Bridal Wreath Falls

Bridal Wreath Falls

S.R. and I hiked up to Bridal Wreath Falls in the Rincon Mountains today.

I love the Sonoran Desert.  The diversity of plant life alone is stunning.  For example, this picture of the falls (dry this time of year) showcases the desert’s diversity.  You see here a variety of plants that don’t resemble each other at all.  In the foreground you see a saguaro.  Lining the wash, you also see an ocotillo, some chollas, prickly pears, yuccas, agaves, a variety of shrubs, and several other extraordinary plants.  Unlike my Midwestern stomping-grounds, where most of the plants greatly resemble each other (woody trunks/stems and broad, deep-green leaves), here there’s a striking difference in how the plants look in relation to one another.  I admit that for those that hail from greener pastures, this landscape might look drab and ugly.  But its beauty is in its diversity and in the knowledge of how these plants (and their animal neighbors) manage to eke out their existence on precious little rainfall each year.

But don’t take my word for it.  Get out there and experience the Sonoran Desert for yourself!