Diario de craigmartin

I took a quick dash up to Canada Bonita early this morning to see how the small population of Wood Lilies (Lilium philidelphicum) was fairing. Two weeks ago, I'd found a couple basal rosettes that seemed gnawed on, and based on the one bloom I did find today, I'd say the two or three hailstorms of the past 10 days haven't been kind to the lilies. But they are hanging on!

The Whipple's Penstemons (Penstemon whippleanus) are out, and there are more Nodding Sunflowers (Helianthella quinquenervis) than I've ever seen up that way, not to mention a profusion of Owl's-claws (Hymenoxys hoopesii). A few Parry's Goldenrods were peeking through the green mass in the open woods. Missing so far are Mariposa Lilies (although I didn't make an exhaustive search) and Orange Skyflower, which probably isn't due to bloom for a couple weeks. Nodding Groundsel buds were evident. Overall it was a colorful walk.

(Photos at the bottom of the list, or visit https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/plants-of-los-alamos-county-nm-2019.

Family Genus Species JMP common name
Amaryllidaceae Allium cernuum nodding onion
Amaryllidaceae Allium geyeri Geyer's onion
Apiaceae Pseudocymopterus montanus mountain parsley
Asteraceae Achillea millefolium yarrow
Asteraceae Artemisia franserioides ragweed sagebrush
Asteraceae Brickelliastrum fendleri Fendler's brickellbush
Asteraceae Cirsium parryi Parry's thistle
Asteraceae Erigeron eximius spruce-fir fleabane
Asteraceae Erigeron subtrinervis three-nerved fleabane
Asteraceae Erigeron flagellaris trailing fleabane
Asteraceae Erigeron formosissimus most beautiful fleabane
Asteraceae Helianthella quinquenervis nodding sunflower
Asteraceae Hymenoxys hoopesii owl's-claws
Asteraceae Oreochrysum parryi Parry's goldenrod
Asteraceae Rudbeckia hirta black-eyed Susan
Asteraceae Taraxacum officinale common dandelion
Brassicaceae Descurainia incisa mountain tansymustard
Brassicaceae Erysimum capitatum western wallflower
Campanulaceae Campanula rotundifolia harebell
Caprifoliaceae Valeriana edulis tobacco root
Caryophyllaceae Cerastium arvense meadow chickweed
Caryophyllaceae Eremogone fendleri Fendler's sandwort
Fabaceae Trifolium pratense red clover
Fabaceae Trifolium repens white clover
Fabaceae Vicia americana American vetch
Gentianaceae Frasera speciosa deer's ears
Geraniaceae Geranium caespitosum purple geranium
Geraniaceae Geranium richardsonii Richardson's geranium
Iridaceae Iris missouriensis wild iris
Liliaceae Lilium philadelphicum wood lily
Linaceae Linum lewisii western blue flax
Onagraceae Chamerion angustifolium fireweed
Orobanchaceae Castilleja nelsonii Southern Mountain Paintbrush
Orobanchaceae Castilleja miniata scarlet paintbrush
Orobanchaceae Pedicularis procera fern-leafed lousewort
Plantaginaceae Penstemon strictus Rocky Mountain penstemon
Plantaginaceae Penstemon whippleanus Whipple's penstemon
Plantaginaceae Plantago major common plantain
Plantaginaceae Synthyris plantaginea kittentails
Polemoniaceae Ipomopsis aggregata skyrocket
Ranunculaceae Thalictrum fendleri Fendler's meadowrue
Rosaceae Dasiphora fruticosa shrub potentilla
Rosaceae Potentilla hippiana woolly cinquefoil
Rosaceae Potentilla pulcherrima beautiful cinquefoil
Rosaceae Rosa woodsii Woods' rose
Rosaceae Rubus parviflorus thimbleberry
Rubiaceae Galium aparine goosegrass
Rubiaceae Galium boreale northern bedstraw
Saxifragaceae Heuchera parvifolia alumroot
Scrophulariaceae Verbascum thapsus mullein

When Bio Blitzes were in vogue a couple years ago, I spent a few hours in Alamo Canyon on the Valles Caldera, surveying plants. I always want to get back and spend more time, and the Sensitive Plant Project on the Preserve gave me the chance yesterday. I totally forgot that the bottom part of the canyon was torn up by geothermal explorations in the 1980s, and that sulfur springs fed into the canyon in several locations. I remembered it was wet, but didn't remember that many of the ponds have small gas vents bubbling to the surface. Wow, what a cool place!

