Fairybells, Clematis, False Solomen’s Seal and Broad-winged Hawks

I headed out this morning to see if the Broad-winged Hawks were still in the area. Broad-winged Hawks are a very recent nesting species in the Kootenays. There was a nest with fledglings spotted two years ago and two fledglings spotted last year. And this year? There is a pair of Broad-winged Hawks in the area again. These raptors do not return to the same nest, but often return to the same area. I have my fingers crossed that there will again be Broad-winged Hawk fledglings this summer.

The woods are green again and the forest floor is dotted with flowers. There was a Blue Clematis vine just off the trail and two lilies, Hooker’s Fairybells and False Solomen’s Seal, flowering through the woods. It is indeed a beautiful day!

Broad-winged Hawk

A soaring Broad-winged Hawk

Blue Clematis

False Solomen’s Seal

False Solomen’s Seal: cut the rhizome and there will be a six-pointed star

Hooker’s Fairybells: named after botanist Joseph Hooker

all photos and writing copyright Joanne Siderius 2013.