The Prairie Crocus

Anemone patens

Early settlers called this native Anemone the prairie crocus. This resilient perennial is not actually a crocus, but rather hails from the buttercup family. Also known as ‘windflowers’ because they are believed to blossom only when the winds blow in springtime, the prairie crocus is a cherished symbol of spring – thriving in grazing pastures and speckling the landscape of calving pastures across Alberta’s prairies, bringing a symbol of renewal and rebirth to ranchers, as winter loosens its grasp on the land.

This article was first published in the May 2021 edition of ABP Magazine.

Photo: Christian Mackenzie Heckle, Prairie Rose Photo