August 2026

Slender spiderflower is a skinny annual herb in the Cleomaceae (spiderflower family) with pink, 4-petaled flowers and stalkless leaves divided into 3 narrow leaflets. It occurs widely from central Wyoming to central Mexico, where it is restricted to semi-barren alkali-rich and saline soils surrounding playa ponds and old lake beds. These sites are often dominated […]

Lentils are unassuming annual plants, with slender stems 6-20 inches tall, pinnately compound leaves, and small clusters of ½ inch long white, pink, or purplish pea-shaped flowers. The fruit pods contain just 1 or 2 round, lens-shaped seeds that resemble tiny monocles. Humans have been cultivating lentils for over 10,000 years, making this legume one […]