What’s up — blue clematis

Blue clematis (Photo by Larry Halverson)

That is the question — what’s up in that tree? It is a blue clematis, a climbing vine, that adds a touch of colour to the woodland scene. Blue clematis one of only a few climbing or trailing vines found in the Canadian Rockies.

Blue clematis (Photo by Larry Halverson)

These flowers are part of the buttercup family and can be found growing in open woods or rocky areas at low to mid elevations in Kootenay National Park. Soon these delicate flowers will be replaced by a feathery tassels of plumed-tailed seeds.