As published in the Abiquiú News in 2021.
See what is blooming in Abiquiú in
April, May, June, July, August, September and October
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Pink, White, Blue/Purple, Yellow, Red/Orange

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October 1, 2021

This last plant for the Bloom Blog this year is appropriately named. The Fall Tansyaster will bloom into the middle of October even after the first frost. The flowers of Fall Tansyaster are very similar to the Hoary Tansyaster, which blanketed the roadsides in August. They grow to about two feet high with a single stem branched at the top and are not as widely branched and bushy as Hoary Tansyaster. The leaves at mid-stem are narrow and saw-toothed. The bracts under the flower are long, hairy and curve backwards. The common name, aster, and the scientific family name, asteraceae, comes from the Classical Latin word aster, "star", which came from Ancient Greek. It refers to the star-like form of the flowers. No medicinal uses for this plant could be found.

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September 24, 2021

Black Sagebrush it the most widespread sagebrush in the western US. It is an evergreen growing in colonies with a low, rounded form less than 2 feet high compared to Big Sagebrush. Leaves are darker green than Big Sagebrush, and much smaller, about ½ inch long, and not all so obviously three-toothed. It is strongly aromatic. Tiny yellow flowers grow in narrow clusters on erect flower stalks sticking up above the foliage. Black Sagebrush provides important fall and winter forage and habitat for wildlife; it is used less in spring and summer. It is a valuable browse plant for livestock; palatable to pronghorn, mule deer, domestic sheep, and domestic goats but less palatable to cattle and horses. Source. Medicinally, a decoction of the leaves was used in the treatment of coughs, colds and headaches. Source.

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September 17, 2021

The Foxtail Clover grows to 3 feet tall in patches. The leaves are up to four inches long and divided into 15-35 oval leaflets. Tiny white or bluish pea-shaped flowers grow in dense, two-inch-long spikes which are covered in silky white hairs; the foxtail. Medicinal uses of this clover are unknown but other Daleas have been used in traditional medicine. Daleas are named in honor of English physician and botanist Samuel Dale, (1659-1739) who was born in London and never set foot in the USA, so never saw this Dalea.

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September 10, 2021

A very common plant in our area growing to 30" with reddish stems and bluish-green, narrowly divided, feathery leaves. A rosette of the leaves can be seen throughout the winter but are withered by the time of flowering. Tiny flowers are yellow and grow in long, dense clusters. Traditionally seeds were eaten as a grain, pulverized roots were used as a perfume, and the plant had extensive medicinal uses, including treatment of coughs, colds, sores, rheumatism, eczema, tuberculosis, sore eyes, scalp infections, and sheep's sore backs. It was used to abort difficult pregnancies and ease difficult births, the fresh leaves were chewed for stomach troubles and the pulverized roots could be put on a sleeping man's face so his horses could be stolen. Source.

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September 3, 2021

Cattails are easily recognizable in wet places by their sword-like green leaves and distinctive flower stalks growing 5 to 10 feet tall in dense stands. They actually bloom in our area in July. At blooming time male flowers are in a spike at the tip of the stem with the female flowers in a spike below. After pollination the male flowers fall away and the female flowers form the familiar brown sausage-like seed head. This eventually dries and falls apart scattering as many as 200,000 seeds with feather-like plumes to the wind in the spring. Large stands of Cattails serve as important nesting areas and cover for wildlife. They are also a really useful plant for humans. The roots can be cooked like potatoes or dried and made into protein-rich flour; the young spring shoots are juicy and can be used as an asparagus substitute; the young immature flowers can be boiled and eaten like corn on the cob; the pollen can be used to make pancakes; the base of the leaves can be eaten like an artichoke; the flowers can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are not edible but can be woven into baskets, hats, mats, chairs and beds. The dried seed heads attached to their stalks can be dipped into melted animal fat or oil and used as torches. The medicinal uses of Cattails include poultices made from the roots that can be applied to cuts, wounds, burns, stings, and bruises. The ash of the burned leaves can be used as an antiseptic or styptic for wounds. The seed heads and dried leaves can be used as tinder. The seed head fluff can be used for pillow and bedding stuffing. Source.

