Springtime in Albuquerque is pure magic. As the vernal equinox arrives, gardeners, plant enthusiasts and curious wanderers will find the high desert bursting with life. Flowering cacti burst into color, brightening foothill trails and river paths. Here are some inspiring destinations to discover the Southwest’s botanical diversity, right here in Albuquerque.
The ABQ BioPark
ABQ BioPark Heritage Farm.
For those interested in horticulture and gardens, your first stop should be the ABQ BioPark. The Botanic Garden offers a lush escape from the city. Don’t miss the Sasebo Japanese Garden, designed in collaboration with bamboo lantern artisans from Albuquerque’s sister city in Japan. While at the Botanic Garden, also visit the Rio Grande Heritage Farm, which showcases New Mexico’s traditional agricultural history. Admire the rustic farmhouse, pollinator garden, heritage livestock and beautiful vineyards during your visit. See more native flora and fauna at the BioPark’s Cottonwood Gallery.
Tingley Beach.
There’s even a “beach” in Albuquerque! At Tingley Beach, part of the ABQ BioPark system, visitors can fish, stroll along the river or relax beside pollinator gardens. Anyone 12 or older must have a fishing license, which can be purchased online or at local sporting goods stores.
A native yucca in front of an adobe house. Photo courtesy of Kim Ashley.
Desert plants are remarkably hardy and water-efficient. While many people imagine towering cacti, you won’t find saguaros here. New Mexico’s state plant is the yucca cactus, a dramatic desert plant that grows tall with explosive white flowers. Like their prickly pear cousins – which are also native to New Mexico – yucca is edible when harvested.
After your BioPark visit, grab lunch downtown at Arepas El Pana, for a side of yucca fries smothered in chimichurri.
Yucca fries and an arepa from Arepas El Pana.
Los Poblanos
Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm is known for its lavender botanical products — and all that lavender is grown on the property’s farm. Rows of purple blooms stretch across the fields with the Sandia Mountains rising in the background, creating one of the city’s most romantic landscapes. Lavender reaches peak bloom in mid-July.
Gardens at Los Poblanos. Photo courtesy of Jak+Flux.
Though not native to the Rio Grande Valley, lavender thrives in Albuquerque’s warm climate. Los Poblanos introduced Grosso hybrid lavender to their fields in 1999. Today, the farm steams the fresh harvest on-site, distilling the oil for their array of wellness goods and award-winning lavender gin. For those interested in agritourism, Los Poblanos guests may volunteer on the lavender farm for a hands-on workshop in organic farming.
Rio Grande Nature Center State Park
For a wilder side, head to the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park in the Bosque (meaning “forest” in Spanish) to explore this delicate and rare habitat that stretches for miles through the city.
Rio Grande Nature Center State Park. Photo courtesy of Karen Herzenberg.
Albuquerque boasts one of the highest amounts of park space per capita in the country, making it easy to hike, run or bike without leaving town. Plant lovers will find a remarkable diversity of native flora along these trails, including yerba mansa, sacred datura, great mullein and sand sagebrush. Many of these plants have long been used in traditional medicine practices in the Hispanic and Native American cultures of New Mexico.
Sacred datura (also known as jimsonweed, thorn-apple and moonflower; Ch’óhojiééh in Diné). Photo courtesy of Russ Kleinman for New Mexico State University.
Walk on the Wild Side
The Paseo Del Bosque Trail is 16 miles of paved and dirt multi-use trails that stretches from the Alameda Open Space in the far North Valley all the way to Albuquerque’s agrarian South Valley. While in the South Valley, witness age-old cottonwoods at Durand Open Space — and come back in the fall, when they turn their signature shade of gold.
Digital nomads seeking that picture-perfect view should add Elena Gallegos Picnic Area to their hiking bucket list. Elena Gallegos is one of many trailheads in the Sandia Mountain Range foothills, which open up to a panoramic view of the city.
Elena Gallegos Picnic Area. Photo courtesy of CABQ Parks & Recreation Department.
You’ll see the word bosque frequently around ‘Burque. It’s a Spanish word meaning “forest,” referring to the cottonwood grove along the Rio Grande. Cottonwoods have grown in the Bosque for over a million years.
A walk in the Bosque, surrounded by tall cottonwoods. Photo courtesy of New Mexico Tourism Department.
In the spring, the trees release cottonlike seeds that drift in the air. The Rio Grande Bosque is one of the last continuous riparian forests in the country and remains a vital ecosystem for countless plant and animal species.
Bouquets for Your Best Buds
Prefer your nature arranged neatly in a vase? Albuquerque’s florists have you covered.
If you’re looking to bring a bit of spring into your home, there are plenty of local florists to help you get your flower power on. Peoples Flower Shop is one of Albuquerque’s oldest and largest retail florists, a family-owned enterprise established in 1944.
Treat yourself with a fresh bouquet from Albuquerque Florist, Inc. Albuquerque Florist’s large selection of flowers and foliage can be curated with their team of experts, or try your hand at arrangement in one of their workshops.
At The Imperial Inn (a 1965-built Route 66 motel in East Downtown), Jennifleurs helps you create a one-of-a-kind bouquet at their flower bar. Make an arrangement for your birthday, anniversary or celebration or simply to brighten your stay in Albuquerque.
