When people think of a desert they might think of something like the sedan in the middle east. Arizona isn't quite like that. It has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the United States. Many trees, shrubs, and flowers grow in the wild in Arizona. In the spring time the mountain sides are often full of colorful wild flowers. The desert produces vibrant yellows, purples, reds, and many other colors. Arizona is home to the saguaro cactus and is the only state with that unique cactus. It is the cactus you see in the western movies with the 3 arms going up like a pitch fork. The cactus grows as high as 20 feet. Arizona also has the Ocotillo plant that sprouts red flowers and smells amazing after a good rain storm. Arizona is naturally a beautiful place.

I mentioned rain in the previous paragraph, but to be honest we don't see much of it. I spent some time in Scotland where it always rained. It was amazing to me. The downtown would be absolutely dead while it rained. And then when the sun with poke out the downtown would be storming with people. They were out to enjoy the brief sunshine. And then after a couple of hours when the rain clouds came back it was a ghost town all over again. I find living in Arizona we welcome the rain. It is like an event. If it rains me and my wife might go on a drive or even a walk to enjoy the different weather. I must remind you that Arizona's warm weather makes rain a lot more pleasant then Scotland's bitter cold rain.

Arizona is also a place that is welcoming to newcomers. It is rare that you will run into a resident who was born in Arizona. My wife was born in San Francisco. Mostly everybody I work with came from Minnesota or California. I figure they came from Minnesota because they wanted to escape the cold. I figure they came from California to take advantage of the inexpensive real estate and the job opportunities. Whatever the reason Arizona is very accommodating.

I personally was born in Arizona believe it or not. I am a 5th generation resident. That is nearly unheard of. My forefathers came here to farm. That is right. They came to what was considered a dry waste land with the understanding that they could grow a golden crop. That crop was cotton, and they grew the heck out of it. The 300+ days of sunshine and the dry weather mixed with irrigation was the perfect formula to grow healthy crops. Arizona is a vibrant place despite what some may figure. With the right combination it is one of the most beautiful places on the earth.