Eritrichum aretioides, June 8, 2020
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.