In the Community: What's In Bloom
Prairie Crocus (Anemone patens)
To prairie residents living in rural areas, Prairie Crocuses, along with returning Mountain Bluebirds, are the first harbingers of spring. The crocus is an inhabitant of dry overgrazed prairie. It appears fragile and delicate nestled among the last snowdrifts with its pale lavender petals and yellow centres, but in fact, it is a tough survivor. The thick woody taproot, short stature, and woolly leaves and stems enable it to endure the toughest drought and cold and all the abuse a herd of bison or cattle can deliver. The citizens of the province of Manitoba have recognized these enduring characteristics and beauty by naming the Prairie Crocus their provincial flower. Although this plant is generally common on native pastures, it loses out to cultivation so that it is now relatively uncommon in the Regina area.
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