JoAnne Burek

Our Beardtongues

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Alberta has at least twelve species of beardtongues (Pentstemon) in various colours, sizes, and range.

The Slender Blue Beardtongue (Pentstemon nitidus) is a 4 to 12 inch plant that features bands of densely-packed tiny flowers bright blue in colour with a tinge of purple at the stem end. Up close, the tubular flowers look like little blue trumpets.

On the trail, you will find Slender Blue Beardtongue growing in colonies along the edge of a woodland or in a damp meadow. They bloom from June through August.

Waskahegan Field Notes

From a distance, a mass of Slender Blue Beardtongues look like sapphires on stems. The brilliant blue with purple always grabs everyone’s attention and curiosity.

We have found the greatest variety of beardtongues on the Stoney Creek trail, including the lilac-coloured flowers below.

Sources

  • Linda Kershaw. Alberta Wayside Flowers.
  • R.G.H. Cormack. Wild Flowers of Alberta.
  • F.R. Vance, J.R. Jowsey, J.S. McLean. Wildflowers Across the Prairies.
Slender Blue – Cloverlawn
Slender Blue – Stoney Creek
Lilac coloured – Stoney Creek
Beardtongues (Pentstemon)

North Coal Lake and Source of the Blackmud

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Fifteen people came out on a sunny day to hike the section of trail that runs from the boat launch of north Coal Lake, past the “source of the Blackmud”, to the high point at the start of the Cloverlawn section.

The source of the Blackmud is the geological divide where water collected on the north side of it drains into Blackmud Creek and water on the south side drains into the Battle River. Eventually, both streams flow into the North Saskatchewan River…which flows into Hudson Bay.

Can you see the divide? We haven’t, but we do walk over it. Maybe it’s around one of the fence lines.

On the lake north of the boat launch, we saw many birds that look like black-headed gulls. Flowers on the trail included harebells, fleabane, penstemon, cinquefoil, coltsfoot, as well as wild roses, wild strawberries, and wild licorice.

Harebells
Cinquefoil

Thanks to Lee for scouting and leading the hike and to trail maintenance for their fine work in clearing the trail. You can see all the photos on Flickr.

Where we’re going next.