Plants                                                                           Where to Look

 Creasote Bush                  Chupadera and Canyon Trails

 Soapweed Yucca                 Along Hwy #1 south of the Visitor Center

 Honey Mesquite                 Chupaders and Canyon Trails

 Mormon Tea                     Chupadera and Canyon Trails

 Juniper                        Chupadera and Canyon Trails

 Prickly Pear                   Chupadera and Canyon Trails

 Snakeweed                      Chupaders and Canyon Trails

 Smartweed                      Moist soil areas, Marsh Loop

 Cattail                        Moist soil areas, Marsh Loop

 Desert Willow                  Arroyos, on the Chupadera and Canyon Trails
                                    Also near the Visitor Center

 Four-winged Saltbush           On Canyon and Chupadera Trails

 Little leaved Sumac            Arroyos on Chupadera and Canyon trails

 Cottonwood (several varieties) Rio Viejo and River Trails
                                 (See note below about Cottonwood Rehabilitation)

 Phragmites                     Marsh Loop

 Screwbean Mesquite             Farm Loop, West side, near Tour Sign #14

 Seep Willow                    Marsh Loop, near signs # 9 and #10

 Tamarisk (Salt Cedar)          Along Hwy #1, between the Visitor Center and the
                                       entrance to the Loop Roads

 Apache Plume                   Canyon Trail

 Sand Sage                      Canyon Trail

 False Sage                     Canton Trail

 Giant Dropseed                 Canyon Trail

 Fluff Grass                    Canyon Trail

 Black Grama                    Canyon Trail

 Sideoats Grama                 Farm Loop, south of the Farm Deck

 Black Willow                   On the east-west two-way road, between the 
                                     Eagle Scout Deck and the east end of the road

 Coyote Willow                  Marsh Loop, south of the Marsh Deck

 Wolfberry                      On the Rio Viejo Trail

 Saltgrass                      Marsh Loop, just north of the Marsh Deck

 Alkali Sacaton                 Farm Loop, South of the Farm Deck

 Duck Potato                    North of the Flight Deck, near the turn-around

 Wild Millet                    In moist soil areas. Varies year to year

 Hardstem Bulrush               South of the east-west two-way road

 3-square Bulrush               South of the east-west two-way road

_________________________________________________________________
Cottonwood Rehabilitation:
     Many cottonwood and willow bosques which once lined th Rio Grande have been lost due
to human activities. Salt cedar has taken over vast areas of the Refuge. In order to 
restore native trees, which have higher value for wildlife, salt cedar is being cleared
and many areas are being planted (rehabilitated) with cottonwood and other native plants

Farming
     The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cooperatws with area farmers to grow crops such as
corn and alfalfa for wintering waterfowl and cranes. Additional food, including native plants
such as chufa, millet, Smartweed and bulrush are also grown on the Refuge.

Water
     Marsh and water management are important to the wildlife. Drawing down water levels in 
marshes creates moist fields and promotes the growth of native plants, Marsh management is 
rotated so that varying wetland habitats are always available.
______________________________________________________________________  

Wildflowers

 Desert Marigold                 Visitor Center

 Spectacle Pod                   Visitor Center

 Primrose                        Visitor Center

 Twistflower                     Chupadera and Canyon Trails

 Bladder Pod                     Chupadera and Canyon Trails

 Annual Gallardia                Along Hwy #1 south of the Visitor Center

 Claret Cup Cactus               Arboretum and on Chupadera Trail

 Ocotillo                        Arboretum

 Chihuahua Barrel                Chupadera Trail

 Cholla                          Arboretum

 Annual Sunflowers               Loop Roads and Seasonal Road

 (Wildflowers are rainfall dependent. Check at the Visitor Center 
            for the best viewing opportunities)

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Things you should know if you visit the Refuge:

   The Visitor Center:                A current list of unusual sightings is kept at the Visitor Center desk.

   Directions to the Refuge         Click here for a map and directions

   Weekly bird counts                Weekly counts are posted on our web site from November through March

   Overlap in Seasons                 The birds move when the days become shorter, and with the weather.
                                                    There is considerable overlap between seasons.

   Landmarks                              The loops, trails, ponds and Tour Loop Signs are all on the Refuge Map 

   Educational Events                   A complete list of the Educational Events  for the year is on our website.