The desert has always had a special pull for me.  It is probably because it is such an unusual landscape – living the majority of my life in the Northeast.  The idea of few trees and mostly small ones at that, rugged geography of sand or hard-packed red earth and little visible life seems so foreign to me that it is intriguing!  The seeming solitude of this place misrepresents itself – as easily as we do.   It can appear bleak and desolate – with little good going on – but below the surface lies an abundance of treasure if only we know how to look it!

I was amazed by how many minerals and gems were discovered in them thar hills!  Below the stark and lonely desert, where it seems nothing of use or value can be found, some of the greatest strikes in mining history were made!  In fact, the southwest cut its teeth on gold mines, copper mines, gem strikes and silver.  Who thought, “Hey.  Let’s start digging here in the middle of the desert!”?

Another gold mine is spring in the desert.  We visited the Desert Museum in Tuscon and were greeted with a beautiful display of cactus blooms and desert flowers.  April is a fabulous time to see the desert come to life – and there was so much of it!

Life finds a way where it persists; where it finds ways to adapt and embrace its environment.  We would do well to learn from the desert!

A flowering barrel cactus, Sierra Vista, AZ

The largest rose bush (tree) in the world – planted in Tombstone, AZ in the late 1800s – started from a rose twig sent from Scotland to a homesick new bride.

The blooming of the largest rose bush in the world, Tombstone, AZ

Driving through the desert – we were enamored by the saguaro cacti all around! Tuscon, AZ

Saguaro cactus, Tuscon, AZ

These little yellow flowers were popped up everywhere we looked. They blanketed hillsides and sprung out of rocks. This is a bunch in Tuscon, AZ

There are a lot of thorns in the desert. This thorny fellow ended with lovely red flowers! Desert Museum, Tuscon, AZ

Desert Museum, Tuscon, AZ

Prickly Pear blossom – so many foods are made from prickly pear – candies, licorice, jams and jellys, beer…you name it! But look at those thorns!!! Tuscon, AZ

I don’t know which kind of cactus this was, but is was one of my favorites.

Desert Museum, Tuscon, AZ

Desert Museum, Tuscon, AZ