North American Columbines - starting with Aquilegia saximontana
I've noticed over the years that this is usually misnamed in a lot of collections. Since it is the Avatar (so to speak) of the Rocky Mountain Chapter (we all know the real thing!) I thought it would be good to post this picture that really shows the distinguishing characteristics. It is widely distributed, but never common, right at treeline on the mountains visible from the Denver area: a range of maybe 150 miles: on a clear day I feel as though I could pick it out from my front door...
It isn't the smallest, showiest or rarest columbine. But it may be the cutest!