surprises in the rarified air

July 26, 2025 • 5 Comments

Every time I walk in the rarified air of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains north and east of Santa Fe, there are surprises. Given the amount of rain that appeared to be falling daily in the Aspen Vista Trail area, my thoughts turned to mushrooms and flowers. But having never been to that particular area in July, there were plenty of surprises on which to feast the eye.

What surprised us first was that the weather radar did not always seem to be accurate, because the point along the trail that almost always has mushrooms and fungi, was quite dry. Apparently, rain had not been falling there. It took another, I would guess, mile or so before we started seeing mushrooms, and they were hamburger bun-worthy. Big ones that once again told me I need to learn more about them. No names here. Both of the specimens below had recently emerged from layers of organic matter.

The paintbrush, in several different variations of orange and red, were scattered everywhere.

Among the many wildflowers in residence along the trail this summer was something I had never seen before. It took me at least half an hour and searching through two different flower books to identify this beauty - the Fern-leaf Lousewort. The flowers look a bit like a penstemon or a small orchid, but the leaves definitely look those of a fern.

Flowers - Fern-leaf Lousewort 1 2025

The next surprise was contained in just a select few spots. I had seen these in various mountain locations in New Mexico, but had never seen one "nodding" so beautifully. The nodding onion is another edible plant to give a little zing to the mushrooms, if you find edible ones.

If you see red flowers on slender stalks around the state, they are either a firecracker beardtongue penstemon or a scarlet gilia, also called skyrocket gilia. I have seen these for years. Both the penstemon and gilia (for the most part) hang on one side of the stem, as shown below. What I had not seen before is how speckled the outside of the petals are.

And a hike of this type would not be complete without the sound of a chipmunk's scolding.

Despite the warm weather and friends near and far being on vacation, a good many of you found time to write about last week's blog, including Jean & Sam, Barbara F. R., Dave O., Marilyn G., Tim, TTT, Rebecca, Catherine, Heather H., Lawrence J., Ingrid, and Steve. Thank you for that!

Have a wonderful week, hopefully with cameras and phones in hand and at the ready, to capture all the best that Planet Earth has to offer!

until next Monday,

a passion for the image©

Keywords: blacks crossing photography, daryl a. black, fern-leaf lousewort, flowers, nature, new mexico, nodding onion, penstemons, photography, scarlet gilia

Comments

paule marx(non-registered)

Lovey photos Daryl - thank you! Just made me want to get out there and hike away...,

Steve Immel(non-registered)

This is a beautiful array, Daryl. and a bounty of summer blooms and mushrooms. Microclimates, I observe, are common to northern New Mexico. We will have rain when folks a couple of miles away will have none. The same with heavy winds.

Mother Nature was in her glory on this hike in the Sangres, that's for sure. The firecracker beardtongue penstemon or scarlet gilia is gorgeous along with the appropriately named nodding onion. I did not know the Fernleaf Lousewort either. One grapples to understand its ever so British moniker.

As TTT writes this entry prompts an early morning hike. Thanks for it.

Claudia(non-registered)

Daryl, what a great hike in the mountains and beautiful photographs as usual!

TTT(non-registered)

Such magic images inspire me to get off my butt and get out there and see what the monsoons hath wrought. Well, maybe.

Victoria(non-registered)

Thanks for the beautiful ‘hike’ in the mountains with so many treasures!!! Some of those i’ve never seen before!

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