What’s Blooming Now? 
By Richard Cretcher

Pinkweed may engulf presa

A trip to El Charco will show the west end of the presa filling up with meta pulga or pinkweed, the English common name. Meta pulga loosely translates to flea killer, which may account for the allergic reaction caution associated with the plant.

Last year the pinkweed completely filled the presa when the rains stopped and the water receded. It will be interesting to see what happens this year.

Cebollin, a tiny lily resembling a garlic plant, has been prevalent along the shore of the presa this year. It has the English common name crowpoison, but is sometimes called false garlic.

The third plant featured this week is the hierba del cuervo. It is setting its fruit now which when dried gives it the US common name of low rattlebox. The plant is a nitrogen fixer and is used to enrich soils.

Other wildflowers blooming now include perrito, zoapatle, amor seco and citrocillo.

Richard Cretcher has published the wildflower pocket guide Flores Silvestres that is available at the Biblioteca tienda, El Charco, El Tecolote, Border Crossings, La Conexión and Terra.