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August 27, 2021

Spiny Goldenweed could be easily mistaken for Golden Aster with its bright yellow flowers and similar growth habit. A closer look at the leaves will show the difference. Leaves are deeply cut into narrow lobes each with a bristle at the tip. Soft hairs give a silvery appearance. It grows to two feet tall with stems branched and spreading from the base. Flowers are over one inch across and borne singly at the top of a stem. Like the Golden Aster it can be seen in bloom from spring through fall. The Navajo used it to cure headaches. Source.

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August 20, 2021

The Dayflower is so called because the flowers only open for a day. It grows erect to about a foot high with wide, grass-like leaves clasping the stem. Leaves have parallel veins and reddish edges. The unusual flowers are showy and grow from a spathe, a folded, sickle-shaped, purse-like bract. If the spathe is squeezed, it produces a drop of liquid, hence another common name, Widow's Tears. The flowers are about one inch across with two roundish, bright blue petals side by side and a small, white, notched petal below. The flowers, young leaves and stems are edible. In China, Dayflowers are often grown as a leafy vegetable crop as it is popular in a number of localized dishes. Within parts of Asia, the Dayflower also has a long history of use as a medicinal plant from treating throat infections to fevers. Source.

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August 13, 2021

This Goldenrod is the tallest of the Goldenrods in our area, growing in colonies from two to six feet tall. The stems have numerous leaves which are up to 7 inches long with 3 strong veins. Flower heads are a showy, branching cluster of flower stalks making a pyramid shape. Tiny flowers grow along one side of the stalks. A single plant can have over 1,000 individual flowers. The genus Solidago is from the Latin solido, to 'make whole', as the plants of this genus were known to "make whole". Native American tribes have found a variety of uses for the Goldenrod; for treating cramps, fevers, colds, ulcers and boils, as a wash for a child who does not talk or laugh, as a bath for women during childbirth, to quiet babies with sleeplessness or excessive crying, to relieve diarrhea, as a charm for success in gambling, and a decoction of the plant and wild tarragon has been used as a wash for horses with cuts and sores. Source.

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August 6, 2021

Lesser Burdock grows from 20 to 60 inches tall, flowering every two years. This plant is over 5 feet tall. In the first year only a rosette of large basal leaves is grown. Leaves are heart-shaped and can be 18 inches wide and 24 inches long with wavy edges. They have long hollow stalks and resemble rhubarb leaves. In the second year it grows a stout, ridged flower stalk with smaller leaves. Leaves on the stem are oval-shaped, dull green above, greyish green underneath. The pinkish-purplish flowers grow in clusters at the end of side branches. Flower heads are thistle-like and up to 1 inch across with narrow, hooked bracts which develop into brown prickly burs when they go to seed. Burdock has very good medicinal and edible properties. The edible parts include the leaves, root, seed and stem. In Japan it is cultivated for the food market. Burdock is one of the foremost detoxifying herbs in both Chinese and Western herbal medicine. It is considered an effective liver tonic, useful in treating water retention, rheumatoid conditions, skin disorders, and high blood pressure. Its fiber has also been used for paper. Leaves may be used for a head covering. Source.

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July 30, 2021

Bristle Flax is difficult to see unless you see the bright yellow flower. It grows from 4 to 18 inches tall with slender open branches from the base of a hairless stem, and a few narrow leaves. Flower petals are a shiny, rich yellow with a hint of maroon at the base. The sepals below the petals, are narrow and pointed with a bristle at the tip. The flowers only last one day. The Navajo used it as a hemostatic. Source.

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July 23, 2021

Watercress grows with trailing, fleshy, hollow stems which float on the surface of the water or sprawl across mud. Tiny white flowers with four petals grow in clusters at the tips of stems floating above the water. It is a widespread and problematic invader of clear streams, springs and brooks, it can rapidly spread out on the surface of the water choking out natives and is listed as noxious and invasive by 46 states. Watercress is very rich in vitamins and minerals, and has long been valued as a food and medicinal plant. The stems and leaves are crisp and can be used as a salad with a pungent radish flavor. Leaves can be harvested year-round. Care should be taken if harvesting it wild; aquatic insects and spiders must be cleaned off and there is a risk of beaver-fever (giardia) or ingesting the toxins from polluted waters. It is considered a cleansing herb; its high content of vitamin C makes it a remedy that is particularly valuable for chronic illnesses. Applied externally, it has a long-standing reputation as an effective hair tonic, helping to promote the growth of thick hair. Source.