The first half mile was a collection of the usual weedy plants of disturbed areas, not all of which are undesirable. There was a two-acre patch of Many-flowered Foreget-me-not (Hackelia floribunda) spread out along the valley floor. In between two of the old drill pads was a patch of White Scorpionweed (Phacelia alba), a new species for me, the tightly packed, coil-tipped inflorescences are visually striking. A bit further in, a strange thistle with characteristics of musk and wavyleaf thistles--which is likely Meadow or Elk Thistle (Cirsium scariosum var. coloradense), which would be a new species for the Jemez Mountains. Near Alamo Bog, too soggy to explore much, a patch of indisputable Two-flowered Dwarf Dandelion (Krigia biflora), a species that I misidentified in the past (now I know better, he says). In the upper meadows, the first Gunnison's Mariposa Lilies (Calochortus gunnisonii) of the year, and a few blooming Corn Lilies (Veratrum californicum).

Rather than retrace the route back, we climbed to the ridge between Valle Seco and Alamo Canyon and headed west, dropping into a smaller drainage that drained into Sulfur Creek. Here were more Owl's-claws (Hymenoxys hoopesii) than I've ever seen, and large patches of an unknown violet, past bloom. Near the confluence with Sulfur Creek, several colonies of Sulphur Paintbrush, not very common in the Jemez outside the San Pedro Parks.

The tally for a seven-mile walk was 101 species in bloom, a recent record.

Family Genus Species JMP common name
Amaranthaceae Chenopodium album lamb's quarters
Amaranthaceae Chenopodium capitatum strawberry blight
Amaryllidaceae Allium cernuum nodding onion
Amaryllidaceae Allium geyeri Geyer's onion
Apiaceae Cicuta maculata spotted water hemlock
Apiaceae Pseudocymopterus montanus mountain parsley
Asteraceae Achillea millefolium yarrow
Asteraceae Agoseris glauca pale mountain dandelion
Asteraceae Arnica chamissonis leafy arnica
Asteraceae Artemisia carruthii Carruth's wormwood
Asteraceae Carduus nutans musk thistle
Asteraceae Cirsium parryi Parry's thistle
Asteraceae Cirsium scoriosum meadow thistle
Asteraceae Erigeron formosissimus most beautiful fleabane
Asteraceae Erigeron divergens spreading fleabane
Asteraceae Erigeron flagellaris trailing fleabane
Asteraceae Heterotheca villosa hairy golden aster
Asteraceae Hymenopappus newberryi white mountain ragweed
Asteraceae Hymenoxys hoopesii owl's-claws
Asteraceae Krigia biflora two-flower dwarf dandelion
Asteraceae Packera neomexicana New Mexico groundsel
Asteraceae Packera fendleri Fendler's groundsel
Asteraceae Rudbeckia hirta black-eyed Susan
Asteraceae Senecio eremophilus cutleaf groundsel
Asteraceae Solidago simplex simple goldenrod
Asteraceae Taraxacum officinale common dandelion
Asteraceae Tragopogon dubius yellow salsify
Boraginaceae Lappula occidentalis flatspine stickseed
Boraginaceae Lithospermum multiflorum many-flowered puccoon
Boraginaceae Mertensia franciscana Franciscan bluebells
Boraginaceae Phacelia alba white scorpionweed
Brassicaceae Boechera stricta Drummond's rockcress
Brassicaceae Capsella bursa-pastoris shepherd's purse
Brassicaceae Descurainia sophia flixweed
Brassicaceae Descurainia incisa mountain tansymustard
