Dwarf Bitterroot / Lewisia pygmaea

I can't remember if it was last summer or the summer of 2010, that there was a botanizing day trip to Plateau Mountain, when a friend saw this plant and sent round a photo in an e-mail. Either I wasn't on that particular trip or else some of the group had decided to go a bit further, but ever since seeing that photo, I longed to see this very small flower for myself. Yesterday, it happened! Eight of us made a return trip to Plateau Mountain. The upper gate was locked and we didn't have a key, so we had to walk from the locked gate up the road all the way to the lower meadows. This time, though, we also explored a little bit further, climbing part way up a very rocky slope. Shortly before this slope, someone spotted this very small flower and then we noticed another two or three. I was so thrilled to finally be able to photograph (macro) this little beauty. Each flower has 5 to 9 white, pink or red petals which may or may not have dark veining or striping. The petals are 4 millimeters to one centimeter long.

Another highlight of the trip was when we were offered the chance to be driven to the very top to see the herd of around 150 Bighorn Sheep that call the mountain "home". A week before, I had been up there for the first time, but we only passed by and didn't get out of our vehicles. Three of us chose to go, and what a thrill it was to have dozens of these wild animals come rushing towards the vehicle - they love to lick the salt off the truck. Apparently, they won't come near if it's just a person standing there, but they do come running over when they see a vehicle to lick. We got out of the truck and we even had a sheep or two come over and nuzzle our hands. While there, someone spotted a Hoary Marmot enjoying the shade under part of the small gas plant. I was delighted to see one of these animals - got a very distant and crummy photo, but might still upload it just to add it to my Wild Animals of Alberta set. We were so lucky to be driven all the way back to our cars, too, picking up the other five of us on the way. It's a tough job searching for rare plants and researching different locations , but someone has to do it, lol!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewisia_pygmaea