The Journal
Mesa Verde National Park’s staff and volunteers will help visitors view the park’s native wildflowers during Wildflower Week, June 4-10, according to a park news release.
On Monday, June 5, and Wednesday, June 7, park staff and volunteers will be available to talk to visitors at the Visitor and Research Center, on Wetherill Mesa between the kiosk and Step House trailhead, and the Geologic Overlook trail from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On Friday, June 9, staff will be at the Visitor and Research Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help visitors locate good wildflower-viewing areas.
The park expects a variety of showy wildflowers to bloom the first part of June including silver lupine, mule’s ear, Utah sweet vetch, sego lily, Indian paintbrush, fleabane daisy, scarlet gilia, evening primrose, beardtongu, and yucca. Good areas for wildflower viewing are the Geologic Overlook trail and along the roadside from Chapin Mesa to Wetherill Mesa. Wildflower viewers are reminded to use roadside pullouts, not enter into the backcountry of the park, and not to disturb or pick any plants or flowers.
For more information about the plants and plant communities at Mesa Verde, please visit: www.nps.gov/meve/learn/nature/plant_guides.htm