The Organ Mountains at Las Cruces have taken on an unexpected yellow hue. The wildflowers of autumn are blooming.
According to Jeff Anderson, the weather has been optimal for these flowers, so there are far more abundant than usual horticultural extension agents for Dona Ana County.
"We had the right conditions - the summer rains - that brought out the fall-blooming wildflowers."
Anderson said "yellow composites" can be seen almost everywhere with sunflowers species included. Smaller individual flowers make up the head in a composite.
Anderson says spring-blooming flowers are a staple of the Arizona desert as the rain falls at the right time. However, in the mountains, the rain tends to fall in the summer, so autumn wildflowers tend to be in more significant numbers.
Of course, some are ecstatic about the beautiful display, while others wait for the blooming season to pass as there is more pollen in the air.