Today is your day Boomer! It is Kelowna's official flower and "flower of the week"....so declared by the U.S. Forest Service! It is the Arrowleaf balsamroot and it is certainly something we have in common with America. According to the usda website, "Asteraceae is fairly common in cold, dry areas of the West from Colorado, west to the Sierra Nevada, and into Canada. It may be found most abundant in mountain fields, but can also be a common plant in the understory of conifer forests." In the Okanagan, it is just starting (check out Drought Hill near Peachland) and will soon be everywhere. This "sunflower" species is great to look at, but according to Indigenous sources, has many food qualities: "The roots may be baked or steamed and eaten, as well as the young shoots. The immature flower stems could be peeled and eaten; the flowers themselves are good browse for wildlife. Balsamroot seeds are nutritious and oil-rich, another good source of food. The root could be used as a coffee substitute. It was also used medicinally." For Boomers, I suggest this: during Earth Week, April 21-26, take a hike on a sunny day and settle yourself on a sidehill or huge field surrounded by these wonderful flowers! Just sit there...enjoy nature and life, and you will feel just incredible! Cheers.

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