Early Yellow Locoweed

This photo shows two flower heads of Early Yellow Locoweed, growing near the path along the Bow River, in the Pine Creek Water Treatment Plant area. These pale yellow flowers grow in clusters at the end of a stem and are growing in so many places at this time of year. It blooms May to June on prairie grassland, dry hillsides and roadsides. It is a member of the Pea family. Taken on 3 June 2014, when I actually got as far as going on a botany walk. I've been missing almost all the walks, partly because of a very painful back, plus the inflammation of my rotator cuffs (shoulders), plus muscle relaxant pills to treat this, that have knocked me out recently, AND I just can't get motivated to get out, lol. This weekend, though, I must make the effort.

This time last year, we had no idea that we were in for devastating flooding, with the Alberta Flood of the Century, around 22 June. Missed pretty well all the wildflowers last year, as almost all the parks and natural areas in the city were closed all summer. Likewise outside the city, too, out in the mountains.