New Mexico Bound

Landing in Albuquerque on a plane is far from fun.

Looking out the window of a Southwest flight to Albuquerque NM

When the pilot gets on the speaker to tell you it's going to be really turbulent, I don't know if it makes you feel better because he's expecting it, or worse because you know it must be bad because the pilot never does it.

Apparently - which I found out at the end of my trip - flying into ABQ is notoriously bumpy, which has something to do with air currents and the mountains bordering the city.

The good news is when it's over, you're in one of the most underrated states in the country.

New Mexico was so much cooler than I thought it would be. I randomly picked a place to travel to that was near some very little visited national parks to escape to while the world rediscovered the outdoors. Thanks Obama... I mean COVID. It turned out to be one of the best random decisions that I had ever made!

I ended up overwhelmed with the things I wanted to do during my whirlwind drive around New Mexico and West Texas in a week and a half. I spent the majority of the time after I flew in gawking at how beautiful this place was that I never thought about before the last year.

My following posts will document what I did manage to see in a mad dash in New Mexico and West Texas between Sept 24 and Oct 4, 2021. Read oldest to newest posts for the trip in chronological order.

Picture taken from Walmart parking lot in ABQ showing mountains in the background

Even Walmart in Albuquerque has a view

Comments

West Leechburg Wildflowers Week 1- March 23, 2026

During the week of March 23rd 2026 , I ventured out for the first time in search of wildflowers and emerging snakes, salamanders, and frogs at the West Leechburg Native Plant Preserve . This is earlier than I normally start, but I wanted to be able to see a complete cycle for some species I only ever notice as they're flowering. I also felt it might be a bit early for most snakes, salamanders, and frogs that I like to catch but still worth a shot. Some quick notes about the West Leechburg Native Plant Preserve: It is interesting that there is such a wide variety of wildflowers in this scrappy area. The whole ravine is an eroding pile of old mining spoil and overburden essentially thrown back into the ravine after mining and road construction that then eroded down the steep ravine. Invasive plants take over the area after early spring wildflowers are done blooming (and during the bloom) including k notweed, barberry, garlic mustard, stiltgrass etc. Kiskiminetas Watershed Association...

West Leechburg Wildflowers Week 2 - March 30, 2026

Many more wildflowers appeared for my second venture to West Leechburg Native Plant Preserve during the week of March 30th 2026 . I'm dubbing this the week of the bloodroot and trout lily as they were by far the most impressive this week. It was neat to see how much had changed in the development of those I saw the week before and also to see some new appearances including trilliums and cutleaf toothwort. I should also declare this the start of tick season. I found 2 or 3 ticks crawling on my leg while walking the trail. There are lots of barberry plants, a tick favorite.

West Leechburg Wildflowers Week 4 - April 13, 2026

We are onto week 4 ( April 13th, 2026 ) at West Leechburg Native Plant Preserve with some hot and humid weather. There continues to be an increase in new plants, and I continue to focus on those that will be blooming or are of notable interest. The bloodroot, yellow trout lily, blue cohosh, and Dutchman's breeches are all done blooming. I expected longer from the dutchman's breeches, but oh well. Maybe the heat got them like the red trillium? This was the best week for the white trillium and two-leaved toothwort. I am super excited to announce that I found Jack-in-the-pulpit for the first time (for me) here!!! Some other new plants include bluets, foamflower, and poison ivy (I won't include that, it's just an important thing for me). I'm thinking next week will be good for the Solomon's seal but I think the other budding plants like mayapple and foamflower will need another week. I'm not sure.

Ms. Adventure

Search This Blog