Today at the very crest of a small ridge in a sheltered place completely exposed to the sun (when it’s out) this little messenger of spring was all ready to burst into bloom.
January 30, 2010
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Montana Outdoors 
I look fwd to seeing this buttercup in bloom! Beautiful close-up.
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Comment by Maureen — January 30, 2010 @ 10:02 pm
When the sun comes out next! Last year the first I saw in bloom was on Feb. 13th and in the same area.
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Comment by montucky — January 30, 2010 @ 10:50 pm
Thanks for bringing us the promise of spring. I hope to see the buttercup as it blossoms!
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Comment by victry1 — January 30, 2010 @ 11:10 pm
It may be over a week. The forecast for the next 7 days is for snow or rain showers. I’ll check in a few days anyway.
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Comment by montucky — January 30, 2010 @ 11:23 pm
Spring coming alredy? You happy one! I like the photo and I give my thanks to mention the Latin name. That is the only connection to find out the local name. The result was that this plant is not in my country.
Happy Sunday.
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Comment by sartenada — January 31, 2010 @ 2:14 am
This flower always blooms first and it’s hardy enough to survive additional snowfalls and cold. It grows only in the 14 western states in the U.S. and the 3 western provinces of Canada.
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Comment by montucky — January 31, 2010 @ 10:00 am
The first flower of spring is always a most welcome sight! It looks like it will be a beauty.
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Comment by kateri — January 31, 2010 @ 5:16 am
It sure is! The plant does look healthy for the first one out. I look forward to next week when perhaps the weather will be better. After seeing your photo of the Daffodil(?) already popping up, I’ve been watching for ours but nothing here yet.
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Comment by montucky — January 31, 2010 @ 10:05 am
How can you be that much farther ahead? and no snow cover there? wow! I’m heading west! 🙂
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Comment by Cedar — January 31, 2010 @ 5:47 am
These have been arriving in early February, at least in that particular location. It now has a new coat of snow from last night and it’s still snowing. It will be tested because the National Weather Service forecast calls for daytime temps in the high 30’s and night time temps in the 20’s for the next week.
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Comment by montucky — January 31, 2010 @ 10:09 am
Little messenger of spring… Now I like that.
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Comment by Preston Surface — January 31, 2010 @ 8:26 am
And I like its message. I know there will be more winter weather, but This stirs the thought and hope of spring.
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Comment by montucky — January 31, 2010 @ 10:11 am
Pretty little promise. Seems early for spring…well, probably not for you since you’ve been enduring the winter but it’s only January!
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Comment by Candace — January 31, 2010 @ 10:00 am
Spring is a long season here, depending on how you define it. We will have snow showers off an on into may most likely, but the trees will start to bud out soon (I see some new buds on an Aspen just up the road now) and the more hardy of the wildflowers will get started and spread the blooms out for a long time.
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Comment by montucky — January 31, 2010 @ 10:13 am
Oh wow, wow, wow! It does look like the first bit of spring. I’ll probably have to wait for my first blooms until late March. So ready, yes!
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Comment by Bo Mackison — January 31, 2010 @ 10:40 am
That tight little bud won’t open today! It will take a little sun to melt last night’s snow before it will think about it, but hopefully soon.
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Comment by montucky — January 31, 2010 @ 11:04 am
Last week we had some nice spring like weather. a red headed woodpecker landed in our front tree for just a minute!
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Comment by silken — January 31, 2010 @ 8:51 pm
That storm must have gone to the north of you then. Our weather really hasn’t been spring like yet though. We had snow last night and snow and rain mixed today. When spring really hits here, the weather really gets wild!
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Comment by montucky — January 31, 2010 @ 9:49 pm
Terry! This little beauty looks almost like a succulent with its thick leaves. Is it? It is really a fabulous find. I’ve never seen anything like it before. I do hope you get to document its blossoming. That would be fantastic. Love the color and your macro. How large is this treasure?
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Comment by Iona — February 2, 2010 @ 12:49 am
I will check back on that one, but it will probably be up to two weeks before the bud opens unless the weather turns sunny and that isn’t forecast. The whole plant is no more than about 2″ X 3″ and it does look like a succulent; it isn’t though. They don’t grow east of Nebraska.
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Comment by montucky — February 2, 2010 @ 10:19 am
I am ready! we had a nice little taste of spring a couple of weeks ago, really spoiled us! but lucky me, I am heading for a very warm climate next week…. 🙂
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Comment by silken — February 4, 2010 @ 9:01 pm
I hope you enjoy that, Silken! You really do enjoy the warm weather!
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Comment by montucky — February 4, 2010 @ 10:34 pm