Chick Keller expounds on the inter-relationships between plants and insects during the Pajarito Environmental Education Center’s (PEEC) Wildflower Walk Thursday evening. Sixteen neophytes learned how to identify wildflowers now blooming in Los Alamos. The group met at PEEC on Orange Street for an introductory lecture and received a handout of species to watch for during their walk. PEEC’s monthly Wildflower Walks continue through September. Specific dates for the walks and to learn what’s blooming around town now, visit www.pajaritoeec.org. Photo by TK Thompson/ladailypost.com

Wildflower expert Chick Keller identifies plant species on the side of Canyon Rim Trail. Photo by TK Thompson/ladailypost.com

The group discovers Indian Paintbrush blooming in a drainage ditch along side the main trail. Photo by TK Thompson/ladailypost.com

The group drove to the east parking lot of the Canyon Rim Trail across the road from the Co-op Market and found plant species just 3-feet from the parking lot. Photo by TK Thompson/ladailypost.com

Two Banana Yuccas grow about 15 feet from the main trail in a small side canyon. Photo by TK Thompson/ladailypost.com

A claret cup cactus blooms along the Canyon Rim Trail. Wildflower expert Chick Keller explained that 8″ of heavy wet snow in Los Alamos about a month ago and the rains last week are responsible for this prolific group of wildflowers.The Overlook Park area in White Rock has no Indian Paintbrush at this time as apparently White Rock didn’t get the moisture that Los Alamos did. To see wildflowers, this week head for the Canyon Rim Trail area in Los Alamos. Photo by TK Thompson/ladailypost.com