Though it's very common, I have not made a close look until this morning. Reason is they are often low down and bending my waist hurts.
After a quick look at all the Vicia (vetch) species listed on E-Flora BC, I think the one in your photos is most likely Vicia villosa though I couldn't tell whether Vicia villosa ssp. villosa or V. villosa var. glabrescens. It probably doesn't matter but you can check further if you like. I spend a lot of time pulling vetch out of the wild areas of my garden - both introduced and native. I'm always reminded of a story a friend told from her childhood when she and her friends would be punished for using bad words so instead they came up with alternative of insulting their 'enemies' by saying 'You Purple Vetch' instead. So creative. :-)
"Glabrescens" means smooth, not having hairs, so it should not be that one. I am not commenting on the ID otherwise. I LOVE those photos.
Thanks very much. The vetches have always been a headache to me, both in ID and the effort of eradicating them. Once a friend asked me if they are weed or flower. I told her, it they fetch money, they are flowers; if someone fetches money to remove them for you, they are weed.
Although a bit mercenary, this is the best definition of a weed that I have heard since the old saw about weeds being plants that are growing where you don't want them. I can't imagine anyone ignoring or encouraging vetch in their gardens but I am quite capable of pulling it myself without paying someone else to do so.
