Agate Fossil Beds National Monument - Wildflowers

The evening primrose and the yucca both avoid the heat of the day by flowering in the evening. Species also survive dry times as seeds that germinate after light rains or as bulbs that grow up quickly after moisture. The best time to see the wildflowers at Agate is in the early spring, from April to May, but there is almost always a flower blooming. One of the most spectacular bloomers is the Siberian yellow iris that fills the wetlands in June with large, yellow flowers. These irises are not native to the United States, but were introduced by James Cook in the late 1800’s when he established the ranch house near the west border of the monument. Prickly pear cacti have medium sized yellow flowers in June and July. One of the first flowers to appear in early April is the western wall flower with a big ball of yellow flowers.

In August, the sunflowers dot the landscape with medium sized yellow flowers while the rocky mountain bee plant has a ball of small purple flowers. Agate is a great place to look at wildflowers anytime of year.