As deserts go, the Sonoran Desert is remarkably wet, receiving up to one foot of rainfall per year. Native plants include trees (mesqite, palo verde, ironwood) and tree-size plants (like the saguaro cactus) that can capture and hold the rain that falls during our two annual "monsoon" seasons.

The Sonoran Desert is the only place in the world where saguaros grow. The largest specimens can reach more than 50 feet in height and weigh several tons. A woody skeleton supports the saguaro, and the green pleated exterior expands and contracts according to the water supply.

This isn't a desert, it's a garden!