We usually run into mountain forget-me-nots while hiking through alpine meadows. Our first encounter is at lower elevations (Neskonlith Meadows in April), then later in subalpine locations like the alpine meadows on Tod Mountain, in the Marble Range, and in higher meadows of the Shuswap Highlands.

• Myosotis alpestris M. asiatica is a low growing perennial in the borage family.
• Hairy stems grow from short rhizomes and fibrous route. Basal leaves are lanceolae to oblong and above opposite leaves are clustered up the stem.
• Blue terminal flowers with 5 sepals and five petals in a tube flatten out around yellow, pink, or white centers.
• All images were shot by the author. Click an image for a caption and a larger view.

• After flowering seeds (nutlets) develop along the upper stems.
• The flowers are found in moist areas in many parts of the world, but are confined to mid to subalpine zones in our area.
• There are more than 70 registered species of forget-me-nots worldwide.

We will be looking for forget-me-nots again as we start to hike the hills when the flourish of growth comes later in spring.