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The scenery of the Canadian prairie has always a charm of its own, but on either side of the Qu'Appelle valley the approach is very lovely. From a short distance the bluffs have all the effects of neat plantations, unshadowed by the process of the planter. On either side of the trail attractive sites seemed to invite spacious country-houses, and although that stretch of prairie is now broken up by many rich wheatfields, and some of the poplar bluffs have contributed of their beauty to fuel, as long as the line of misty blue hills lies beyond the valley beauty will be there. Even Lal shared our enthusiasm during the tiny intervals when he forgot his role as grand censor of anything and everything Canadian.
....
Is that the Fort"" asked Hilaria, as we came in sight of a range of deep blue hills.
"Those are the hills on the far side of the valley. You won't see the village until we get towards the foot of the hill."
"And what a hill!" Exclaimed Hilaria, as we arrived at the top, and at once relieved Charles of our weight.
The range of hills on either side of the Qu'Appelle valley is broken here and there with long, deep winding tracks. On the telegraph-trail these have been cut and graded, and except in the worst of weather offer fair passage to man and beast of burden. Words cannot make known the beauty of these lovely, lonesome hill-paths. Vegetation, secure in the shelter of these giant walls of hill, rushes into rich and brilliant life. Tall trees rise on either side of the cutting, and from spring to fall there is a wild luxuriance of loveliness in procession. The sweet-scented blossom of the choke-cherry and the pin-cherry, the delicate bloom of the saskatoon, is swiftly followed by the coming of the wild rose in every tint of its lovely hue, side by side with the father and mother of the blue forget-me-nots unkindly known as the blue burr, and a wicked weed of the wheatfield. With the glowing heat of July sun colour arrives to the wild fruit of the valley. Vermillion currants, raspberries of a deep rose-red, scarlet strawberries just big enough and sweet enough to let man know what they might become with the aid of his thought and care, and the wild cherry mauve Michaelmas daisy, and the many-petalled puffs of a pale violet flower, whose name none seems to know, blend with the gold of ripe grain, and brilliant sunflowers, and other golden growths of less stately height-all glowing along their way into the incomparable glory of the transfiguration of the fall. Lastly comes winter's day; the haunting , lovely wonder of naked trees with frozen hope be-diamonded, keeping watch over the sleeping beauty of the spring as it rests beneath the snow.
taken from page 132, 133
A Summer on the Canadian Prairie
Chapter: Fort Qu'Appelle and a Dweller Therein
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Wheat and Woman
Also by Georgina Binnie-Clark
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