21 Jul Arizona Treasures Pt. 3: The Desert

Brown. Dry. Heat waves gleaming off the rocks. Cacti surrounding you. Thirst that seems unquenchable, and only sand in sight. Is this the picture you get when you think of the desert? Most people think of the desert as a wasteland that has nothing to offer, but potential heat stroke. That is the farthest from the truth. Phelps LaClair wants to not only introduce you to the benefits of estate planning, but also to the beauty that the desert holds. It is it’s own type of beauty, and beauty it is.

Types of Desert in Arizona

Did you know there is more than one type of desert? Arizona is the state that boasts of four different types. One main type is considered “cold desert” which is located in the northern most parts of Arizona. This type is called the Colorado Plateau, that is considered cold due to the precipitation it receives from the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges, which consists of snow.  The “hot deserts” that make up Arizona include the Sonoran Desert, which is the majority of the desert, but also there are portions of the Mojave and Chihuahan Deserts as well.

Facts of the Desert

The desert is not an arid wasteland, but it is accompanied by majestic mountains, vast canyons, and flowing rivers during monsoon seasons. It is a place boasting of beautiful vegetation, a safe home for many creatures and beautiful scenery that extends for miles. Some of the coolest aspects of nature are found in the deserts of Arizona, which include:

1. The only place in the world that saguaro cacti can grow is the Sonoran Desert.
2. Over 2,000 species of plants are found in the desert
3. Animals of the desert include: Bobcats, Cactus Wren, Javelina, Sonoran Toad, Pygmy-Owls, Banded Gila Monster, Coyotes, Desert Bighorn, and Pronghorn Antelope.
4. There are hundreds of hiking trails to bring you through canyons, around mountains, to creeks, riverbeds, and hidden swimming holes around the monsoon season.
5. The Desert has one of the fourth tallest water fountains in the world that goes off every fifteen minutes in Fountain Hills.

There are so many more things to discover within the desert. It is a vast and beautiful place full of scenery and activity. You can go hiking, mountain biking, four wheeling, ATV riding, or canyoneering.

One of the best little known secrets of the desert is what happens after it rains. When a rain comes through, right after, as the plants are still soaking in the water, something special happens. Every color that is in the desert becomes vibrant. The moment is quiet, cool, and visually captivating. It is a hard moment to describe, but you have to see how vibrant the desert becomes.

Don’t hesitate on letting yourself experience the beauty of the desert and get out the idea of it being an arid wasteland. Phelps LaClair wants you to experience the true desert, the real desert and see what your eyes won’t believe. It is worth it.

Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (7/10/2017) Ron Reiring (Flickr)