Photographs by Christina Selby.ДonвЂ™t let the thin lily leaves and tall stalks of these white flowers fool you. Mixed Conifer Zone (7,500 to 9,500 feet)Д¬lockwise from top:В Mountain death camas (Anticlea elegans), Orange sneezeweed (Hymenoxys hoopesii), and Violet woodsorrel (Oxalis violacea). The eye-catching yellow flowers turn into blue berries that resemble grapes and are a favorite treat (though quite tart) for wildlife, birds, and intrepid hikers. This small evergreen plant, one of the first to bloom in the season, is often found in widespread patches where few other plants are growing. The wild variety is slightly smaller than its horticultural cousin, a favorite in North American gardens. The foliageвЂ™s strong aroma and purple flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It also creeps into the mixed conifer zone.ДЄ member of the mint family, this plant has a square stem, which can be felt if rolled (gently!) between your fingers. Optimal growing conditions include little water, part shade, and sandy soil. Pollinated mostly by long-tongued moths and hummingbirds, this plantвЂ™s red tubular flowers bloom in late spring to early summer-and into fall, if thereвЂ™s enough moisture. Photographs by Christina Selby (2) and Shutterstock. Ponderosa pine Zone (7,500 to 8,500 feet)Д¬lockwise from top:В Skyrocket (Ipomopsis aggregata),В Wild bee balm (Monarda fistulosa), andВ Creeping Oregon grape (Mahonia repens). This hemiparasitic species gets some of its nutrients from the sun via photosynthesis but also parasitizes the roots of other plants, including grasses and oaks. The brilliant red structures are a modified leaf with narrow green-yellow tube flowers. In the heat of the day, the flower droops and the scent recedes.ДЇoothills paintbrush ( Castilleja integra) This night-blooming plant offers its scent in the early morning to attract pollinating hoverflies to its chocolate-flavored stamens. Red penstemon and hummingbirds have a history of attraction and coevolution over millennia. To hummingbirdsвЂ™ delight, this tall stalk loaded with bright red tubular flowers starts blooming in June, just when the birds are migrating north and need a shot of sugary nectar. PiГ±on-Juniper Zone (6,000 to 7,500 feet)Д¬lockwise from top:В Scarlet penstemon (Penstemon barbatus), Chocolate flower (Berlandiera lyrata), and Foothills paintbrush (Castilleja integra). Take these as general guidelines, not strict property boundaries. Each environment has characteristic plant communities that have adapted to conditions at specific elevations. THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN NEW MEXICO allow hikers to experience five of New MexicoвЂ™s life zones, from foothills to alpine tundra.

White flower with yellow paintbrush