Wild Vetch: Second purple prairie flower this year

In the category of "Second Purple Prairie Wildflower", the winner is Wild Vetch — coming several weeks after the lovely Prairie Crocuses bloomed in Saskatchewan.

This vetch is a pea-like plant, with single flower stalks, and many paired leaflets — and its leaf stalks end in a tiny, twisting tendril.

Low-growing, blowing in the wind.

Roadside wild purple vetch © SB

Prairie Wildflower: Wild Vetch, aka purple vetch.   

Location: Grid road south of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Photo Date: June 16, 2012. 

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Yarrow, with Copper Butterfly

Yarrow is one of Saskatchewan's most common roadside wildflowers. From a distance, the florets merge into wide white blurs, but the closer you get, the more details are revealed in each tiny flower.

This prairie wildflower photographed below has an added attraction — an early Copper butterfly feeding on the nectar.

(Or, maybe just early for me! The insect world may be into full summer, but it's been such a cold spring, I'm somewhat slow...)

Yarrow, with purplish copper butterfly. © SB

Prairie Wildflower: Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Location: South of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Photo Date: June 16, 2012. 

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Prickly Rose: Wild Pasture Roses

Driving by a pasture, I saw a flash of pink and caught the rich scent of roses. Prickly Roses. Hardy  shrubs aka prairie wildflowers, whose flowers soften the air and landscape in June and July.

The prickly roses I photographed were blooming on bushes about three feet high, surrounded by  glossy dark green leaves. No rose hips yet, just a few spent flowers. 

Prickly Wild Rose © SB

Prairie Wildflower: Prickly Rose, aka wild roses. 

Location: Grid road south of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Photo Date: June 16, 2012. 

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