Found on dry, sandy slopes
Seen blooming in August on the Madera Trail, Santa Fe NF

This tiny wildflower has a very big name, which for me conjures up a character in a fairy tale. Shaggy Dwarf Morning Glory grows 4 to 6 inches high, erect and spreading, with densely hairy greyish-green leaves. The tiny lavender blue flowers are funnel-shaped and less than ½ inch across with a large, white, 5-pointed star in the center. The flowers close in the evening and remain closed on cloudy days. The plants are wider than they are tall. Shaggy Dwarf Morning Glory can be found blooming in May and after the monsoons. The Navajo sometimes used this plant as a snuff to induce sneezing. 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 contact@rockymountainsflora.com. Read online for tips.   

Found in dry, gravelly soil, roadsides
Seen blooming in August near Abiquiu Lake

Drummond's False Pennyroyal grows with many branches from a few inches to 15 inches high covered in hairs. Leaves are narrow and smell of mint when crushed. Tiny flowers grow from the leaf axils and are no more than ½ inch long. Flowers are rose-pink to pale lavender with purple streaks and a white throat. Traditionally, it was used as an analgesic; taken for influenza; and the leaves used to flavor soup. 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 contact@rockymountainsflora.com. Read online for tips.   

Found in moist areas, hillsides, meadows, openings
Seen blooming in late July near the Rio Chama, Abiquiu

​Goldenrods, the Solidago genus, are differentiated by their tiny yellow flowers growing in clusters, usually on one side of the stem, or in a pyramid, and their leaves. Velvety Goldenrod grows 6 to 32 inches high in colonies from a basal rosette of leaves that are sometimes still present at flowering time. The leaves get progressively smaller higher up on the stem. Each leaf has three prominent veins running from the base to near the tip. Flowers grow on one side of the branch and have 6 to 12 petals. Flower heads can be pyramid-shaped with many arching branches or have only one branch. The name Solidago means "to make whole" and its healing properties are used to treat problems with the kidneys, urinary tract, skin, allergies, and the cardiovascular system. Source. Traditionally, Native Americans used it to treat burns, sores and wounds, for toothaches, and as a hair wash to prevent hair loss. Source. Goldenrod is an excellent source for a dark yellow dye. 

Found in disturbed sites, pastures, roadsides
Seen blooming in July near the Rio Chama, Abiquiu

The Field Sowthistle looks like a very tall Dandelion. It grows to 3½ feet tall with hairless stems that produce a milky juice when broken. Most of the leaves are on the lower part of the stem and have prickly teeth along the edges. Flowers grow in an open branched cluster of several flower heads at the top of the stems, not all open at the same time. Flower heads are up to two inches across. It is considered a noxious weed in some states. The leaves, flowers and roots are edible. These are best consumed when the plant is young because the older it gets the more bitter it becomes. Leaf spines need to be removed. Source. Native Americans took an infusion to calm nerves and hunters sucked the milk from branches to imitate the sound of a fawn nursing, to draw the doe nearby. Source.
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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 contact@rockymountainsflora.com. Read online for tips.   

Found in disturbed sandy, rocky areas, roadsides
Seen blooming in July in Arroyo Trujillo, Abiquiu

Plants in the Cryptantha genus are commonly known as Catseyes. The whole plant is covered with rough silvery hairs. They produce nutlets that vary in size, shape and color and are used for identification. James’ Catseye blooms throughout the season growing to 12 inches high branching from the base. It has tiny flowers with five white petals and a yellow center. They grow in S-shaped clusters, like a scorpion tail, that elongates as it matures. It produces four shiny, smooth nutlets that are bow-shaped. Traditionally, the plant was given to newborn infants for prenatal snake or toad infection, a poultice of the plant was applied to snakebites and sores. It was also used ceremonially as a life medicine. Source.
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If you 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 contact@rockymountainsflora.com. Read online for tips.