Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum: Native Plants of the Ancestral Trail – Identification and Indigenous Uses of Local Flora

Join VVAC’s Ethnobotanist, Rob Estrada, for a holistic 1/3-mile walk at VVAC’s Native American Heritage Garden and Pathway. During the interpretive walk that starts promptly at 9:00am, Rob will point out Native plants and discuss their many uses by Native peoples with some highlights such as: prickly pear, amaranth, dandelion, wild lettuce, buckwheat, clover, plantain, lambs quarters, globe mallow, yucca, thistles, and agave.

Rob Estrada received his bachelor’s degree in broadcasting production from California State University, Northridge. He has a master’s degree in public history from Northern Arizona University, with an emphasis in Southwestern borderlands and a minor in Southwestern archaeology. Rob worked six seasons for the National Park Service in the Natural Resources and Interpretation departments, in both Yosemite and at Montezuma Well. Rob managed the Traditional Garden at Montezuma Well from 2015-2019 and is currently the staff ethnobotanist with Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum. He is also employed at Northern Arizona University with Road Scholar. He enjoys spending time with his two children, his six grandchildren, and his cat Eva, in Rimrock, Arizona.

Many thanks to Rob Estrada and to all the garden volunteers for their tremendous efforts in maintaining this property and serving as Earth stewards!

Address

VVAC’s garden is located at 330 N. Homestead Parkway in Camp Verde. Please note, the garden is not located at the museum. It is a separate property on Homestead Parkway, which is directly off of Highway 260. We are the large gravel parking lot on the  left-hand side.

Available to members and non-members.

Registration is not required.

Complimentary water and cold beverages will be provided. 

The walk starts promptly at 9:00am and is expected to last one-hour with 

periods of standing.