Native Plant Society of New Mexico Las Cruces Chapter

06/11/2026

Enjoy these beautiful plants!

06/11/2026

As we discussed at our general membership meeting last night, don't mistake Arizona poppies for goat's head! Here's some good information on how to tell the difference.

06/11/2026

Love this! Guerrilla gardening with native plants in the desert! This is Tucson, but residents could do this in the Chihuahuan Desert environments in Las Cruces and El Paso with our own native plants.

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06/09/2026

Small favors on Tortugas Mtn. following the recent rainfall.

Eagle claws (Echinocactus horizonthalonius), the Eastern Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris), and haystack or strawberry cactus (Echinocereus stramineus).

Graham’s fishhook (Cochemiea grahamii), Trailing windmill (Allonia incarnata), Rainlilies (Zephyranthes longifolia) with a Dury’s metalmark butterfly (Apodemia duryi).

Though the Fillmore Canyon waterfall was merely damp, small favors can always be found along the trail. A Queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus) taking nectar from Soapberry tree flowers (Sapindus saponaria), Brownfoot flowers (Acourtia wrightii), Acacias (Vachellia sp.) either whitethorn or viscid, and common checkered skipper butterfly on broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae).

See details on each photo. Photos and text by Gordon Berman.

06/07/2026

Picacho Peak Pink was triggered by the recent rainfalls. Eagle claws (Echinocactus horizonthalonius) often display anywhere from 1 to 5 blossoms on a single stem. Still looking for the fabled plant with 6 blossoms. The flowers open for one day only, but they can bloom again within a few days after summer rainfall.

Graham’s fishhook cactus (Cochemiea grahamii) find their niche in rocky crevices.

Sometimes the stripes are distinct, sometimes more white, sometimes more pink.

Finally, a cosmic sign - it was a righteous day on Picacho Peak.

Photos by Gordon Berman

06/01/2026

It's Native Pollinator Month!

June marks the start of National Pollinator Month, a time to celebrate and support the bees, butterflies, bats, moths, and other pollinators that keep ecosystems and food systems thriving. Many of these important species are in decline, and they need our help.

Support Pollinator Partnership’s on-the-ground conservation work through our Pollinator Month Auction, now live on Zeffy! Browse a variety of unique packages and experiences, from bee-friendly vineyard tours to wildflower field guides and more. Every bid helps protect and restore pollinator habitat while empowering communities to support pollinators nationwide.

Start bidding today and help create a more pollinator-friendly future!
🔗zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/pollinator-partnerships-2026-silent-auction

Photo: Anthony Colangelo, Pollinator Partnership

06/01/2026

June 27 at Chihuahuan Desert Gardens in El Paso, 9 am to noon: "Life on a Leaf". Learn all about pollinators and the native plants they need to survive, thrive, and fertilize the plants that they (and we!) depend on.

Discover unique opportunities at! Find and attend events, browse and join organizations, and showcase your involvement.

06/01/2026

Wonderful two-part activity "Imprints of the Chihuahuan Desert" at Centennial Museum on June 10 and 17. Learn how to preserve native plant materials and use them. See details below.

Discover unique opportunities at! Find and attend events, browse and join organizations, and showcase your involvement.

05/29/2026

05/26/2026

New Carlsbad Canyon bat cam!