What’s blooming on the North Rim?

At 8200 feet summer blooms come a little late. Yet summer is certainly here at daily temperatures reaching 80 degrees.

This New Mexico Locust, Robinia neomexicana, is part of the Legume Family and the pea-shaped flowers taste like, you guessed it, peas. But watch out for the thorns.

Hope to get out tomorrow to see what else is in bloom.

Blooms at Grand Canyon

New Mexico Locust Robinia neomexicana, from the Legume Family is blooming on the North Rim. The flowers smell very sweet, but don’t get too close as this shrub or small tree is covered with spines.

The Native Americans that lived here 1,000 years ago ate the raw flowers; however the seeds, bark and root are toxic to humans.

If I hadn't been with visitors on a Nature Walk today I would have sampled the flowers. Let you know later how they taste.