Found in roadsides, fields, ditches
Seen blooming in June near the Rio Chama

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. 

Georgia O’Keeffe had a simple recipe for wild asparagus:
1 bunch (around 12 ounces) wild (or cultivated) asparagus
Butter or oil, to taste or for sautéing
Herb salt and freshly ground pepper
Wash the asparagus carefully to remove all fine sand. Cut the woody part of the stem off, keeping the asparagus in long pieces. This can be steamed for 5 to 7 minutes or sautéed for 5 minutes over medium heat. Add butter, salt and pepper to taste.
From the book “A Painter’s Kitchen” by Margaret Wood.
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If you trying to identify a different flower then you can check what other flower 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 lawns, meadows, roadsides
Seen blooming in June near the Rio Chama
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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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If you are trying to identify a different flower, then you can check what other flower blooms 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 meadows
Seen blooming at the end of May on CR 115, Canjilon

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.

If you trying to identify a different flower then you can check what other flower 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 sandy areas, vacant lots, roadsides
Seen blooming in May near Arroyo Trujillo

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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If you trying to identify a different flower then you can check what other flower 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, silty areas, piñon-juniper
Seen blooming in May in Red Wash Canyon

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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If you trying to identify a different flower then you can check what other flower 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.