Wolf Willow

The beautiful, tiny yellow flowers of the Wolf Willow/Silverberry are unusual and beautiful, I always think. Took this macro photo of these tiny beauties during a trip to Bow Valley Provincial Park on 27 June 2011. The shrubs give off such a powerful, musky-sweet scent - people either love it or hate it, ha. I'm one of the ones who loves it.

"Wolf-willow is important food for moose and elk in the wintertime. A few birds eat the seeds, and the shrubs provide good cover and protection for moose, deer, birds and other animals.

Traditional First Nations uses:
The silver berries were strung together to make necklaces, and the bark was woven into bags, baskets, blankets and rope. In Alaska, the fruits were cooked in moose fat and eaten." From sierraclub.ca.