In an odoriferous setback for outdoor enthusiasts, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument has sealed off its picnic zone due to an aggressive weed invasion. The monument's officials said the stinknet, a winter weed reeking of turpentine, has so thrived that the area will remain closed through the end of April, as reported by ABC15.
The formidable plant, which can tower over two feet tall, is not just a blight on the nose but a health hazard, having the capability to provoke serious respiratory distress and intense skin rashes in unsuspecting visitors. Taking its name from its unpleasant aroma, stinknet bears yellow blossoms nestled on slender green stems, known for its spherical shape with a dimpled texture somewhat reminiscent of a golf ball.
According to FOX59, the Arizona Native Plant Society highlighted that this problematic plant experienced explosive growth within Maricopa County following notably wet fall and winter periods in 2016, 2018, and 2019. Consequently, the encroachment of stinknet has been witnessed advancing from the northern outskirts of Phoenix and Scottsdale all the way down to Casa Grande with troubling speed.
Officials have urged monument-goers to keep a healthy distance from and avoid trampling the stinknet blooms to stop the further spread of this botanical interloper. A swift and effective solution is ostensibly being sought by the Casa Grande Ruins team to reopen the picnic area, although they anticipate it may remain closed up to May 1. Nestled in Coolidge, roughly 20 miles from Casa Grande, the monument is celebrated for its preservation of ancient edifices created by the Hohokam people over seven centuries ago.
