During the late summer and early fall, you can easily spot sticky snakeweed (Gutierrezia microcephala) and broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) along the Scenic Drive. These small shrubs, roughly one to two feet tall, turn from a green-yellow to an autumn-esque golden yellow color topped off with many small flowers. Snakeweed often grows in disturbed areas, washes, and rock outcrops. Natives used this shrub to create teas to reduce cold symptoms and stomach aches. However, wild and domestic grazing animals do not find these plants palatable.

Start typing and press Enter to search