Satin-flower (Olsynium douglasii)

As soon as the weather begins to feel like spring I head for one of my favorite local parks, Highrock Park in Esquimalt. On its southern slopes I can almost always find the first spring flowers. When I went there yesterday afternoon I was pleased to see these lovely magenta Satin-flowers (Olsynium douglasii) blooming. They are generally among the earliest of spring wildflowers here. Lewis Clark (Wild Flowers of British Columbia) says they are, "...sensitive to every whisper of wind..." and I am reminded of that every year when I set out to take photos of these lovely little plants. Capturing an unblurry photo is a real challenge when the slightest breeze will set those little blooms swaying.