blossom
DESERT BLOOMS Words + Photos by Melanie Wiseman
Orange Globe Mallow
G
rowing up in the lush, green hills of
often the first to appear, here is a quick glance
Wisconsin, I didn’t appreciate the Western
at five favorite beauties I’ve savored along hikes
Slope’s desert scape at first glance. I’ve long since done a complete 180 and now long for
The Four-Nerve Daisy, of the genus
adventures among the rich palette of sandstone
Tetraneuris, is a species of the sunflower family.
crags, slots and canyons, and annually crave the
Common names include Angelita Daisy, Perky
huge variety of late spring blooms.
Sue, Butte Marigold, Stemless Gold Flower and
On one Colorado National Monument hike,
14
and byways.
Bitterweed.
I counted a record 36 desert bloom species.
Tetraneuris means four-nerved and refers to
Although our unique landscape is home to flora
the four veins in the petal or ray flower. Flower
in the thousands, and the Indian Paintbrush is
heads range from eight to 14 rays (petals), stand
