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
Giuliani served indictment papers while leaving 80th birthday
Arizona’s attorney general says former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been served an indictment in2024-05-19Chennai Super Kings stay in contention for IPL playoffs with 5
CHENNAI, India (AP) — Defending champion Chennai Super Kings remained in contention for the playoffs2024-05-19The masters of SEXPIONAGE: Glamorous female spies who used sex to lure male targets
The world of espionage has a reputation for glamour, deceit and - thanks to the exploits of James Bo2024-05-19An apartment block collapses in Russian border city of Belgorod after heavy shelling
An apartment block partially collapsed in the Russian border city of Belgorod on Sunday, leaving at2024-05-19AMANDA PLATELL: Don't let this Strictly snowflakery shatter the glitterball of our dreams
What shocking news for us Strictly fans that one of the show's star dancers, Giovanni Pernice, has l2024-05-19Hundreds of prisoners set to be freed early to ease pressure on crowded jails
Hundreds of criminals are set to be freed early in a controversial bid to relieve the crisis in Scot2024-05-19
atest comment