Despite a snowy April, the promise of May flowers remains strong across Alberta. The landscape is poised to burst into vibrant colors as plants begin to bloom.
Mike Drew's Floral Collection
Photographer Mike Drew has captured numerous delicate petals in his travels. Here is a selection of his images showcasing the beauty of Alberta's spring flora.
Early Spring Crocuses
A crocus, the first petaled flower of spring, emerges near downtown Calgary on March 26, 2025. Crocus blossoms look skyward near Cluny on March 27, 2016, and later settle for the night north of Standard. In the Crowfoot Creek valley north of Cluny, crocus blossoms glow in the afternoon sun on April 15, 2015.
Bees and Pollination
A bee departs after gathering pollen from a crocus blossom in a pasture near Carseland on April 27, 2011. Another bee collects pollen from buffalo berry flowers along the Bow River near Calgary on April 23, 2015. Pollen inside a crocus blossom near Bassano is captured on April 11, 2012.
Rare and Tiny Flowers
Calypso orchids are spotted on the way to Spray Valley Provincial Park. Incredibly tiny kinnikinnick flowers bloom in Sheep River Provincial Park west of Diamond Valley on May 28, 2024. Wild roses appear among aspens near Sundre on July 27, 2010. Wildflowers at Meadows In The Sky in Mt. Revelstoke National Park, British Columbia, are photographed on August 10, 2010.
Mountain Blooms
Morning frost decorates yellow monkey flowers near the headwaters of the Crowsnest River west of Blairmore on August 2, 2016. Blanket flowers line the road in the Sheep River valley west of Turner Valley on June 20, 2023. Pink monkey flowers grow beside a spring creek above the Lynx Creek valley south of Blairmore on July 27, 2011. Tiny elephant head blossoms on the banks of the Livingstone River north of Coleman on July 17, 2012, with individual flowers just a couple of millimeters across.
Late Spring and Summer Flowers
A silky head of a crocus gone to seed west of Gem is captured on May 6, 2025. The neon magenta flowers of a pincushion cactus in the Red Deer River valley near the Finnegan ferry appear on July 1, 2019. Yellow columbine nods in the forest in Kananaskis Country along Powderface Trail and Sibbald Flats on July 2, 2007. Pollen grains smaller than a grain of salt on the stamens of a crocus on Tom Campbell’s Hill in Calgary are documented on April 5, 2019.
Mike Drew will return with more imagery. Meanwhile, we delve into his treasure trove of images to share favorites and possibly unseen photographs.