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July 16, 2021

Softstem Bulrush can be found throughout much of the world. It grows from 4 to 8 feet tall with spongy, round stems which are easily crushed when gently squeezed and a few grass-like leaves. The flower head can be 6 inches across and consists of hairy, scaly, orange-brown florets on long, thin branches which spread, arch, or droop accompanied by a long, stiff bract which looks like an extension of the stem. The styles of the florets protrude and are white during the blooming period. Traditionally, there were many uses for the plant. Medicinally it was used as an emetic, to stop bleeding, for snake bites and as a love medicine. The shoots and roots were eaten, raw and cooked. The stems were used for weaving mats and baskets, in house construction, toys, ceremonial items, and other household items. Source.

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July 9, 2021

Texas Croton has an aromatic smell when the leaves are crushed. It varies from 1 foot to 3 feet tall, depending on moisture conditions. It grows from a single yellowish stem with many branches and has a milky sap. The green to yellowish-green leaves are oblong and have silvery hairs beneath giving an ashy appearance. The tiny flowers grow in clusters with white sepals, no petals. Texas Croton produces a seed crop that is very valuable to dove, quail and other seed-eating birds, thus the common name Doveweed. Native Americans applied crushed seed powder to sores, steeped the leaves and took the liquid to treat venereal disease, stomach pain, and as a laxative. A liquid made by boiling the plant was used to bath sick infants and as an eyewash. Seeds were placed in the ears in the belief that they would help the partially deaf hear better. The Navajo used it on a large fire to smoke clothes and remove skunk smell. A Zuni medicine man chewed the dried root before sucking a snakebite. Source.

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July 2, 2021

Unfortunately, this pretty plant with an amusing name is considered a noxious weed because its vigorous growth displaces desirable grasses. It grows from 1 to 3 feet tall in dense patches with narrow leaves and leafy stems. Looking very much like a snapdragon, the flowers are about one inch long and pale yellow with an orange lip. Butter & Eggs is an escaped ornamental brought to this country in the mid-1800’s. It was used as a yellow dye for centuries in Germany, so immigrants, especially the Mennonites, cultivated it for use in dyeing. This plant has a long history of use in folk medicine for a variety of ailments. The plant is especially valued for its strongly laxative and diuretic effects. It is employed internally in the treatment of oedema, jaundice, liver diseases, gall bladder complaints and skin problems. Externally it is applied to hemorrhoids, skin eruptions, sores and malignant ulcers. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant and used in the treatment of diarrhea and cystitis. In addition, a tea made in milk instead of water has been used as an insecticide. Source. The Iroquois took an infusion of the plant as an anti-love medicine, to remove bewitching and gave it to babies that cried too much.

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June 25, 2021

Western Dock grows from 4 to 6 feet tall. Leaves are narrowly triangular or lance-shaped up to 14" long with smooth or slightly wavy edges. Flowers are greenish-pink and grow in dense clusters on branches at the top of the stems. Flower heads turn reddish-brown at maturity. The flower to the right of the Dock is Showy Milkweed. Western Dock is edible. Young leaves can be cooked and used like spinach. They have a bitter taste; Native Americans added oil to improve the flavor. Young stems can be cooked and used like rhubarb. Seeds can be ground into a powder and used to make a gruel or added to cereal flours when making bread etc. but they are rather small and fiddly to harvest. Traditionally, the leaves have been used in herbal sweat baths to treat pains similar to rheumatism all over the body. A poultice of the leaves and mashed, roasted roots was applied to sores, boils and wounds. A poultice of the root paste was applied to cuts and boils. Source. In modern Dermatology an extract from the plant is used to reduce the formation of unwanted pigmentation and age spots and to improve skin tone. When I was a child in England we were told to rub the juice from a crushed dock leaf on nettle stings; it worked.

