As published in the Abiquiú News in 2025
See what is blooming in Abiquiú in
April, May, June, July, August, September and October
Browse by color:
Pink, White, Blue/Purple, Yellow/Green, Red/Orange

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May 30, 2025

One of the many daisies blooming in our area at the moment, the Navajo Fleabane grows to 10 inches high; this was about 6 inches. It is covered in fine hairs that give the plant a fuzzy appearance. Leaves are narrow. Flower buds are nodding but become erect at flowering. Flowers are white to pale lavender. An infusion of the plant was used by the Navajo for general body pain, headaches, gonorrhea, difficult labor and ‘antelope infection’. Source.

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May 23, 2025

The Stickleaf family is so named because their leaves have barbed hairs that stick to clothing and fur like Velcro. The Whitestem Blazingstar starts blooming as soon as it is just out of the ground, as shown in the photo, until it reaches its maximum height of six to twelve inches. The stem is pale in color, maturing to white, growing from a distinctive basal rosette of rough, deeply lobed leaves. The overall plant is more dainty, less bushy and less commonly seen than other members of the family. Flowers have five yellow petals which are orange at the center and are barely ½ inch across. The flower heads are often nodding. Several Native American tribes used the seeds for food, grinding them into a flour or butter. The Hopi smoked the plant as a substitute for tobacco and used it for a toothache remedy. The Navajo made a compound of the leaves for snakebites. Source.

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May 16, 2025

Oregon Grape is a shrub growing low to the ground with holly-like leaves which turn red in the fall. Clusters of small yellow flowers are followed by blue-black grape-like fruit which is edible. They are used for making jams, jellies, etc. They can also be made into a refreshing lemonade-like beverage. When sugar is added, the fruit juice is similar to grape juice. Oregon grape has a variety of medicinal uses, primarily stemming from the berberine compound found in its roots and bark. It was used by Native Americans to treat loss of appetite and to prevent bloody dysentery. Its current herbal use is mainly in the treatment of gastritis and general digestive weakness, to stimulate the kidney and gallbladder function and to reduce catarrhal problems. It is taken internally in the treatment of psoriasis, syphilis, hemorrhages and impure blood conditions. Externally, it has been used as a gargle for sore throats and as a wash for blurry or bloodshot eyes. The fruit is an excellent gentle and safe laxative. A bright yellow dye is obtained from the inner bark of the stem and roots, violet and dark blue-purple dyes are obtained from the fruit. Source.

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May 9, 2025

Painted Milkvetch is another of the many Astragalus species that grow in our area, identified by their seed pod rather than their flower or leaves. It is easily overlooked because it is so small and grows sprawling over the ground only a few inches high with narrow, folded, hairy, gray-green leaflets. The flowers are pink to purple and about ¼ inch long. The seed pods are inflated, mottled red and an inch long. The botanist who named it thought the pattern on the pods was ceramic-like. Traditionally, the Hopi dug up the sweet roots and gave them to children as candy. Source.

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May 2, 2025

Several species of Townsend Daisy can be found growing in our area. They are sometimes called Easter Daisies because they bloom around Easter time. Stemless Townsend Daisies grow in a low growing clump with slightly hairy, narrow, grayish leaves. Flowers are white to pinkish and one inch across often with a darker pink stripe on the back. The flowers grow directly from the root without a stem, hence its common name. Traditionally, the Blackfoot tribe gave a decoction of roots to tired horses to relieve them while the Navajo chewed or took an infusion of the plant to ease delivery, and used it to unravel ceremonial knots. Source.

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April 25, 2025

Turkey Peas stems grow from two to ten inches sprawling in a mat or erect. Stems are reddish and hairy. Leaves are on long stems and have 7-15 hairy leaflets. Tiny flowers, about 1/4 inch wide, have purple banners with a white center. Seed pods are red and slightly curved, about ½ inch long. No edible or medicinal uses were found on the internet, nor the reason for the common name Turkey Peas. A Google search found five other plants with the common name of Turkey Peas, multiple recipes using turkey and peas, and dog food.

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April 18, 2025

Although it grows only three to six inches tall Spiny Blue Bowls are noticeable because of their deep blue flowers. Flowers are ½ inch across with a bright yellow center. Leaves are needle-like and stems woody. Native Americans massaged the crushed plant on cramping muscles. Source.

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April 11, 2025

This beautiful little plant grows low to the ground with 5 to 11 silky leaflets. Flowers are showy, bright pink/purple with a lighter center and are over one inch long. Seed pods are curved and covered in silky, white hairs. Traditional uses for Newberry’s Milkvetch are unknown, but other Milkvetch species have uses. The plant is considered poisonous, especially to stock and horses, however medicinally; a decoction of the whole plant was used as a wash for the head, hair and whole body, for stomach disorders, as a gargle for sore throats, a poultice of crushed leaves applied to a lame back, applied as an ointment for animals with urination troubles, roots were chewed as a cathartic, an infusion of root was used as a wash for sores and as a wash for granulated eyelids and toothaches, also plants were used as a ceremonial emetic, the seeds used for food, and pounded seeds mixed with other foods and used as a spice. Source.

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April 4, 2025

The Borage family are low growing, densely hairy plants and have flowers with five petals. Cryptanthas are distinguished by their tiny white clusters of flowers with a yellow center, the “eye”. They are commonly known as Cat’s Eyes. Plants will often show last year’s dried stems and leaves. This one grows to about six inches high in clumps. Native Americans, specifically the Navajo, used Tawny Cat’s Eye for medicinal purposes: a decoction of plants was taken at childbirth, a cold infusion was used to treat snakebites, a poultice applied for toothaches and the plants were chewed for coughs and colds. Source.

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