Brassicaceae Draba aurea golden draba
Brassicaceae Erysimum capitatum western wallflower
Brassicaceae Hesperidanthus linearifolius slimleaf plains-mustard
Brassicaceae Turritis glabra tower mustard
Campanulaceae Campanula parryi Parry's bellflower
Campanulaceae Campanula rotundifolia harebell
Caprifoliaceae Valeriana edulis tobacco root
Caryophyllaceae Cerastium arvense meadow chickweed
Caryophyllaceae Spergulastrum lanuginosa spreading sandwort
Caryophyllaceae Stellaria longipes long-stalked starwort
Caryophyllaceae Stellaria longifolia longleaf starwort
Fabaceae Lathyrus lanszwertii Nevada peavine
Fabaceae Lupinus argenteus silvery lupine
Fabaceae Medicago lupulina black medic
Fabaceae Melilotus officinalis yellow sweetclover
Fabaceae Trifolium longipes longstalk clover
Fabaceae Trifolium repens white clover
Fabaceae Vicia americana American vetch
Gentianaceae Frasera speciosa deer's ears
Geraniaceae Erodium cicutarium filaree
Geraniaceae Geranium caespitosum purple geranium
Geraniaceae Geranium richardsonii Richardson's geranium
Hypericaceae Hypericum scouleri western St. Johnswort
Iridaceae Iris missouriensis wild iris
Iridaceae Sisyrinchium montanum mountain blue-eyed grass
Lamiaceae Dracocephalum parviflorum dragonhead
Lamiaceae Prunella vulgaris selfheal
Liliaceae Calochortus gunnisonii Gunnison's mariposa lily
Malvaceae Malva neglecta common cheeseweed
Malvaceae Sidalcea candida white checker mallow
Melanthiaceae Veratrum californicum cornhusk lily
Onagraceae Epilobium saximontanum Rocky Mountain willowherb
Onagraceae Oenothera flava yellow evening-primrose
Onagraceae Oenothera villosa hairy evening-primrose
Orchidaceae Corallorhiza maculata spotted coralroot
Orobanchaceae Castilleja sulphurea sulphur paintbrush
Orobanchaceae Castilleja miniata scarlet paintbrush
Orobanchaceae Orthocarpus luteus yellow owl-clover
Orobanchaceae Pedicularis procera fern-leafed lousewort
Oxalidaceae Oxalis alpina alpine woodsorrel
Papaveraceae Corydalis aurea golden smoke
Plantaginaceae Penstemon barbatus scarlet bugler penstemon
Plantaginaceae Penstemon rydbergii Rydberg's penstemon
Plantaginaceae Veronica peregrina wandering speedwell
Polemoniaceae Collomia linearis mountain trumpet
Polemoniaceae Ipomopsis aggregata skyrocket
Polygonaceae Polygonum douglasii Douglas' knotweed
Primulaceae Androsace septentrionalis northern rock-jasmine
Primulaceae Primula pauciflora darkthroat shootingstar
Rosaceae Dasiphora fruticosa shrub potentilla
Rosaceae Fragaria vesca wild strawberry
Rosaceae Geum macrophyllum large-leaf avens
Rosaceae Potentilla anserina silverweed cinquefoil
Rosaceae Potentilla hippiana woolly cinquefoil
Rosaceae Potentilla norvegica Norwegian cinquefoil
Rosaceae Potentilla pensylvanica Pennsylvania cinquefoil
Rosaceae Potentilla pulcherrima beautiful cinquefoil
Rosaceae Rosa woodsii Woods' rose
Rubiaceae Galium boreale northern bedstraw
Rubiaceae Galium aparine goosegrass
Saxifragaceae Heuchera parvifolia alumroot
Solanaceae Solanum triflorum cutleaf nightshade
Typhaceae Sparganium angustifolium narrowleaf bur-reed
Urticaceae Urtica dioica stinging nettle
Verbenaceae Verbena bracteata carpet vervain
Violaceae Viola canadensis Canada violet

