This stinks. A noxious weed forces Arizona national monument's picnic area to close until May
COOLIDGE, Ariz. (AP) — It literally stinks that visitors to Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in south-central Arizona might not be able to use the attraction’s picnic area until May.
Monument officials announced Wednesday that the picnic area will be closed from March 28 through April 30 due to the density of an invasive and noxious winter weed called stinknet that can grow more than 2 feet (0.6 meters) tall.
The weed has a turpentine-like odor and can cause serious breathing problems as well as severe skin rashes.
Stinknet has bright yellow blossoms on narrow green stems. The blossoms are round and similar to the shape of golf balls, right down to the dimpled pattern.
Arizona Native Plant Society officials said stinknet explosively spread in Maricopa County during the wet fall and winter seasons of 2016, 2018 and 2019.
That led to heavy infestations on the north fringes of Phoenix and Scottsdale along with rapid movement southward to Casa Grande.
Related articles
- Scotland Yard is set to pay a large sum of money to a French publisher arrested by counter-terror of2024-05-01
Hong Kong arts charity cancels deaf dance group performance
A deaf dance group in Hong Kong has said it was “saddened” after a charity arts organisa2024-05-01Samoa citizenship bill passes first hurdle in Parliament with help of ACT and NZ First
By Audrey Young of2024-05-01Govt opening door for more foreigner buyers to buy farm land
Labour Party spokeperson for land information Damien O'Connor is concerned by the change. Photo: RNZ2024-05-01Judge clears former Kentucky secretary of state Alison Lundergan Grimes of ethics charges
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Former Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes has been cleared of2024-05-01Truth Social: Trump's DJT stock plummets days after going public
Former US president Donald Trump. Photo: TANNEN MAURY / AFP2024-05-01
atest comment