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June 18, 2021

Not truly a native wildflower because asparagus was introduced into North America by European settlers and escaped into the wild. It grows to 5 feet tall with a stout stem, airy thin branches and feathery, leaf-like stems. Flowers are tiny yellowish bells which produce a berry that turns red at maturity. Young shoots are edible: once the buds start to open, fern out, the shoots become woody. It has been widely cultivated for its young shoots since ancient Greek times. Mature asparagus, on the other hand, has been known to poison cattle and the red berries are suspected of poisoning humans. Native Americans used an infusion of the plant for rickets and a decoction with the roots was used as a foot soak for rheumatism. Source.

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June 11, 2021

English Plantain is a common weed on cultivated or disturbed land but it is interesting. It grows to 30 inches high with a rosette of long, lance-shaped, strongly veined leaves. The tiny, brownish flowers are tightly clustered in a spike and open in a ring starting at the bottom with protruding white stamens. Very young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Seeds can be ground into a powder and added to flours when making bread, cakes, etc. Flower heads taste surprisingly like mushrooms. Plantago species contain anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-allergy and wound healing compounds. It was recorded as one of the nine sacred herbs in a remedy in the Anglo-Saxon Lacnunga, a 1,000-year-old text held in the British Library. The remedy contained nine herbs for wound healing, and modern scientific research shows that its chemical compounds support this traditional use. It is used in the treatment of a wide range of complaints including insect bites, cuts and wounds, hay fever and sinusitis, digestive disorders from diarrhea to constipation, cystitis, asthma and coughs.  Source.

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June 4, 2021

Rocky Mountain Iris is easily recognized because of its distinctive, showy flower. It grows from 1 to 2 feet tall in large patches with stiff, narrow, green leaves and stout, leafless flower stalks.  Flowers are about 3 inches across and vary in color from blue to violet to blue streaked with purple, rarely white. Native Americans used the Rocky Mountain Iris medicinally to treat all kinds of problems, most notably skin conditions. The roots of the plant were used to treat toothaches, gum sores, and other mouth problems. The leaves were often made into a tea that could be used to provide relief from kidney and bladder infections. A poultice of the mashed roots has been applied to rheumatic joints and also used as a salve on venereal sores. Caution is advised when handling and using this plant as it’s toxic and potentially harmful if not properly understood.  Source.

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May 28, 2021

Penstemon is a genus of about 250 species. The flowers are tubular with two lips; the upper lip is two-lobed and the lower is three-lobed. The common name beardtongue comes from the long, hairy stamen which extends from the throat, like a fuzzy tongue from an open mouth. Narrow-leaved Penstemon grows between 1 and 2 feet tall with stout stems and fleshy, narrow leaves which have a lighter-colored mid-vein. Stems and leaves are light green and hairless. The flowers are lavender to bright blue and grow all around the stem. The beardtongue has orange hairs on its tip. The Lakota people used the flowers to make blue dye for painting moccasins.

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May 21, 2021

Pulcherrimus means extremely beautiful and this daisy is certainly that. It grows in dense clumps to 12 inches high with narrow, mostly basal leaves. There is only one flowerhead on a stem. Flowers are one inch across with a yellow disk and curling petals which can be white to pale lavender. Daisies are also called Fleabanes. Some early American settlers kept dried fleabane in their homes and in small satchels to repel gnats and fleas, which is how the plant got its common name. In fact, there is no evidence that supports fleabane as an insect repellent. Source.

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May 14, 2021

This is a DYC, a damn yellow composite, akin to an LBB in birdwatching lingo. The Sunflower family, Asteraceae, is sometimes called the Composite family and consists of about 2,400 species in North America. Many of them are yellow and share a unique flower structure. The flower head is actually composed of many small flowers packed tightly together; central disk flowers surrounded by ray flowers, the petals. Some species have only ray flowers, like the Dandelion, or only disk flowers, like Hopi Tea. Lobeleaf Groundsel has both and grows up to 16 inches high with a few purplish stems and distinctive, mostly basal, deeply cut leaves. Flowers are small but numerous with a yellow disk and 8 to 13 yellow petals. Two other DYCs blooming this week are Perky Sue and Sowthistle Desert Dandelion. Traditionally, a decoction of the plant is used by the Navajo for menstrual pain. The Yavapai inhaled a decoction of the stem for colds and for sore noses, and took a decoction of the root for stomachache. Source.