The last few days I checked out the usual places for early summer blooms, upper Water Canyon and the mesa-top trail out to Upper Crossing. With more than 70 species in bloom, Water Canyon (as usual) is the place to visit. The Blue Lettuce survived windfall ponderosa pines falling all around it, the Varileaf Scorpionweed is showing, there are three Hackelias out (a challenge to ID), and there are two prominent yellow evening-primroses, the tall Oenothera elata and the less-than-a-foot Oenothera biennis. The usual species are along the Upper Crossing Trail, notably White and Purple Prairie-clover, Scurf Pea, and James' Buckwheat.

Upper Water Canyon Trail

Family Genus Species JMP common name
Amaranthaceae Chenopodium album lamb's quarters
Amaryllidaceae Allium cernuum nodding onion
Apocynaceae Asclepias speciosa showy milkweed
Araliaceae Aralia racemosa American spikenard
Asteraceae Achillea millefolium yarrow
Asteraceae Cirsium undulatum wavyleaf thistle
Asteraceae Cirsium parryi Parry's thistle
Asteraceae Dieteria canescens purple aster
Asteraceae Erigeron divergens spreading fleabane
Asteraceae Erigeron flagellaris trailing fleabane
Asteraceae Erigeron speciosus showy fleabane
Asteraceae Erigeron subtrinervis three-nerved fleabane
Asteraceae Heliomeris multiflora showy goldeneye
Asteraceae Lactuca canadensis Canada lettuce
Asteraceae Packera fendleri Fendler's groundsel
Asteraceae Rudbeckia hirta black-eyed Susan
Asteraceae Rudbeckia laciniata cutleaf coneflower
Asteraceae Senecio eremophilus cutleaf groundsel
Asteraceae Sonchus asper spiny sow-thistle
Asteraceae Taraxacum officinale common dandelion
Asteraceae Tragopogon dubius yellow salsify
Boraginaceae Hackelia hirsuta New Mexico stickseed
Boraginaceae Hackelia floribunda many-flowered stickseed
Boraginaceae Hackelia besseyi Bessey's stickseed
Boraginaceae Lappula occidentalis flatspine stickseed
Boraginaceae Lithospermum multiflorum many-flowered puccoon
Boraginaceae Phacelia heterophylla varileaf scorpionweed
Brassicaceae Capsella bursa-pastoris shepherd's purse
Brassicaceae Sisymbrium altissimum tumble mustard
Campanulaceae Campanula rotundifolia harebell
Caryophyllaceae Silene antirrhina sleepy catchfly
Convolvulaceae Convolvulus arvensis field bindweed
Fabaceae Medicago sativa alfalfa
Fabaceae Medicago lupulina black medic
Fabaceae Melilotus officinalis yellow sweetclover
Fabaceae Melilotus albus white sweetclover
Fabaceae Robinia neomexicana New Mexico locust
Fabaceae Vicia americana American vetch
Geraniaceae Erodium cicutarium filaree
Geraniaceae Geranium richardsonii Richardson's geranium
Geraniaceae Geranium caespitosum purple geranium
Hydrangeaceae Jamesia americana cliffbush
Lamiaceae Dracocephalum parviflorum dragonhead
Lamiaceae Monarda fistulosa beebalm
Malvaceae Sidalcea candida white checker mallow
Malvaceae Sphaeralcea fendleri Fendler's globe mallow
Nyctaginaceae Mirabilis linearis narrowleaf four-o'clock
Onagraceae Chamerion angustifolium fireweed
Onagraceae Epilobium brachycarpum tall annual willow herb
Onagraceae Oenothera cespitosa stemless evening-primrose
Onagraceae Oenothera curtiflora velvetweed
Onagraceae Oenothera elata western evening-primrose
Onagraceae Oenothera albicaulis white-stem evening-primrose
Onagraceae Oenothera biennis biennial evening-primrose
Plantaginaceae Penstemon barbatus scarlet bugler penstemon
Plantaginaceae Veronica americana American speedwell
Polemoniaceae Ipomopsis aggregata skyrocket
Ranunculaceae Anemone cylindrica candle anemone
Ranunculaceae Ranunculus inamoenus homely buttercup
Ranunculaceae Thalictrum fendleri Fendler's meadowrue
Rosaceae Geum aleppicum yellow avens
Rosaceae Potentilla crinita bearded cinquefoil
Rosaceae Potentilla hippiana woolly cinquefoil
Rosaceae Rosa woodsii Woods' rose
Rosaceae Rubus parviflorus thimbleberry
Rosaceae Rubus idaeus wild raspberry
Rubiaceae Galium aparine goosegrass
Rubiaceae Galium boreale northern bedstraw
Scrophulariaceae Verbascum thapsus mullein
Urticaceae Urtica dioica stinging nettle

Upper Crossing Trail

Family Genus Species JMP common name
Amaranthaceae Chenopodium fremontii Fremont's goosefoot
Amaranthaceae Chenopodium leptophyllum narrowleaf goosefoot
Amaryllidaceae Allium cernuum nodding onion
Apiaceae Pseudocymopterus montanus mountain parsley
Asteraceae Achillea millefolium yarrow
Asteraceae Cirsium undulatum wavyleaf thistle
Asteraceae Conyza canadensis horseweed
Asteraceae Dieteria canescens purple aster
Asteraceae Erigeron divergens spreading fleabane
Asteraceae Erigeron speciosus showy fleabane
Asteraceae Erigeron flagellaris trailing fleabane
Asteraceae Heterotheca villosa hairy golden aster
Asteraceae Hymenoxys richardsonii Richardson's bitterweed
Asteraceae Packera fendleri Fendler's groundsel
Asteraceae Pseudognaphalium macounii Macoun's cudweed
Asteraceae Solidago simplex simple goldenrod
Asteraceae Symphyotrichum laeve smooth aster
Asteraceae Tetraneuris argentea Perky Sue
Asteraceae Townsendia eximia tall Easter daisy
Asteraceae Tragopogon dubius yellow salsify
Boraginaceae Lithospermum multiflorum many-flowered puccoon
Brassicaceae Erysimum capitatum western wallflower
Brassicaceae Pennellia longifolia longleaf mock thelopody
Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia brachycera horned spurge
Fabaceae Dalea candida white prairie-clover
Fabaceae Dalea purpurea purple prairie-clover
Fabaceae Lotus wrightii deervetch
Fabaceae Medicago sativa alfalfa
Fabaceae Melilotus albus white sweetclover
Fabaceae Psoralidium tenuiflorum slender scurfpea
Fabaceae Robinia neomexicana New Mexico locust
Fabaceae Vicia americana American vetch
Geraniaceae Geranium caespitosum purple geranium
Hydrangeaceae Philadelphus microphyllus mockorange
Lamiaceae Monarda fistulosa beebalm
Linaceae Linum neomexicanum New Mexico yellow flax
Onagraceae Oenothera elata western evening-primrose
Plantaginaceae Penstemon barbatus scarlet bugler penstemon
Polemoniaceae Ipomopsis aggregata skyrocket
Polygonaceae Eriogonum jamesii antelope sage
Rhamnaceae Ceanothus fendleri buckbrush
Rosaceae Potentilla hippiana woolly cinquefoil
Rosaceae Potentilla crinita bearded cinquefoil
Scrophulariaceae Verbascum thapsus mullein

