Sagebrush

Besides easing aches and pains, Adams says the pleasant aroma of the California sagebrush helps people relax. He says a plant called Spanish Bayonet was used by American Indians for food. Its leaves and roots produce a kind of soap, and the fiber from the stems can be used as a poultice for wounds, and for making clothing.

On our bumpy, mud-soaked ride to the Grand Canyon’s lesser-visited East Rim, a coyote emerged from the sagebrush to lead the way. It took off directly in front of our van, seemingly directing us through a labyrinth of dirt roads. Our guide, a member of the Navajo Nation, parked the vehicle and offered thanks to the coyote for its guidance.