August in Northern Alberta: What’s Blooming and Growing Right Now

August is one of those magical months where summer still lingers, but you can feel fall gently knocking at the door. Up here in Northern Alberta, the wild places are alive with colour and scent, even as the days start to quietly shift.

If you’re out exploring the meadows, forests, or roadsides this month, here are some of the plants you might notice, and why they’re so special.

Goldenrod - the late summer sunshine

Goldenrod is like a little burst of sunshine along the trails this time of year. Those bright yellow clusters waving in the breeze? That’s goldenrod, lighting up fields and roadsides like nature’s confetti. A lot of people mistake it for a weed, but it’s actually a champion for pollinators - bees and butterflies especially love it when there’s not much else blooming. And if you’re into herbal remedies, goldenrod’s been used for ages to help with inflammation and healing.

Goldenrod

Wild Bergamot - the bees love it!

If you come across fuzzy lavender-pink flowers, that’s wild bergamot (sometimes called bee balm). It smells a little like mint and attracts all sorts of hummingbirds and bees. People have long brewed it as a calming tea, so it’s a little piece of herbal magic growing wild around us.

Wild Bergamot

Fireweed - the tall purple dancer

Fireweed usually blooms earlier (July here, in Athabasca), but you can still catch it nodding in the breeze here and there, especially in shaded spots. Those bright purple spikes are a cheerful reminder of summer, and it’s one of the first plants to bounce back after fires.

Fireweed

Sweet Clover - the fragrant roadside friend

If you’re driving or walking near fields and roadsides, you might spot tall stalks of sweet clover with its soft white or yellow flowers. It smells faintly sweet and is a big hit with the bees. Plus, it helps keep the soil healthy, so it’s working hard even if it looks simple.

Sweet Clover

I love August because it feels like a pause - a chance to catch your breath before the busy fall months. The greens start to soften, the light shifts just a little, and the air smells like possibility. It’s a great time to gather some herbs, sip a calming tea, or just sit outside and watch the world do its thing.

Whether you’re wandering the wild spaces or just noticing the plants from your window, keep an eye out for goldenrod’s golden glow and all the little miracles growing around you this August.

Here’s to slow days and wild flowers, Bright Gather