Today I hit 400 species for the Jemez this year: number 400 was the unexciting Prostrate Knotweed! Many of the species spotted in the last couple days were the weedy things of summer: Summer Cyprus, pigweeds, horseweed, and the like. But a trip to the Aspenola Loop on Pajarito Mountain yielded some nice native species, including the target species, Striped Coralroot (Corallorhiza striata). I was about a week behind to catch the orchid in full bloom, but I did find one plant with flowers. Green Gentian (Frasera speciosa), AKA monument plant or deer's ears, was found in many more places than in a "normal" year. And Fernleaf Lousewort has made its appearance, always a favorite high-country species for me.

In the yard for the first time, Fendler's Bedstraw (Galium fendleri).

A quick trip to Overlook Park in White Rock told me that the fore-summer dry spell was in control. Not much to find, but cota (Thelesperma megapotamicum) was in full swing, and early Birdbeaks (Cordylanthus wrightii) were a surprise.

About 1.25 inches of rain at the house today, so the summer rains have begun!

Photos and links below species list.

Species list for the Aspenola Loop, Pajarito Mountain

Family Genus Species JMP common name
Apiaceae Pseudocymopterus montanus mountain parsley
Asteraceae Achillea millefolium yarrow
Asteraceae Crepis tectorum narrowleaf hawk's-beard
Asteraceae Erigeron flagellaris trailing fleabane
Asteraceae Hymenoxys hoopesii owl's-claws
Asteraceae Taraxacum officinale common dandelion
Asteraceae Tragopogon dubius yellow salsify
Brassicaceae Descurainia incisa mountain tansymustard
Caryophyllaceae Cerastium arvense meadow chickweed
Fabaceae Lathyrus lanszwertii Nevada peavine
Fabaceae Thermopsis montana big golden pea
Fabaceae Vicia americana American vetch
Gentianaceae Frasera speciosa deer's ears
Geraniaceae Geranium caespitosum purple geranium
Geraniaceae Geranium richardsonii Richardson's geranium
Iridaceae Iris missouriensis wild iris
Onagraceae Chamerion angustifolium fireweed
Orchidaceae Corallorhiza striata striped coralroot
Orchidaceae Corallorhiza maculata spotted coralroot
Orobanchaceae Castilleja miniata scarlet paintbrush
Orobanchaceae Pedicularis procera fern-leafed lousewort
Ranunculaceae Thalictrum fendleri Fendler's meadowrue
Rosaceae Physocarpus monogynus ninebark
Rosaceae Potentilla pulcherrima beautiful cinquefoil
Rosaceae Rosa woodsii Woods' rose
Rosaceae Rubus parviflorus thimbleberry
Rubiaceae Galium aparine goosegrass
Scrophulariaceae Verbascum thapsus mullein
Violaceae Viola canadensis Canada violet

Two years ago I stumbled on a few Bunchberry plants (Cornus canadensis) on South Mountain on the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Today's goal was to find that colony and collect a few for the VCNP herbarium. The route was the trail around La Jara from the staging area in the Valle Grande, then cut over to South Mountain and follow approximately the same route from years ago.

Last year there was a small, productive fire on the north flanks of South Mountain. It scorched the understory, torched in a few trees. Apparently the fuel management team on the preserve took advantage of the lightning fire and used the area to reduce fuels by piling and burning dead and down trees in the area. As we retraced the route up the flanks of the mountain today, the elk trails were familiar--until we reach the burned area. Burn pile scars--ash pits left by the intense flames of a constructed pile of wood and kindling purposefully ignited under safe burning conditions--were everywhere. The elk trails weren't obvious, and the environment of the area was totally transformed. The lightning fire had taken away the shade that provided the moist environment in years past, and the burn piles scorched the even moister ground on the north side of boulders. Rather than cool, moist Bunchberry habit, all there was left was open canopy, ash piles near the boulders, and exposed, dry forest plants like Golden Smoke, Strawberry Blite, and Cutleaf Senecio. Liverworts, that once were a co-inhabitant with the Bunchberry, were shriveled and dried. Using the dead liverworts as clues, we scoured the area with not luck.

