Early Blue Violets

Tiny violets are peeking out beneath the grass on the mown paths through the Condie Nature Refuge, north of Regina, Saskatchewan. I think these are Early Blue Violets, though with the wind, wood ticks and these flowers' very tiny size — only a few millimetres wide — it was a little tough to ID them today.

Perhaps when I go back, a few will still be in bloom.

Till then, a shot of one minuscule blue-purple flower, likely an Early Blue Violet.

Windblown Early Blue Violet  © SB

Prairie Wildflower: Early Bue Violet 
Location: Condie Nature Refuge, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Photo Dates: May 30, 2014. 

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Golden Bean - Early Yellow Prairie Wildflower

Golden Bean, aka Buffalo Bean among other names, is a vibrant yellow prairie wildflower that blooms in May. At least, it's now the end of May, and there are now dozens of Golden Bean plants in full bloom at the Condie Nature Refuge, north of Regina, SK.

It's also the season for wood ticks at Condie, and each time I stood after kneeling to take a picture of these low yellow flowers, I picked one or two ticks off my very light (tucked into socks) jeans! So far so good — I seem to have left them all in the field... But the experience has somewhat dampened my enthusiasm for close-to-the-ground shooting! (At least, for the rest of today...)

Golden Bean - something larger than a tick seems to have taken a bite
from the flower at right.   © SB

Prairie Wildflower: Golden Bean (sometimes called Buffalo Bean, aka Thermopsis rhombifolia)
Location: Condie Nature Refuge, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Photo Dates: May 30, 2014. 

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More Prairie Crocuses on the Hillside

 A cluster of Prairie Crocuses near Regina, Saskatchewan.

 A cluster of Prairie Crocuses 

Prairie Wildflower: Prairie Crocus 

Location: Near Regina, Saskatchewan,  Canada.  

Photo Date: May 11, 2014. 

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Prairie Crocuses are Back! Near Regina, SK

Spring 2014 has arrived, with Prairie Crocuses starting to bloom on unbroken land near Regina, Saskatchewan. Time to brave wood ticks to take more flower photographs.

Prairie Crocus bud.   © SB

Prairie Wildflower: Prairie Crocus 

Location: Near Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. 

Photo Date: May 6, 2014. 

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