The south-facing hills of the grasslands and open forest burst with color in the spring with the yellow flowers of arrow-leafed balsam root. This member of the sunflower familystands 1 to 2 feet high and has silver-green, arrowhead-shaped leaves. The flowers have yellow rays of petals in a disk shape.

All parts of this plant are edible. First nations people collected the sees and made it into flower. The leaves were cooked or smoked. The roots have a balsam-scent and were boiled or roasted. Deer and other grazers east the leaves.

We go to these balsam root slopes in the spring to enjoy the bloom and celebrate the arrival of warmer weather.