Cedar Mesa May Wildflowers

Posey’s Trail on top of the north end of Comb Ridge in southeast Utah is known for the spectacular views overlooking Comb Wash and Arch Canyon, but in mid May there was also a very good display of the desert wildflowers.

The most noticeable flowering shrubs were the yellow flowers of Cliffrose in the Rose Family. These were very common along the road while traveling to the trailhead. The shrub to the left is the Roundleaf Buffaloberry in the Oleaster Family. The Roundleaf Buffaloberry is common in the Cedar Mesa area, but I don’t see it very much in other canyon areas of the Four Corners region.

I think this yellow tubular flower is in the Lithospermum genus of the Borage or Forget-Me-Not Family. There are several species in this group and they are commonly called Puccoons.

This four petaled white flower, along the sandy edges of the trail, looks like an Evening Primrose.

One of the most colorful flowers in the Four Corners is the Miribilis in the Four-O’clock Family.

I only saw one Sego Lilly or Mariposa Lilly growing along the trail.

There were many Prickly Pear Cacti along the way, but this was the best group with flowers.

Another colorful flower is the Indian Paintbrush in the Snapdragon Family. There are several species of these all around the Four Corners.

Both the Narrowleaf Yucca and Banana Leaf Yucca were in bloom in this area.

I thought this yellow flower resembled Prince’s Plume in the Mustard Family, but wasn't the best example. My hike was on May 14. This date is getting close the too warm part of the hiking season on Cedar Mesa and there were some of the dreaded June biting gnats out during the warm afternoon.