California Native Gardens
They go for the native plants to complement their cactus and succulent gardens in Pasadena, a town where I understand they would otherwise prefer the roses.
Acuña pointed at the silver-leaved Artemesia tridentate. The Tongva, who called it “wikwat,” gathered the seeds and ground them into a mush. The leaves and branches were used in sweathouses. A medicinal tea for stomach-aches was made from the leaves, which were also used to make a green dye for tattooing.
I’ve been to a couple of those Rose Bowls and man were there a lot of rose logos around. I also saw the aftermath of the parades, where the streets were strewn with excess flowers.