In many places along the river, above the winter water level but just below the high water mark, there are areas of rocks and sand, collections of small plants and moss and low shrubs and driftwood. As I passed through such an area the other afternoon, my eyes were drawn to some tiny red “blooms” at my feet.
A closer look revealed them to be not real flower blossoms at all but rather, small red-colored leaves (about the size of dimes) at the tips of some small plants that I believe to be Kinnikinnik. I could visualize them as tiny winter flowers, blooming in the cold moist breeze off the water, and as I knelt down to capture their images, very appropriately big soft flakes of snow began to fall. Of course Nature’s children had nibbled a bit at some of them, but that’s what happens in an outdoor setting.
Montana Outdoors 