Most people think the desert is barren and devoid of any life.
I thought that was true until I moved to the desert. The abundance of plant and
animal life here astounded me. All you have to do is open your eyes and ears to
experience it.
Most mornings I awaken to the odd, rhythmic sound of a quail
calling to his family or the shrill calls of the very vocal grackle. I watch
humming birds buzz around my feeder, listen to mourning doves cooing. I see
rabbits, lizards, roadrunners, owls, bats, even snakes. Mocking birds often
fill the air with their “mocking” cries.
We just moved to a house that backs up to a wash and it is
full of life. Dozens of chipmunks live in burrows along the wash. They
socialize with their neighbors, the rabbits and birds. When a chipmunk senses
danger, it sends out a loud trilling noise to warn the other chipmunks.
On quiet nights, the chilling howls from coyotes ring out. When
I hear that sound, my skin prickles because it signifies they have caught
something.
We don’t have thick, luscious green pine trees here, but there
are numerous plants and trees that flourish without the need for much water. My
favorite is the palo verde tree. In the spring, its green branches sprout
yellow flowers. Its pods also provide food for the various animals.
Many types of cactus grow here in the desert. In spring,
beautiful flowers bloom among the sharp, menacing spines. Cactus wrens build
their nests in the cactus, probably for protection from predators.
Life is everywhere here. On the stark surface, beneath a
sweltering sun, it can be deceiving. But in the early hours of the morning and
just before sunset, the animals come out to gather food, rabbits and chipmunks scurry
from bush to bush, and the birds fill the air with their excited chatter. It’s
so serene and beautiful here in the desert I can’t imagine living anywhere
else.
Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales
steeped in myth & magic.
Beauty may be the real beast.
