Forest Flora Of the Vermilon River. A Post to My World Tuesday.

Pin Cherries

Just about finished their blooming stage, the pin cherries led off the riot of colour in the forest. But they're just not a pretty bush, they'll produce an edible, red berry that is perhaps a little tart, but perfectly enjoyable for all the wildlife, including me.


Blueberry




Blueberry




There is nothing to compare to a forest blueberry. They are small but infinitely sweet; in fact mine never make it home to be turned into jam or pies. Both the blueberries and the pin cherries are favourites of the bear so you may share a patch with a mom and her cubs or watch while she bends a pin cherry tree over for the kids.


Choke Cherry




Choke Cherries




Choke Cherry





The flowers are starting to look alike aren't they? Choke Cherry blossoms grow in bottle brush shape while Pin Cherries grow like apple blossoms. Pin cherry bark is red and the leaves turn red in the fall.
Choke cherry berries are edible and red also, but are bitter in flavour. The pits and bark contain prussic acid so keep them away from your pet as they're poisonous. Don't worry the bears and birds don't eat the pits, they already know!!




Mountain Ash

 Gees another one, the Mountain Ash is blooming also. See the difference in the leaves, and its berries are orange, and edible. They have an astringent taste and were used by many Aboriginals as a medicine.


Mountain Ash.




Wild Strawberries.




Wild Strawberries.



There are apparently two types of wild strawberries, but the end result is they produce small berries, which are really good to eat. They are probably the least numerous with blueberries and pin cherries, the most numerous respectively.


Wild Strawberries.




Wild Raspberries.





Not in flower yet, although I thought I'd show you this wild raspberry patch about the size of a stake truck. I pick the edges, but I think the wildlife with fur and the ability to fly are the real harvesters. The thorns are really sharp.


Johnny Jump Up




Johnny Jump Up




I think there are lots of names for these guys, all somewhat the same. They come in the most incredible colours.

Star flowers bloom, and are suddenly gone. They're the real forest dwellers along with Wild Lilly Of The Valley. Both like the moist, shady forest floor. The Lilly of the Valley is just starting to flower. The buds are showing below.


Star Flowers




Star Flower and Budding Wild Lilly Of The Valley.




Unknown



 I did know what the little purple guy is, but his name escapes me. He grows in the most inhospitable areas in the direct sun.

Woolly Violets

The wild violets are still growing. They're sun lovers so they're growing amongst the blueberry bushes. Quite a sight.


Woolly Violets.




Yellow Rocket




Yellow Rocket.




I showed these Rockets in an earlier post, but couldn't remember their names.


Unknown




Ever so often I run across something which refuses to be identified. I'd say this was a crab apple bush which escaped, or was thrown in the forest, and has adapted quite well.


The lilac tree is a prime example of the same. But it's on an abandoned cabin clearing, so it's explainable.



Lilac




Swallow Tail.






Of course with all the blooming, the insects are thriving. Just ask about the mosquito's and black flies. But nature gives the good and bad. Just look at these Swallow Tails feeding on the abundant nectar left in these pin cherry blossoms.



Swallow Tail.




A Post to My World Tuesday.

WildFlowers of the Vermilon River. A Post to My World Tuesday.



Woolly Violets



The forest despite the lack of sun is coming alive in terms of wildflowers, many of which would be called weeds in common parlance, but they are a wonderful addition to the forest floor. The others are the fruit trees or bushes, which are so necessary to the wild life's well being. There appears to be two violets the big ones and the small ones. The small ones are Woolly Violets; the others I don't know. All except the one opposite, and the photo I added below, are the big violets. Very scientific don't you think?

 Woolly violets are about the size of your small finger nail. So these photos of them are all blown up.


Big Violets




Big Violets




Birch Seed.







These birch tree seeds are interesting in a forest with many birch trees.


Pin Cherry Trees.





Pin Cherry Tress.

The service berries are critical in the forest as they provide food for the birds and four legged wildlife. These are pin cherry trees which will produce a red berry, a bit tart, but which makes a wonderful jelly. Female Bears will bend the taller trees over for their cubs.







 In particular the Waxwings, both Cedar and Bohemian will strip these trees in large flocks. 

Service Berries.

And I'll be there to watch their antics.

Crab Apple Trees.


I included the crab apple blossoms, because they're a favourite of the local residents which is a bit funny because they along with garbage attract bears into town. And the people here are uncomfortable with bears and the forest, which is strange when you live in a forest.

Crab Apple Trees.





Flowering Blueberries




Blueberry Flowers.




All the clearings contain blueberry bushes which again feed the wildlife and me. They are picked also by locals to supplement their income. They are sold in better stores at a premium price. Although smaller, there is no comparison between a wild berry and a farm grown one. As well there are no end of stories of sharing a blueberry patch with a mama bear and her cubs.


Unknown




Unknown.




I don't know what these yellow flowers are,but you can see how vivid, the forest starts to look with yellow and white together.



Even the dandelions shown below add to the brightness especially against the forest green.


Dandelion




Dandelion




Dandelion.




Big Violet Close Up.





This was a close up that just got put in the wrong place.


I had previously posted some Mourning Doves and Sparrows talking about browns and beige's. These Grosbeaks paid me a repeat visit while I was putting together this post. This post and their visit just shows the extremes in the forest- from browns to vivid colours. By the way he's wearing his summer beak which is green. Isn't that weird they change beak colours?
I'll post a full series of Evening Grosbeaks photos to World Bird Wednesday.






Male Evening Grosbeak.




Close Up Woolly Violets.



A Post to My World Tuesday.