The arrowleaf balsamroot flowers, or as they are locally called, Okanagan sunflowers, are blooming everywhere.

Right now, the bright yellow of their blooms can be found all over hillsides and throughout the pine forests of the Okanagan Valley.

Their profusion is beautiful, but to First Nations, they were an important food source as this plant is completely edible, including its roots. They’re not just a pretty face!

Although they to some extent resemble sunflowers, they look more like yellow daisies and except for the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia and a few other valleys in Washington state, are a relatively rare find, confined as they are in their wild state to certain areas of the west coast of North America.

They won’t last long; in about a week they will start wilting and will disappear until next spring.

Happy Earth Day. 🌎