Trifter

The Sonoran Desert is an interesting and unique place to live. Covering roughly 120,000 miles including portions of California, Arizona, and northern Mexico, it is one of the largest and hottest deserts in North America. The American portion is divided roughly into two sub regions. The Colorado Desert, on the western border of the Colorado River, encompasses the California region from Baja to Palm Springs; while the Yuma Desert stretches from the same river to Phoenix, Arizona, and from there south to the Mexican border. The Yuma desert is the hotter and drier of the two, with average rainfall ranging from 3 to 15 inches and average temperatures that range from freezing to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s the average, mind you.

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Although the cities in this area, most notably Phoenix and Tucson, have grown dramatically in the last twenty years, there are still plenty of wide open spaces for those who prefer a more rural life. One of the main differences noted in this area is the speed with which ‘urbanity’ turns to ‘empty’ (relatively speaking). In less harsh climates, the city melds into miles of suburbs, then to small towns and finally to farm country. In the desert, however, the city and suburbs are pretty much the same; and then, as if a line is crossed, there is desert – either open country or large unincorporated areas of sparse humanity. This is partly due to the availability – or lack thereof – of water, and partly to reservation land belonging to several tribes of American Indians.

The climate can be quite harsh, and seasons are not nearly as delineated as in other portions of the country. Winter is the mildest season, boasting cool nights and temperate days, and Arizona becomes the part-time home for many escaping snow and ice. Some years see a light rainy season in December and January. In those years the wildflowers will be prolific – and so will the wildfire hazards later on. Most native trees are not deciduous and do not lose their leaves, but spring can be recognized by two major factors; the wind and the wildflowers, both of which begin in February and stretch through April or May when the temperature soars to one hundred degrees or above. July through August are the harshest months of summer, with temperatures climbing to one hundred twenty or more. This is also the monsoon season, with fierce sudden thunderstorms sometimes occurring daily, bringing flash floods, micro bursts, and spectacular lightning. There is no real autumn, but temperatures generally begin falling off in September and October.

The desert has its own flora and fauna, some of which exist nowhere else in the world. The most renowned are the many and varied species of cacti that thrive where little else can; also low-water trees such as Ironwood, Palo Verde, Smoke, and Desert Willow; and native bushes like the Creosote, Mesquite, and the Bur Sage. Several desert wildflowers can be found including species of Verbenas, Sunflowers, and Evening Primroses. The soil is incredibly fertile once irrigated, and many cash crops are grown including hay and legumes, cotton, and soy beans; vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, artichokes, and avocados; a variety of citrus fruits; and nuts, most notably pecans.