When we started work on the house a couple of years ago, a new septic system had to be installed, necessitating the bulldozing of a sagebrush-covered expanse in the back to make way for the new septic field. Now, August 2012, the bare dirt has given way to a covering of grasses.
Happily, I discovered upon arrival in late July, the new patio outside the guest wing adorned with a bobbing fringe of yellow sunflowers. These are not the ones with the stolid stalks and heavy heads destined to become a platter full of plump seeds. These are the lighter-weight versions one finds along many of the roadsides in Taos, with multiple, bright blooms and an ability to withstand the raging winds that can accompany a sudden monsoon downpour. These cheery volunteers gave me much pleasure over the course of my visit, but not me alone. While the flowers do not produce the big, meaty seeds we like to eat, they apparently provide welcome fare for a variety of winged creatures. Hummingbirds and familial sparrows are among the diners here. I also saw what appeared to be a Western variety of goldfinch. The males looked as if nature designed them to perfectly camouflage themselves amidst the dark-centered, yellow gathering of petals.