NOTE: Portions of this story previously appeared in the Ruidoso Free Press.

Hondo Valley Irises

Day trips around Lincoln County can be among the most rewarding and enjoyable ways to spend about eight hours of daylight in the world.

Case in point, a trip into the Hondo Valley to a place where several locals may have not visited – the Hondo Iris Farm.

The farm is the work of artist and writer Alice Seely, who has created a cool and quiet sanctuary at the intersection of Highways 70 and 380 just outside of the community of Hondo. Seely’s art, tapestries and jewelry cover the walls and shelves in the adobe building located on the grounds, as well as items from around the globe.

But the focus is many species of irises that grow there. Even if you don’t arrive at the optimum time – when the flowers are in bloom in spring – the shaded groves and running canal are a welcome respite from the heat of the day. If you do happen to be reading this before the end of May, then learn more about attending the Hondo Farm Iris Festival.

Combined with the jewelry factory annex just down the road, the farm is the second largest employer in the valley, outside of the school district. Seely has also brought in a specialist to work on a catalog of all plant life growing in Lincoln County – something that hasn’t been done since the turn of the 20th century.

Smokey the Bear

This trip isn’t over. Take a drive up 380 through old Lincoln, the site of the infamous Lincoln County war that made Billy the Kid so very famous. You can take in historic sites and buildings – including the famous Lincoln County Courthouse – that have changed very little since the 1870s.

It’s on to Capitan and the Smokey Bear Historical Park, dedicated to the famous bear cub rescued from a wildfire in the area in 1950. The U.S. Forest Service already had Smokey Bear as its mascot, but now it had a real bear to play the part.

There is another hidden jewel, a facility and garden that celebrates both the history of wildfire prevention efforts and the diverse fauna that grow in the Lincoln National Forest. It’s also eye-opening to see what the Forest Service has learned about fighting wildfires.

Your little walking tour ends with a pause at the final resting place of the original Smokey, where you can pay your respects. All in all, not a bad way to spend the day.