The rains have finally arrived. Where I live, in the Sonoran Desert, just a stones throw from the Mexican border in southeastern Arizona, the rainy season is referred to as the monsoon. Not just heavy rains but incredibly dramatic lightning storms, often followed by rainbows and spectacular sunsets. From the middle of July to early September, periodic heavy rain falls on the normally bone dry desert, and all kinds of life emerge from the seemingly sterile soil. When I first visited this area in March about 9 years ago, the place looked like Mars to me. Spectacular vistas, but alien looking. One day I shared my observation with the local rancher whose family has been here for years . “Just you wait until the rains come, this place turns as green as Ireland.” Ireland?  Too much sun, I thought.  Well the first rains came, and within two weeks I’m looking for the Blarney Stone.  (Sorry for the shaky video, but I was trying to keep our new puppy, Beatrix Potter, from escaping into the wild beyond…)

The fellow was right-emerald green!

Not only does it green up, but fields of wildflowers pop up everywhere. Like these pretty Arizona Poppies (kallstroemia glandifora)