Construction in the Las Vegas Valley could have meant the end for some of the desert’s plant life, but the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) saved some and is offering them to the public at a discounted price.
More than 1,400 cacti and yucca were saved from the Las Vegas Valley and from Nov. 13 - 14 the Bureau will sell them on a first come, first served basis. A BLM release stated the yucca and cacti would have been destroyed by a construction project. In Las Vegas, harvesting any plant from public lands without a permit is illegal. In this case, the permits were issued by the BLM to save the flora.
“We are pleased to offer this opportunity for individuals to spruce up their landscaping with native cacti and yucca at a very reasonable price,” said Las Vegas Field Office Manager Shonna Dooman.
A variety of plants will be available, including golden and silver cholla, pencil cholla, cotton top cactus, barrel cactus, Engelman’s hedgehog cactus, beavertail cactus and Mojave yucca. Prices will range from $3.60 to $14.40. The BLM is limiting purchases to 15 cacti and yucca per household.
The BLM said refunds and replacements will not be issued and the plants are not guaranteed to survive. Desert plants do not need much water and too much can kill them, the Bureau stressed on its website.
On-site driving is prohibited, as well, however patrons will be allowed to use wheelbarrows and carts to transport purchases.
It is recommended that those taking away plants bring heavy gardening gloves, as there will be sharp spines and leaves, the Bureau stated. Most plants are shallowly rooted but people must bring a shovel to remove them. The BLM also recommends bringing along a bucket, tarps, large garbage bags, old towels and thick fabric to wrap plants prior to transporting them to households.
“Towels and tarps will protect your vehicle from dirt and spines from the plants; a large bucket will be sufficient to hold most small, and some medium cacti; yucca will need a towel or tarp to wrap the roots in (they are probably too big for any buckets you have)," the Bureau stated on its website.
Bigger plants like the Mojave yucca require a larger vehicle so customers are urged to plan accordingly. It takes two to three people to move some plants.
The permits are open to those with a Nevada license or ID. Resale of the plants is prohibited to resell the plants.
The sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. near the intersection of Shaumber Road and Tropical Parkway in Las Vegas. Parking is located past the detention basin on the right shoulder of the road.
