Desert Wildflowers New Mexico
Wildflower Field Guide
Back to
Main Wildflower Page
____________________________________________________________________
We'd like to see your pictures too. E-mail your digital photos and reports to Jim@desertusa.com. Use Wildflower Report as the subject of your e-mail. Let us know where you took the photo and the date.
Need a place to stay? Check our low rates.
2020 Wildflower Reports New Mexico
May 11, 2020 Jan reports: Have a great drive social distancing on Quebradas Scenic Byway. Here are a few photos.
April 17, 2020 Jim reports: The cactus have just begun to bloom along the Quebradas Backcountry Byway near Socorro. With lots of buds still to open, there will be more to come over the next few weeks!
March 27, 2020 Jim reports: After the last posting about the Florida Mtns south of Deming, I went down last weekend (Mar 21-22) and found flowers everywhere around the mountain, with the largest displays on the western and southern ends. No one was around and I camped out of my truck, so I practiced good social distancing, while getting some fresh air. This is one of the best displays of wildflowers I have seen here in many years.
March 23, 2020 Barbara reports: Petroglyph National Monument, Albuquerque, NM; March 19, 2020
March 22, 2020 Wesley reports: This is on the east side of the Franklin Mountains here in El Paso, Texas. The poppys are blooming well, other flora is also starting to bloom, very nice!
March 17, 2020 Wesley reports: I spent the day 3/14 hiking and driving around in the Florida and Little Florida Mountains of New Mexico.
The sign at the entrance to Rockhound State Park states that camping is no longer possible as the state government has banned large gatherings, but hiking is still possible. I took the Thunder Egg trail. The trailhead (first photograph) is resplendent with bladderpod mustard and three different varieties of poppy, and offers a preview of flower patches available along the trail. The large poppy field visible from the top of the trail is not accessible from the park, but after leaving the park, turn left on the Spring Canyon access road, then left on Zia Road and you will soon be in the thick of it. Note that private property exists along this road.
Elsewhere in the Mimbres Valley, there are decent-sized poppy fields at the end of Media Road and near the end of Ventura Road (second photograph). Access for these two unpaved roads are from Rockhound Road. Take a high clearance vehicle and drive slowly for these; recent rains have created deep ruts in both of them.
March 11, 2020 DesertUSA reports: No reports at this date.
2019 Wildflower Reports New Mexico
April 26, 2019 Jim reports: With many recent rains, I went to the Quebradas (Johnson Hill) near Socorro on April 21 and found flowering cactus as well as many type of flowers everywhere! More to come for sure.
April 26, 2019 Neysa reports: There is lots to be seen right now in the Catwalk Recreation Area in New Mexico
April 22, 2019 Neysa reports: Photos are from Soledad Canyon (Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument) in Las Cruces, NM on April 19, 2019. Poppies and claret cups were found along upper main trail leading to spring. Wild onion was located near the beginning of trail and the penstemons and paintbrushes were found above the dry wash along the trail.
April 12, 2019 Jim reports: I visited 4/3, there were scattered flowers (mostly poppies) all along the east side of the Florida mountains, south of Deming.
April 10, 2019 Jim reports: Shot April 4th, there are some good flower displays along the Virden Highway (RT 92) north of Lordsburg.
April 1, 2019 Margery reports: East of Las Cruces, NM on eastern slopes of Organ mts., Aguirre Springs campground rd. 3/29/19.
Jan 1, 2019 DesertUSA Reports: Should be a good year for wildflowers, no reports at this date.
2018 Wildflower Reports
May 5, 2018 X Reports: Photo taken April 30, 2018 near the hamlet of Manzano, just north of Mountainair, NM, elev 6500’. Abundant in clumps.
May 2, 2018 Gary Reports: The Hedge Hog Cactus are at peak bloom on the foothills of the Sandia Mtns. This image is from the Bear Canyon area which is on the east side of Albuquerque, NM.
April 27, 2018 Jeanne Reports: Blooming in Santa Fe
April 20, 2018 Barbara Reports: Near Ponderosa, NM at about 6400 ft, 15 April, 2018: All the hedgehog cactus are about this stage of bud development. I saw this one, solitary Indian Paintbrush. There were just a few small yellow flowers out, but not much more yet.
April 11, 2018 Squirrel Girl Reports: Along the Quebradas Backcountry Byway April 7, 2018. It’s still early for the flowers, but some are out and there are more than would be expected for the extreme dry conditions this year. It probably won’t be spectacular, but may be better in a week or two. Many, but not all ocotillo have buds. This was the only yucca I saw budding.
2017 Wildflower Reports
Aug 9, 2017 Bill reports: I'm sorry that I don't have photos just yet but would very much like to return to the El Malpais National Monument area south of Grants, NM where in Aug of 2013 the monsoons must have been strong as the lupine were in stunning bloom.
Aug 5, 2017 Jen reports: North of Carlsbad, NM, Illinois Camp Rd, east of Lake Avalon.
June 8, 2017 Gary reports: The Yuccas are at peak bloom at the White Sands National Monument. This image was take on 3 June 2017 south of the backcountry camp. The area west of the "sunset stroll" has many blooming Yuccas.
When will the desert wildflowers bloom? We start our report in January, plan your visit to coincide with the peak of the bloom - keep up to date with DesertUSA's Wildflower Reports. Be sure to bookmark this page for weekly updates.
We'd like to see your pictures too. E-mail your digital photos and reports to Jim@desertusa.com. Use Wildflower Report as the subject of your e-mail. Let us know where you took the photo and the date. We will post them on our wildflower reports. Thanks for your support and photos.
Photos tips: Most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro function - usually symbolized by the icon of a little flower. When you turn on that function, you allow your camera to get closer to the subject, looking into a flower for example. Or getting up close and personal with a bug. More on desert photography.
Mojave Desert Wildflowers - This book is the standard by which all other wildflower books are measured. The author, Jon Mark Stewart, has combined super photography with concise information. This book has an entire color page for each wildflower covered, with a discussion of the wildflower. 210 pages with 200 color photos. More...
For other state reports click on link below
Arizona| California| Nevada| New Mexico| Texas
Southern CA Wildflowers | Anza-Borrego DSP | Death Valley NP | Joshua Tree NP | Mojave NP
Back
to Main Wildflower Page | Wildflower Field Guide
Mojave Desert Wildflowers book 200 color photos
Other DesertUSA Resources
Desert Plants
Wildflower Information & Hotlines
When Will The Wildflowers Bloom?
Share this page on Facebook:
DesertUSA Newsletter -- We send articles on hiking, camping and places to explore, as well as animals, wildflower reports, plant information and much more. Sign up below or read more about the DesertUSA newsletter here. (It's Free.)
The Desert Environment
The North American Deserts
Desert Geological Terms
