Ob-NOXIOUS Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

Jennifer&Dean: No way to recreate this particular puzzle. So instead, we will place a slightly different cache in it's place. Thanks to all who found it, hope you learned a bit!
Jen&Dean

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Hidden : 7/30/2005
Difficulty:
4 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Hello! This cache requires some homework... reading comprehension type homework. Many of the answers to the below fill in the blank questions will be found at this website: click here
The rest can be found using a search engine except for the leafy spurge section, that is in the process of being re-written (7-19-11 JK).

After filling in all the blanks, you will be putting the found words into a crossword style puzzle, and then taking letters from the crossword puzzle, putting them into a crypto puzzle, and then decrypting the cache location the usual way...

Yes... it’s a lot of work for just one cache but shouldn’t you be learning something new every day anyway? Plus the trade items are pretty good quality overall, and the short walk is through a pretty area.

Have fun and we hope you learn something!
Jennifer & Dean

Spotted Knapweed
1) ... was introduced to North America in the last 1800’s as a contaminant in ________.
2) ... is a deeply taprooted, rosette-forming plant in the _________ (Asteraceae) family.
3) ... reduces livestock and wildlife ________.
4) ... dominance on __________ rangeland is also detrimental to water and soil resources.
5) ... is a _________ that lives up to nine years.
6) ... flowerheads also become attached to the undercarriages of ________, are transported long distances in _______, and commonly become attached to or drop into _________.
7) It tends to grow in _______ and disturbed areas but will take over ______ sites no matter what their condition.

Dalmation Toadflax
1) ... is a native of the Mediterranean region, is also known as "________ and eggs" or "Wild Snapdragon".
2) ... introduced into North America as ornamentals, _____ dyes, and folk remedies.
3) Unfortunately, toadflax continues to be sold commercially as an ___________ plant, and is recommended for zeriscape landscape plantings.
4) Wet or dark conditions appear to ________ yellow toadflax, although it is often found on well drained gravely or rocky river banks.
5) Reduction in cattle-carrying capacity and reduction in the appraised value of ___________ ranch land increased the economic impact.
6) A single Dalmation toadflax plant can produce up to 500,000 seeds beginning in late June or early July in northern climates, and continuing until _________ or early October.
7) _________ toadflax by hand can be effective for small infestations.
8) A stem-boring _________ and a root-boring moth have been released in Canada and the United States.

Leafy Spurge
1) ... infests close to 3 _________ acres of land in 29 states.
2) The weed was brought to __________ North America as an ornamental in 1829.
3) Because cattle will not _______ in areas with a 10% to 20% leafy spurge cover, the weed reduces carrying capacity of infested rangeland to near zero.
4) High _________ variability, even within the same plant, enables leafy spurge to adapt ________ to localized conditions, sometimes making control inconsistent.
5) Five methods are used to manage leafy spurge: prevention, plant ____________, physical control, ________ control, and chemical control.
6) All new infestations of leafy spurge originate from seeds or __________ buds on root pieces which can be brought into uninfested areas by activities such as ________ recreation.
7) ________ can be used to graze leafy spurge often enough and at sufficient stocking rates to weaken the plants over time.

Other Weeds:
1) Field _______, Convolvulus arvensis
2) _______ Buttercup, Ranunculaceae
3) Common crupina, Asteraceae (NOT USED in Crossword!)
4) Canada _______, Asteraceae
5) Dyer’s ________
6) _______ knapweed, Centaurea diffusa
7) _______ cinquefoil, Potentilla Recta
8) Hoary _____ (White Top), Cardaria chalepensis
9) ______ Mignoette, Reseda lutea
10) _______ knapweed, Centaurea repens L.
11) Yellow ____________, Centaurea solstitialis L.
12) St. John’s _______
13) _______ Daisy, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum
14) ____________, Cynoglossum officinale


The Crossword is the picture attached to the cache page. Print it out to fill it in and you will be on your way! To do the crossword, take the fill in the blank answer and put it into the crossword in the correct area. For example the first one for Across is Other Weeds # 5, so the word you are looking for is from the Other Weeds area, question #5.

ACROSS:
2) Other Weeds #5
4) Leafy Spurge #3
6) Leafy Spurge #7
8) Leafy Spurge #1
10) Other Weeds #8
15) Leafy Spurge #4-1
16) Dalmation Toadflax #5
17) Other Weeds #6
18) Dalmation Toadflax #7
20) Spotted Knapweed #4
22) Other Weeds #12
26) Dalmation Toadflax #1
27) Spotted Knapweed #5
30) Dalmation Toadflax #8
32) Dalmation Toadflax #2
33) Other Weeds #11
36) Dalmation Toadflax #4
38) Other Weeds #14
39) Spotted Knapweed #6-3
40) Spotted Knapweed #2

DOWN:
1) Other Weeds #9
3) Other Weeds #13
5) Other Weeds #1
7) Other Weeds #10
8) Spotted Knapweed #6-2
9) Spotted Knapweed #7-1
11) Spotted Knapweed #7-2
12) Other Weeds #7
13) Spotted Knapweed #6-1
14) Dalmation Toadflax #6
19) Leafy Spurge #2
21) Leafy Spurge #5-1
23) Dalmation Toadflax #3
24) Leafy Spurge #6-1
25) Spotted Knapweed #1
28) Spotted Knapweed #3
29) Leafy Spurge #4-2
31) Leafy Spurge #5-2
34) Leafy Spurge #6-2
35) Other Weeds #4
37) Other Weeds #2


After filling in the crossword, you will need to use the grid of the crossword to get the letters to fill into the cryptogram below BEFORE decrypting the message.

For example 9C is at the junction of row 9 and column C in the crossword.

PLEASE NOTE: J is already figured out, as I could not include it in the crossword easily!

9C 15A 18R 20K 23K 25D 15A 13J 18R 20K 17G 8E 14P 19X 15X 10U 20P 18R 10U 10U 8E 25D 15A 13J 18R 20K 17G 25D 15A 13J 18R 5R 15A 14P 9C 20K 8E 10U 4F 10U 9C 25D 14P 4F 10U 25D 14P 4F 10U J 10U 8E 20K 15A 9C 10U 15A 9C 10U 25D 15A 13J 18R 15X 10U 20P 18R 10U 10U 8E 15A 9C 10U 22T 10U 18R 15A 5R 15A 14P 9C 20K 15A 9C 10U 20K 23K 18R 10U 10U 8E 10U 4F 10U 9C


Good luck and we hope you find the cache well stocked and an enjoyable walk. The final location is one we have had scouted out for about 3 years and we believe it is a pretty area to visit. Watch for mosquito swarms though!

Know before
you go.
Check your coords

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Haqre gur rireterra naq fbzr onex.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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