Saturday 7 April 2012

Good Friday hike

Another gorgeous day on Good Friday.  Leah and I went out to the Sand Hills searching for crocuses.

Manitoba crocuses, our Provincial Flower, are actually Pulsatilla patens.  These plants are cardiogenic toxins and slow the heart.  Native American used them medicinally and they are used in Homeopathic remedies.  There are 30 species in this genus.   These prairie crocuses are also known as Pasque Flowers,  since Pasque is an archaic word referring to Easter/Passover.  
Leah sitting among a group of Pasque Flowers.  
(She later noticed the ants!  Oops!)

A beautiful clump. The purple part of the flower consist of sepals not petals.

In its natural location, getting lots of nitrogen.

This one was hiding among the juniper.


View from the top of the Moving Sand Hill.

Marsh Marigolds (aka Kingcup, May Flower, latin name - Caltha palustris, which is latin for 'of the marsh' which refers to its preferred location, belongs in the butter cup family) are beginning to bloom.  This is very early as they aren't usually in full bloom until June!



1 comment:

  1. Oh . . . I'm homesick for the sandhills! Beautiful photos, Krista.

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