Blossom season

Gordon Tooley and Margaret Yancey cultivate dozens of obscure varieties of apple, cherry, pear, and plum trees, some of which started out as cuttings from abandoned homesteads along the Santa Fe Trail. "The 'Knobbed Russet' is an ugly apple," explains Tooley, who has about 11,000 trees and shrubs in stock. "But for flavor, it will blow your basic 'Red Delicious' away."

With baby tree onboard, continue 2 miles to Truchas and stroll through the seven galleries that have sprouted here in recent years. Hand Artes Gallery (137 County Rd. 75; 505/689-2443) shows contemporary work from local artists and boasts its own sculpture garden full of wind chimes and other objects.