Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva)

If you are lucky enough to be wandering around in the sagebrush country above the Okanagan Valley in the springtime you may encounter the spectacular booms of the Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva). Generally the slender little basal leaves have withered away and only the blossoms are visible above the surface of the earth. The blossoms range in colour from the magenta above through a range of pinks to almost white.

Prickly Pear (Opuntia fragilis)

These tough little cactus plants are VERY well protected but it's worth risking some inevitable punctures to get close enough to smell the sweet spicy perfume these gorgeous flowers emit. These are Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia fragilis) and were photographed above the Okanagan Valley in Mount Conkle Park.