That mountain slope was never ideal habitat for Bunchberry, which prefers moister, riparian habitats, but the transformation from wildfire and fuel reduction activities has probably eliminated the population there. It's a trade-off: I'm sure the Bunchberry will come back as the shady forest canopy returns over the next hundred years. The benefits of natural fire and fuel reduction activities will reap benefits for the larger ecosystem, and I support those efforts and know how difficult it is to implement them. The Bunchberry is likely elsewhere on the Preserve, and perhaps we'll stumble across another population someday.

Stars of the Day (photos and links to better photos below): I think we should call the VCNP the Rydberg Penstemon Capitol of the World! The attractive, shapely penstemon is found everywhere. And the Leafy Arnica patch south of La Jara was the best I've seen, with dozens of plants on the wet ground.

Genus Species JMP common name
Agoseris aurantiaca orange-flowered mountain dandelion
Agoseris glauca pale mountain dandelion
Allium cernuum nodding onion
Aquilegia coerulea Colorado blue columbine
Aquilegia elegantula little red columbine
Arnica chamissonis leafy arnica
Boechera stricta Drummond's rockcress
Campanula parryi Parry's bellflower
Campanula rotundifolia harebell
Chenopodium capitatum strawberry blight
Corallorhiza maculata spotted coralroot
Corydalis aurea golden smoke
Dasiphora fruticosa shrub potentilla
Descurainia incisa mountain tansymustard
Draba aurea golden draba
Dracocephalum parviflorum dragonhead
Eremogone fendleri Fendler's sandwort
Erigeron flagellaris trailing fleabane
Erysimum capitatum western wallflower
Fragaria vesca wild strawberry
Galium aparine goosegrass
Galium boreale northern bedstraw
Geranium caespitosum purple geranium
Geranium richardsonii Richardson's geranium
Geum triflorum old man's whiskers
Heterotheca villosa hairy golden aster
Heuchera parvifolia alumroot
Iris missouriensis wild iris
Lappula occidentalis flatspine stickseed
Lithospermum multiflorum many-flowered puccoon
Mertensia lanceolata chimingbells
Packera dimorphophylla splitleaf groundsel
Packera neomexicana New Mexico groundsel
Penstemon barbatus scarlet bugler penstemon
Penstemon rydbergii Rydberg's penstemon
Polemonium foliosissimum leafy Jacob's ladder
Potentilla anserina silverweed cinquefoil
Potentilla hippiana woolly cinquefoil
Potentilla norvegica Norwegian cinquefoil
Potentilla pensylvanica Pennsylvania cinquefoil
Pseudocymopterus montanus mountain parsley
Ranunculus inamoenus homely buttercup
Rubus idaeus wild raspberry
Ranunculus cardiophyllus heartleaf buttercup
Senecio eremophilus cutleaf groundsel
Sisyrinchium montanum mountain blue-eyed grass
Spergulastrum lanuginosa spreading sandwort
Stellaria longifolia longleaf starwort
Taraxacum officinale common dandelion
Thalictrum fendleri Fendler's meadowrue
Thermopsis montana big golden pea
Trifolium repens white clover
Urtica dioica stinging nettle
Valeriana edulis tobacco root
Synthyris plantaginea kittentails
Vicia americana American vetch
Viola canadensis Canada violet
Cerastium nutans nodding chickweed

A late start put us in Hidden Valley on the Valles Caldera National Preserve about the time the rain and lightning moved in. We crossed the grasslands before the storm, spotting the early summer blooms of Orange-flowered Mountain Dandelion and the outstanding Rydberg's Penstemon. But the search was to try and document the presence of Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) on the Preserve. I spotted a population on South Mountain two years ago, but didn't realize that it was undocumented within the Preserve boundaries (plus I didn't have a collecting permit). Now that I'm a volunteer for the sensitive plant survey for the Preserve, I have a permit and license to travel around the property to search for documented and undocumented sensitive plants.

A couple days ago we spotted three large populations of Bunchberry along the East Fork of the Jemez below the Preserve boundary, so I thought we should take a look in the similar habitats along the East Fork within the Preserve. The rain was steady, but not a soaking downpour, and in the trees in the canyon bottom we felt safe from the lightning bouncing above. The canyon here--dubbed Hidden Canyon because you can't see it from any road--is narrow, cliffy, intense green, and totally isolated. We got rather wet as we wandered down the east bank, spotting Colorado Columbines and American Bistorts. After an hour, we decided we were wet enough, with still a half mile to survey. Enough for the first day of July!

