by Paula M. Manini
TRINIDAD — A colorful array of flowers is blooming in Trinidad and a great place to see them is on the city’s west side. Meander between Colorado and Robinson avenues to view formal and naturalized waterwise gardens. Beautiful historic homes, rocky piñon and juniper hills, and panoramic views of Fisher’s Peak provide scenic backdrops. (Please look at gardens and homes from the street only.)
Wine red, hot pink, blush pink, and white hollyhocks abound. The iconic flower of the Hispanic southwest, they are striking against adobe walls. Tall, erect stalks inspired their Spanish name – Barra de San Jose or Saint Joseph’s staff. To make a doll with a flouncy skirt, make a hole in the bottom of a bud and fit it over a bit of stem on an open flower.
Wild cholla cactus are growing as garden specimen plants with satiny magenta flowers and clusters of sharp, barbed needles. Long, tangled branches provide cover for small animals, and deer and pronghorn eat the yellow fruit. When the branches decay, they form slitted gray tubes hard enough to make fences, canes, and curios.
Cascading and trailing four o’clock flowers close midday but when open are pink with purple tones. Sweet peas, wine cups, cone flowers, roses, alfalfa, clover, and vetch add textures and silhouettes to the palette while showy orange-yellow coreopsis and sunflowers give bright color contrasts.
The charming Emily’s Reflection Garden is open to the public Monday-Friday from 9 am-4 pm at the Mount Carmel Health, Wellness and Community Center. The historic complex, which has a chapel and café, is located at 911 Robinson Avenue (Highway 12). When downtown, visit the Baca-Bloom Heritage Gardens at the Trinidad History Museum, 120 S. Chestnut Street, open Monday-Saturday, 9 am-4 pm.
