fireweed (Evening Primrose family)

Fireweed grows in newly broken ground, and does not survive when crowded. The seedlings need lots of sun, and they thrive on bare mineral soil. Fireweed is very common throughout Alberta from June through September.

This is the first plant to take root following a fire, avalanche, or any excavation, such as construction. It grows rapidly, stabilizing the soil.

In the instance of fire, the Fireweed absorbs nutrients released from burnt vegetation, preserving them from resulting soil erosion. Fireweed hides and heals the scar on the landscape, until it is replaced by other herbs, shrubs, and trees, such as willow and aspen, followed by pine and spruce.

The magenta-coloured flowers open from the bottom, up. Buds, mature flowers, and pod-like capsules can all appear on the same stalk at the same time. Their growth runs from 2-5 feet (.61-1.52 meters) in height.

Foxtail Barley

Very common from June through August, this is a hardy perennial grass made up of bristle-like appendages, called awns. These awns, which can grow to over two inches (5 cms) in length, range in colour from green to silver, from gold to bronze and, occasionally, purple. When eaten, these long prickly awns cause serious inflammation in the mouths of horses and cattle.

Foxtail Barley can be seen in fields and along the roadsides of Big West Country. The seeds are extremely tiny, yet this is the plant from which the plump, nutritious grains of cultivated barley have evolved.

Tall Buttercup

Now classified as a weed, the Tall Buttercup was introduced from Europe. It now is so widely distributed in Canada that it has become one of the most common pasture and roadside plants of June and July.

This plant will not be eaten by cattle and horses because of its bitter taste and, being extremely hardy, it can supplant the grasses normally used for grazing.

The Tall Buttercup, which has five petals, usually is bright yellow, but the flowers also can be cream coloured. The three-quarter to one inch (1.91-2.54 cm) flowers are numerous on long stalks, which are as much as 3 feet (.92 meter) high. The flowers are open and flat, and the petals have a shiny surface.

Dandelions

Another colourful flower, also considered a weed, is the Dandelion. The colourful splashes of yellow that they create are considered beautiful by some of our overseas visitors.

This illustrates the comment that "the difference between a flower and a weed often is simply a judgement call".

The dandelion has a large flat rosette of deeply toothed leaves and bright golden flower-heads on a long hollow flower stem, which contains a sticky white "juice". The stems can range from 2 to 16 inches (5.08 to 41 cms) in height.

Pine Cone

Although not a flower, the tree cones of Big West Country also can have the delicate colouring and pleasing symmetry of a beautiful flower, adding their unique touch of beauty to the area.

The flowers illustrated are only a small sample of those found in the Nordegg area of Big West Country.