Meadows and Forest in Cloudcroft

At the end of my last entry I mentioned that it had been 103 degrees down in the desert.  I forgot to mention that it was 73 in Cloudcroft where Warren grew up.  This unique little town is in southern New Mexico, down near the White Sands Missile Range, but it is in the mountains at 8500 ft.  It is a cool oasis in the desert!  It is where I first started teaching school-music after college, and where I met Warren.  The village is surrounded by Forest Service land, so we went for a little walk in Warren's childhood playground.  We weren't expecting many flowers with the drought conditions, but were surprised with a few beauties.

looks like a sunflower of some kind

Wild Iris; most of them were already done.

a variety of Cinquefoil

Green Gentian!  Would you believe it?!

I'm guessing the stalk would have been about 5 feet tall, but it was blown over.
The upper foot or so was still persevering!

some variety of sweet-vetch

some variety of White Parsley

Field Chickweed

Yellow Parsley

Northern Bedstraw ( in the southwest?)

Meadowrue

Starry False Solomon's Seal with flowers done and seeds forming.

Wild Roses are blooming too!