Long flowered mertensia (longiflorum) can be spotted near Neskonlith Lake in late April and early May.   They have been spotted near Chase and Adams Lake too.   They follow yellow glacier lilies in semi-open meadows.

Mertensia grows from a tuber-like root and hair stems rise about 15 – 25 cm.   A few stem leaves are mildly rounded.

Tubular flowers form with a flare at the end.

Nutlets develop in late spring.   Its easy to miss the plant after flowering, as it tends to blend in to taller growth in summer.  We can’t miss it in flower, though, stealing the show at its peak.