Between the Bajada and the Visitor's Center is a small turn out with a path leading toward a wash and some rocky hills. You could easily miss it. I'm sure there were tons of these places along the road that we never saw. But we saw this one and stopped to see what we could see.

The desert to me seemed like a dead, dry place where the land hardly gives enough for the inhabitants to survive. How far from the truth!!

Walking this short trail we could see many plants living. Some seemed dead. Some in a state of readiness. They were all alive though.

We walked to the wash near some rocky hills. There were amazing looking plants. This cactus was just one of a dozen we saw.

We turned a corner and saw this Palo Verde Tree. I see why it gets its name! It was so green!

The longer we were there, the longer we watched and listened - the more we realized how many things were calling this desert their home. Birds were everywhere. Lizards and bugs. The plants. All living here and hardly seen. It was awesome.

So the question begs an answer. Is the desert deserted? Hardly.