Never to be forgotten

Eritrichum aretioides, June 8, 2021

Eritrichum aretioides, June 8, 2021

E. aretioides, summit, June 23, 2021

E. aretioides, summit, June 23, 2021

Common & scientific name
Alpine forget-me-nots, Eritrichum aretioides

Family
Borage, Boraginaceae

Location
Summit, 12,100’

Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact

This ground-hugging alpine jewel is many people’s favorite wildflower, period.  Its Kodachrome-blue petals and golden eyes are unique in our region, and its favorite habitat—rocky, windswept, highly inhospitable mountain tops and ridges—makes its beauty and sheer existence all the more jaw-dropping.  Because this flower blooms early and won’t stick around too long, it is worth dropping everything to get up high and bow down to this wonder of creation.

E. aretioides, Twining 13,400’, June 30, 2021

E. aretioides, Twining 13,400’, June 30, 2021