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Chamisa and Friends
Winter in the High Desert
Chamisa is common in the high desert of New Mexico. The lower brush is a grayish tone growing fairly close to the ground. If it receives a small amount of rain there will be a profusion of small, bright yellow blossoms come Autumn.
This species is commonly known as Rubber Rabbitbrush or Gray Rabbitbrush. Oddly this shrub is a member of the sunflower family, blooming in late Summer into Fall.
Chamisa is an important source of food for game animals, and rabbits. The Zuni Indians used the flowers to make yellow dye, and the stems for baskets.
I often find Chamisa sneaking into photos made while wandering close to home. The image above is all about sparkling light. The tiny blossoms like a profusion of twinkle lights. The lines of the dried weeds below like glowing neural pathways.
Even in the dead of Winter, I am daily reminded of all of the life, and lifeforms that are shouting out, “I’m alive, I’m alive, look at me!” And I do.
