The Desert In Bloom

I remember when my parents first moved to the desert. We would come out to visit 3-4 times per year and I always thought it was so UGLY! Dry and desolate. Dead plants littering the vast nothingness. I found little in the natural scenery that was attractive. It was not until we moved here and a few years had passed that I began to appreciate some of the beauty in the native plant life. Occatillo became one of my favorite plants. Although it looks dead and dry for much of the year, when it greens up and blooms it is just beautiful! I now have two in my front yard. And even the native paddle cactus that just appears to grow out of nowhere has the most beautiful blooms. Although I still miss the green grass and wide variety of plants that grew everywhere in Southern CA., I have really come to love the desert. The sunsets are to die for, the mountains are majestic, and the plants are beautiful in their own special way.