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May 7, 2021

You have all seen the huge cottonwoods that grow along the ditches and the Rio Chama, and in its historic floodplain, but the flowers high above your head may not be so familiar. This is the red male flower, called a catkin, loaded with golden pollen. Male and female flowers grow on separate trees and emerge before the leaves. When the less conspicuous green female flower is pollinated the green seedpods hang like a small bunch of grapes before they explode and fill the air with cottony seeds. Cottonwoods can grow to 100 feet tall, more usually 50 feet, with leaning trunks up to 5 feet in diameter, wide-spreading branches and a leafy canopy. Mature trees have thick, deeply-furrowed, gray bark. Leaves are glossy green and triangular. They turn bright, golden yellow in the Fall. Native Americans used various parts of the tree; inner bark was often dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc. or added to cereals when making bread, catkins are eaten raw, and the cotton and buds have been used by children as a chewing gum. The wood is used to make various items and for fuel. Source.

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April 30, 2021

Another Milkvetch but quite different in appearance from the Missouri Milkvetch of a couple of weeks ago. Rushy Milkvetch grows like a bush to 2 feet wide and high with bright green stems and long, narrow leaves. Flowers are white and about an inch long and grow loosely clustered along the stem producing many spear-shaped 1" long seed pods. Both Missouri Milkvetch and Rushy Milkvetch contain swainsonine which is toxic to livestock and causes a wide variety of toxicological problems, including neurological, cardiovascular, and reproductive effects. For this reason, they should be more correctly called Locoweeds. “Loco” in Spanish means “crazy” and alludes to the often disoriented behavior of animals afflicted by these plants. Traditionally, the Navajo used it to induce vomiting and a poultice of the plant was applied to a goiter. Source.

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April 23, 2021

When most of the vegetation looks dead, even after some rain, it is a welcome sight to see bright yellow flowers and fresh, green leaves growing out of a clump of old, gray stems. Brenda’s Yellow Cryptantha grows to about 10 inches high in clumps, covered in bristly hairs. Leaves are grey-green and narrow growing out of the dried stems and leaves from previous years. Flowers grow in clusters and are tubular with five petals. I was unable to find out who Brenda was to give her name to a flower, or why it is also called a Miner’s Candle. Traditionally, the Hopi used it to treat a growth in the throat and the Navajo used it as a dusting powder for sore eyes, for postpartum purification, and relief of intestinal inflammation. Source.

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April 16, 2021

There are many species of Milkvetch that grow in our area. The Missouri Milkvetch is so named because it was first collected by the Missouri River in 1811. It grows low and sprawling to 5 inches high covered in dense, white hairs which give the plant a silvery-green appearance. Leaves are divided into 11 to 21 oval leaflets which arch or lay on the ground. Flowers are pink-purple with a white splash in the center, up to 1 inch long, and grow in a cluster at the top of the flower stalk. The flowers turn blue with age. Seedpods are 1 inch long, slightly hairy and slightly curved. Medicinal uses of this specific Milkvetch are unknown. Astragalus root is used to make medicine for hay fever, diabetes, kidney disease, and many other conditions, but some species contain a nerve toxin and have been linked to livestock poisonings. Source.

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April 9, 2021

Pasqueflower is one of the first flowers to appear when the snow begins to melt, often in masses. The pale purple, bell-shaped flowers bloom before the finely cut leaves develop and the plant gets taller. The plant is covered in long, silky hairs. The seed head is a feathery plume. The fresh plant is toxic and very irritating and shouldn’t be touched. Native Americans used small amounts of the dried plant for various ailments and conditions: to kill fleas and lice, to staunch nosebleeds, for rheumatism, to alleviate headaches, and to combat lung disorders. Source. Modern day homeopaths use it to treat painful conditions of the male or female reproductive system, skin conditions, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support its use, so it is not recommended. Source.

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April 2, 2021

Flowers in the Parsley family bloom early and have tiny flowers with five petals in usually flat heads. This family is sometimes commonly called Celery or Carrot. The New Mexico False Carrot grows to 8" high in a dense bright green tuft with dry stalks from the previous year. Leaves are divided into narrow segments. It is listed as a New Mexico Rare Plant but it is not difficult to find in Plaza Blanca and Red Wash Canyons. Source.

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