On Thursday, Martha and I drove down to the approach to Westbank from the south to inspect a patch of colourful pink plant that we had noticed in the roadside ditch. It was a plant new to me, so I sent pictures to my usual source of help in plant identification, Reg Newman. Reg identified it as Crown Vetch (Coronilla varia), a plant that is often planted for erosion control. That may be the reason that it is growing in this particular spot, since there is seepage in this area which, from time to time results in water flowing down across Gellatly Road, which runs parallel with the highway at this point.

A good description of the plant is found on Wikipedia:
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Securigera_varia


Wikipedia says that the plant is native to parts of Africa, Asia and Europe and is now found in many areas in North America where it has been planted for soil rehabilitation and erosion control. But it can also become invasive. It is good forage for ruminants but toxic for horses.