The day was young, so I decided I'd check out the recent Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) sightings along the Frey Trail in Bandelier. "You can't miss them," I was told by the rangers, so I was almost guaranteed one successful search for the day. Leadplant is a plains species that creeps into the Jemez Mountains in Bandelier. I've regularly visited the one plant I knew for four years, finding it in bloom for the first time too late to include it in Volume One of Plants of the Jemez Mountains. Last year I checked five times, and that one plant never blossomed. A week ago, the Bandelier Fire Effect crew reported it along Highway 4, then the Visitor Center staff reported many plants along the Frey Trail. Indeed, there were a dozen plants in bloom along the first 500 feet of trail, enough to convince me that that one plant I'd know before wasn't a fluke.

(I hope to figure out how to include photos in the blog soon!)

Plant List from Hidden Valley

Genus Species JMP common name
Achillea millefolium yarrow
Agoseris aurantiaca orange-flowered mountain dandelion
Aquilegia coerulea Colorado blue columbine
Bistorta bistortoides American bistort
Boechera stricta Drummond's rockcress
Campanula parryi Parry's bellflower
Cerastium arvense meadow chickweed
Dasiphora fruticosa shrub potentilla
Draba aurea golden draba
Eremogone fendleri Fendler's sandwort
Erigeron flagellaris trailing fleabane
Erigeron formosissimus most beautiful fleabane
Erysimum capitatum western wallflower
Fragaria vesca wild strawberry
Geum triflorum old man's whiskers
Heterotheca villosa hairy golden aster
Heuchera parvifolia alumroot
Iris missouriensis wild iris
Jamesia americana cliffbush
Lathyrus lanszwertii Nevada peavine
Mertensia lanceolata chimingbells
Penstemon rydbergii Rydberg's penstemon
Polemonium foliosissimum leafy Jacob's ladder
Potentilla hippiana woolly cinquefoil
Primula pauciflora darkthroat shootingstar
Pseudocymopterus montanus mountain parsley
Rubus idaeus wild raspberry
Ranunculus cardiophyllus heartleaf buttercup
Sisyrinchium montanum mountain blue-eyed grass
Thermopsis montana big golden pea
Trifolium repens white clover
Synthyris plantaginea kittentails
Vicia americana American vetch
Viola canadensis Canada violet
Viola nephrophylla northern bog violet
Trifolium longipes longstalk clover

After a month visiting the East and West coasts (with flower walks mixed in), I'm happy to be back in New Mexico. I grew up in Pennsylvania and my initial forays into plants were based there, and this was my eighth visit to the redwoods in California, in my mind both hot spots for plants. Well, not in summer. A five-mile hike on either coast yielded maybe 10 species in bloom--some of them, like the small Mariposa Lily Pussy-ears, spectacular. Today hiking to Cañada Bonita yielded 52 species (yesterday along the East Fork of the Jemez 73 species!), a contrast to summer on the coasts. Yes, I missed the spring seasons East and West, but summer belongs to the mountains!

In the high country today the stellar plants were Thimbleberry, Scarlet Paintbrush, and Ninebark. Well, the wet winter makes it difficult to select just three stars--I've never seen so much Mountain Parsley, American Vetch, or Richardson's Geranium! It is a spectacular year for flowers in northern New Mexico. (Complete list for the day below.)

Thimbleberry is a few-flowered raspberry with large white flowers. Normally you spot a flower here and there, but right now they are in huge clusters along many of the local higher elevation trails.

Scarlet Paintbrush paints the trail edges in red. It grows in clusters in openings in the mixed conifer forests--the mountain meadows have other species with subtle differences!

Ninebark is a rose family shrub with intense clusters of white flowers. It is blooming right near the parking area for the trailhead, and continues to display along the first climb from the parking area to the end of the burned area about a half mile in. The flowers are white with a hard circle at the base of the petals, the thin stamens radiating from the circle. The clusters of flowers are dense and hard to miss.

