Flora and Fauna, Santa Fe River

From May 25 through May 29, Katie (Dwight's oldest daughter
who lives in San Francisco, California) visited us.
Below are some of her lovely pictures
she took during our morning walks
along the dry Santa Fe River :

Sun shining on cottonwood leaves.
Fremont cottonwood, aka Rio Grande Cottonwood
(Populus fremontii).
There is also a gorgeous stand of
Narrowleaf Cottonwood 
(Populus anguvstifolia) as well.

The seed pods of the ubiquitous cottonwood.
Before the leaves develop these female
trees have yellow or red flowers.

Scorpionflower (Phacelia integrifolia)
which is one of the first plants we saw flower this Spring.

My favorite local bush, replacing MuRefuge's Twinberry, is
Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa).
First the bush is covered with white flowers
(the first picture) which gives way to awesome pink plumes.
"Backlit, this is truly a breathtaking sight," says Sally Wasowski
in Native Gardening in Northern New Mexico.

This striking flowering plant
Stemless Evening Primrose 
(Oenothera caespitosa) 
is a nectar and a larval plant for the
White-lined Sphinx Moth.

Rocky Mountain Penstemon (Penstemon strictus)

Sacred Datura, aka Jimsonweed (Datura wrightii)

The two above pictures are of Chocolate Flower,
aka Green Eyes (Berlandiera lyrata)

Palmer's Penstemon aka Balloon Penstemon
(Penstemon palmeri)

All along the sides of the dry river bed these willows
have been planted to stabilize the sand soil.

Blue Chamisa, aka Rubber Rabbitbrush
(Chrysothamnus nauseous)
which many people here in Santa Fe
have an allergic reaction to in the
Fall when the bush is gloriously covered with yellow flowers.

Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia phaecantha)

Buffalo Gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima)
which produces poisonous fruit.

Prairie Dogs in the large field at Frenchy's Park above,
and below a lizard of which there is an abundance everywhere
in the park and along the dry river bed.

Thank you, Katie, for allowing me to share your pictures on this blog!