One of my favorite spring flowers is Camas (Camassia quamash) a native flower of my home, Victoria, on southern Vancouver Island. They are often found growing in rare meadows associated with Gary Oaks (Quercus qarryana). They have been managed, harvested and eaten as a starch by First Nations people for centuries, but due to habitat loss are endangered today. I’ve been inspired by these meadows and have planted many of the plants in the garden, at the home of my youth. These bulbs were rescued during Sundays, rain or shine, from a highway project many years ago. I love the blue-purple of the flowers and the soft green of the stems. Every year I look forward to seeing them when I’m home for a visit. I hope you can see the beauty in them too.
In the coming weeks I’ll share some more of my favorite native flowers.
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