Prairie Gentian / Gentiana affinis

I finally got out with friends for an almost three-hour botany walk yesterday afternoon, 11 August 2015, at Griffith Woods. There were certain "target" plants on the list, including three species of wild Gentian (one of which is seen in this photo), and one species of Orchid (Rattlesnake Plantain). We had success with all four, which made for a successful outing. So many of the plants are finished already, after blooming two weeks early this year. Whenever I see Asters, I know that the end of our flowering season is coming to an end, which is always depressing. The growing season in Alberta is so very short.

The colour of these flowers almost makes one gasp! They are beautiful and look rather like they should be growing in a garden, not in the wild. The petals seem to vary - some plants have plain blue petals, while others, as in this photo, are spotted. This particular plant was a beauty.