Take a “Wild” Flower Walk

“Spring is definitely here,” I think, letting the little one run ahead of me down the path as I take in the fresh greenery and colourful wildflowers, while listening to a burst of melodious bird song. Today, we are heading out to see some of April’s finest flowers, and my two-year-old son Alden has volunteered as my spotter. We’re keeping a tally of the flowers we see, and making a few notes about the colours of the petals, shapes of the leaves, and general habitat.

The first flower we happen upon is the showy western trillium (Trillium ovatum). Trillium means “in threes” which is appropriate, since the trillium has three leaves and three petals. The broad green leaves, each with a drip-tip for our rainforest climate, are positioned about half way up the stem. The petals are white, but turn pink or purple with age. Peek into the flower’s center, and you will see the golden-yellow anthers laden with pollen. After flowering trilliums produce berry-like capsules, and each seed has an oil-rich appendage that is loved by ants. In carrying the seeds back to their nests, ants effectively disperse the seeds. Trilliums grow in moist woodlands near streams. Since the blooms often coincides with the arrival Robins, trilliums are also known as “wake robins.”

Alden was squatting by the edge of the trail, going on about something pink, and I’d realized that he’d spotted our next flower, the lovely pink fawn lily (Erythronium revolutum.) These spectacular flowers grow in abundance along riverside floodplains. The mottled leaves, dappled with green and white, are often visible before the flowers appear. When in bloom, the demurely nodding lilies often carpet the ground in a sea of pink. Though locally abundant on parts of Vancouver Island, pink fawn lilies are absent from most of the province, including the lower mainland. We are lucky to have them here!

The similar white fawn lily (Erythronium oregonum) is often found mixed with pink fawn lilies, and may hybridize with them. But white fawn lilies, unlike pinks, may also be found in quite dry, open sites. American naturalist John Burroughs called these “fawn” lilies because the two leaves resemble the pricked ears of a fawn. The mottled leaves also suggest the patterning of a fawn.

Alden started to gallop ahead at this point, and I had to get him to double back to take a look at the slender toothwort (Cardamine nuttallii). I explained to Alden that the toothwort is a member of the mustard family, and that mustards always have a certain number of petals. Pointer-finger out, he counted the petals “one, two, three, FOUR!!” and we completed our toddler math session for the day. The leaves at the base are often rounded or heart-shaped, but further up the stem, they are divided into narrow segments. The white to pinkish flowers of slender toothwort are easily overlooked but they are very pretty, especially in large patches.

Nearby, there was a low-lying patch of violets. “Lell-o flowers!” Alden exclaimed proudly. The stream violet (Viola glabella) is another one of my spring favourites. The heart shaped, dark green leaves are scalloped with teeth, and taper to a point at the tips. Look at the lower petal to see delicate purple lines, which are designed as nectar guides for bees and other insects, which will inadvertently spread pollen to neighbouring plants. Stream violets produce seed-filled capsules, that, when conditions are right, explode and shoot the seed some distance away. Like most of the flowers mentioned here, these violets favour moist forests and streamsides.

There are many great places to view wildflowers in our area. Check out Puntledge Park or Ruth Masters Greenway, or head to the Exhibition Grounds along the Tsolum River, which makes for a great little walk after going to the Farmer’s Market. In Comox, Mack Laing Park alongside Brooklyn Creek has some of the largest trilliums I’ve ever seen. Further north; visit Miracle Beach Provincial Park for flower viewing along Black Creek, or the Oyster River Nature Park.

Plants of Coastal British Columbia (Pojar and Mackinnon) is a user friendly and comprehensive guidebook to the plants of our area.

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