Showy Everlasting

Quite common in the foothills and higher elevations.  Antennaria have either male or female plants.  It's easy to tell the difference with this one.  Female flower is pictured.

NOT AVAILABLE THIS YEAR

Found several clumps of this beauty in my area this past summer.  Forms a dense mat with lovely pink bracts.

If I could only have one of the Alberta wildflowers....  I would lose my mind, pick just one? But this is a favourite and I do love to see them in the ditches in central Alberta.  Up highway 761 are some huge clumps of them that have obviously been growing there for many years.  They are so beautiful.  

They have recently been moved to the Melanthiaceae family.  

Very easy to grow in the home garden. 

I found a wonderful spot way up past Abraham Lake with a huge colony of aquilegia growing amongst wild roses and shepherdia.   I finally captured this picture.  Love it.

I came across a colony of Aquilegia in a spot I didn't expect them.   From what I can tell aquilegia brevistyla & aquilegia flavescens are in the mix.

Wild Sarsaparilla

Found in aspen and mixed wood forests.  This is a member of the ginseng family (Araliaceae).  Wild sarsaparilla has medicinal properties and was an ingredient in the original root beer.  The aromatic root makes an excellent tea.

Heart Leaf Arnica

Used extensively in herbal preparations.  I've started making my own arnica infused oil for topical use.  It does help with aches and pains.

I'm partial to yellow flowers, so when I find another one that I don't have, I must have it.  I've read that the blooms are inconspicuous, but I don't think so.  Wonderful wildflower that does quite well in a domestic garden.

Lindley's Aster (Symphyotrichum ciliolatum)

This grows everywhere around here.  Not complaining, Aster's are a favourite, they're purple.

Showy Aster (Eurybia conspicua)

This is my favourite wild aster.  They are sturdy tough long blooming plants.  

Fresh seed available as of July 2022

Marsh Marigold - The ditches, streams, well just about any wet area in my neck of the woods, turns solid yellow with these flowers in the spring.  I think it is glorious.  This past summer, 2018, I noticed an area on Hwy 12 that was yellow, yellow, yellow with marsh marigolds, going back into the woods as far as I could see.  

The pungent leaves contain helleborine, poisoness, which is destroyed when boiled in 3 changes of water.   When eaten they are supposed to be a good remedy for cougns and colds.  It is also reported that a few drops of the corrosive sap applied to a wart daily will kill the virus.

If quantity is wanted, notify by April 30.

Can be used for dyeing fibre.

SOLD OUT

Found throughout most of Alberta on dry hillsides and meadows.  Easy to grow in the garden in full sun to light shade. 

Of interest - the Cree chopped the dried root and made it into a compress to stop bleeding, reduce swelling and promote healing.