It's too early for the Mariposa lilies xand Whipple's penstemons, but the following list compiles all the species that are easy to find right now:

Genus Species Common name
Achillea millefolium yarrow
Allium geyeri Geyer's onion
Castilleja miniata scarlet paintbrush
Cerastium arvense meadow chickweed
Cirsium parryi Parry's thistle
Corallorhiza maculata spotted coralroot
Corydalis aurea golden smoke
Dasiphora fruticosa shrub potentilla
Descurainia incisa mountain tansymustard
Draba aurea golden draba
Eremogone fendleri Fendler's sandwort
Erigeron flagellaris trailing fleabane
Erigeron subtrinervis three-nerved fleabane
Erysimum capitatum western wallflower
Fragaria virginiana Virginia strawberry
Frasera speciosa deer's ears
Galium boreale northern bedstraw
Geranium caespitosum purple geranium
Geranium richardsonii Richardson's geranium
Geum triflorum old man's whiskers
Helianthella quinquenervis nodding sunflower
Iris missouriensis wild iris
Lathyrus lanszwertii Nevada peavine
Linum lewisii western blue flax
Lonicera involucrata twinberry
Maianthemum stellatum starry false Solomon's seal
Medicago lupulina black medic
Mertensia lanceolata chimingbells
Noccaea fendleri wild candytuft
Oenothera curtiflora velvetweed
Packera neomexicana New Mexico groundsel
Penstemon strictus Rocky Mountain penstemon
Physocarpus monogynus ninebark
Potentilla hippiana woolly cinquefoil
Potentilla pulcherrima beautiful cinquefoil
Pseudocymopterus montanus mountain parsley
Ranunculus inamoenus homely buttercup
Rosa woodsii Woods' rose
Rubus idaeus wild raspberry
Rubus parviflorus thimbleberry
Sambucus racemosa red elderberry
Senecio wootonii Wooton's senecio
Sisyrinchium montanum mountain blue-eyed grass
Taraxacum officinale common dandelion
Thalictrum fendleri Fendler's meadowrue
Thermopsis montana big golden pea
Trifolium pratense red clover
Trifolium repens white clover
Turritis glabra tower mustard
Valeriana acutiloba sharpleaf valerian
Verbascum thapsus mullein
Synthyris plantaginea kittentails
Vicia americana American vetch
Viola canadensis Canada violet
Viola nephrophylla northern bog violet
Trifolium hybrdium Alsike Clover
Tragopogon dubius yellow salsify
Castilleja nelsonii Southern Mountain Paintbrush

The Sandhill Cranes overhead said it was almost winter, but there was a bit of flower action along the Red Dot Trail today. Perhaps not as much as I expected after the past week of observations, but there were a few surprises along the way.

Spectacle Pod, Foothills Paintbrush, Cota, and Slender Trumpet were the unexpected. Others, well, I've seen them extend their season, so not a total surprise in mid-November.

A complete list for the past week:

Western Evening Primrose
Field Chrysanthemum
Chamisa
Goatsbeard
Crownbeard
Black Medic
Red Clover
Hairy Golden Aster
Spreading Fleabane
Tumble Mustard
Sow thistle
Bull thistle
Simple Goldenrod
Gray Goldenrod
Gallardia
Dandelion
Purple Aster
Mullein
Cheeseweed
Pineappleweed
Chocolate Flower
Sand Aster
Spiny Goldenweed
Slender Goldenweed
Desert Verbena
Stemless Evening-primrose
Greenleaf Five-eyes
Threadleaf Groundsel
Many-headed Groundsel
Apache Plume
Perky Sue
White Sweet Clover
Scarlet Globemallow
Harebells
Fendler's Groundsel
Wild Strawberry
Parry's Thistle
Townsend's Aster
Heath Aster
Noseburn
Spectacle Pod
Foothills Paintbrush
Cota
Slender Trumpet
Desert Thoroughwort
Western Fleabane

Forty-seven species in November. Can I hit 50?

For the last five years, the plant enthusiasts at the Jemez Mountain Herbarium have been keeping informal records of what species are found flowering around Los Alamos County in early November. The average is about 10 species, and those are usually spotted during the first week of the month.

Here it is November 12 and in the last four days I've found 37 species blooming as if it were late September. The difference in 2017? First I would think that five inches of rain in late September helped stave off the usual late fall drying of the soil as we wait for a decent snowfall. But more important are the temperatures for the last month. With a only few chilly days, the recent daytime highs have been in the upper fifties to mid-sixties--about 10 degrees above average. Nighttime lows--and here is the real difference--have dipped below freezing maybe three times, with the lowest recorded temperature of 29 degrees F.

Put on a personal level, I have a self-imposed rule that I never turn the heat on the house (except for the wood stove in the evening) until November 1, always with much complaining from other residents. I still haven't turned it on, and I haven't heard any complaints.

With warm and damp conditions, the blooming continues, and I have mixed emotions. A wood in the woods is always more appealing with flowering plants, but its about time for winter to arrive and bring New Mexico the moisture it needs for the next growing season.