Firewheel, Indian Blanket
Gaillardia pulchella
Sunflower Family (Asteraceae)

Found in dry, open areas
Seen blooming in July in Abiquiu

Gaillardia seeds are often included in wildflower mixes but it is a native plant that occurs naturally in our area. Firewheel grows to two feet high with a grayish stem. Leaves are up to three inches in length, with entire or lobed edges. Flowers are two to three inches across. Flower petals are quite deeply divided into three lobes at the tip, and may be all red, all yellow, or banded, reddish near the center and yellow at the tips. The central disk is reddish-purple. Flowers can bloom from May to August. Traditionally, the plant's root has been used to create a tea for treating gastroenteritis and for creating a poultice to apply to skin conditions. Additionally, a tea made from the plant has been used to soothe sore eyes and sore nipples, especially for breastfeeding mothers. An infusion of the plant was used to become a good drummer. The Kiowa tribe also considered the plant to be a symbol of good luck and used them for ornaments in their homes. Source.

​If you are trying to identify a different flower then you can check what other flowers bloom this month. If you cannot identify a flower from the website, send a photo and where you took it to [email protected]. Read online for tips.   

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Found in rocky soils, slopes, woodlands
Seen blooming in July on Canada Bonita Trail, Santa Fe National Forest

Nodding Onion grows 12 to 18 inches with flat, grass-like leaves that smell of onion when cut or bruised. Tiny bell-shaped flowers droop in a cluster from a slender stem. Native American tribes used the juice of Nodding Onion to treat colds, colic, liver complaints, dropsy and hives, and a poultice of the onions was used to treat infection, sores, and swellings. Bulbs, stems, and flowers can be eaten raw or cooked in small amounts. Like chives, the flowers are an attractive and edible garnish for salads. It is said that the city of Chicago gets its name from the Algonquin Indian name for this plant, chigagou. Source.

​If you are trying to identify a different flower then you can check what other flowers bloom this month. If you cannot identify a flower from the website, send a photo and where you took it to [email protected]. Read online for tips.   

Found in rocky, sandy, disturbed areas
Seen blooming in July in Abiquiu

Stiff Greenthread grows to two feet tall with numerous thread-like leaves and single flower heads on delicate stalks. The flower buds droop and become erect when open. The flower has eight notched petals and a yellow or reddish-brown center. The flowers are popular with bees and butterflies. Indian Teas, of the Thelesperma genus, are widely used as a beverage, for treating children with tuberculosis and as a dye by Native American peoples. Source.

If you are trying to identify a different flower then you can check what other flowers bloom this month. If you cannot identify a flower from the website, send a photo and where you took it to [email protected]. Read online for tips.   

Found in open areas, canyons
Seen blooming in July in Bandelier National Monument

I am not seeing many butterflies this year. Perhaps I should plant this Butterfly Weed in my yard. This vibrant flower attracts butterflies and hummingbirds with its nectar while Monarch butterfly caterpillars feed on its leaves. Not what I would call a weed. It grows from 1 to 2½ feet tall with stout, hairy stems and lance-shaped leaves. Bright orange flowers are in a flat-topped cluster two to three inches across. It has a history of medicinal use, particularly for respiratory issues. It's known for its antispasmodic, diaphoretic, and expectorant properties, making it a traditional remedy for conditions like bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. It has also been used for influenza, stomach pains, diarrhea, heart troubles, snakebites and dog or coyote bites. Source.

​If you are trying to identify a different flower then you can check what other flowers bloom this month. If you cannot identify a flower from the website, send a photo and where you took it to [email protected]. Read online for tips.   

By Marilyn Phillips

Found in disturbed soil
Seen blooming by the Tierra Azul acequia

Not a wildflower to encourage, Canada Thistle is one of the most economically important agricultural weeds in the world. It was introduced to North America in the 1600s and soon was recognized as a problem weed. Weed control legislation against the species was passed by the Vermont legislature in 1795. Canada Thistle is now listed as a noxious weed in most areas where it occurs. Despite this, it can be a source of forage for livestock, providing similar nutritional value to alfalfa, bees and butterflies love it as a source of nectar. It is an aggressive plant that grows three to five feet tall in large, dense colonies from a deep and wide-spreading root system. Leaves are very spiny and lobed with wavy edges. The many flower heads are pale-purplish, ½ to ¾ inch across and less than one inch high. Bracts are pointed but do not have spines. Roots can be eaten raw or cooked, but may cause flatulence. Stems can be peeled and cooked like asparagus or rhubarb. The leaves are edible but not worth the effort of removing the spines. The root is tonic, diuretic, astringent, antiphlogistic and hepatic. It has been chewed as a remedy for toothache. A decoction of the roots was used to treat worms in children. Source.

If you are trying to identify a different flower then you can check what other flowers bloom this month. If you cannot identify a flower from the website, send a photo and where you took it to [email protected]. Read online for tips.