Synthyris missurica
Native to Western USA, a tiny perennial called 'mountain kittentails' (Synthyris missurica) blooms in the mountains in May right through the snow. It flowers in VanDusen in February.
You can find it in the Rock Garden (near the Bird Garden) in bed 96A. You have to look closely to see the mountain kittentails but they are there - scattered near the front and some even growing under the Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii 'Sayonara'). Their attractive, toothed leaves are spreading out with their long petioles. Their blue flower spikes are supposed to resemble kitten tails.
Mountain kittentails are not a commonly cultivated plant. They were first collected during the Lewis and Clarke expedition in 1806. The expedition discovered this plant as they passed through the mountains of Northern Idaho. Here is another side to this historical expedition.
Text and photos by Hughie Jones. The photos were taken in bed 96A in February.