09/26/2026
My partner often jests that “the desert is always trying to kill you.” And he’s not all wrong. Brutally high temperatures in the summer, strong winds, spines, needles, and venomous critters can all help cut down on your lifespan if you’re not careful.
By the same token, there’s something to be said for the resilience and perseverance of all living things in the desert. One thing I’ve noticed as I walk around the Ranch is that “nothing really dies in the desert.” It’s a general statement—everything has an expiration date—but I’ve watched shrubs and trees that haven’t been watered in years, and look black, dry, and dead, snap back in no time with a bit of water and some attention.
Like us, plants can be remarkably resilient. They survive. They adapt. But give them a little attention and care, and sometimes they do much more than survive. They thrive.
Or, as in the case of Abraham, our handsome smoke tree who split in two and died, they leave something behind. A magnificent offspring, who flowered even before growing a proper trunk, rose to take his place—a reminder that the legacy of endurance and beauty is very much alive and well in the desert.
Photos
1. Abraham and his daughter
2. An indigo bush that had been overtaken by a large, promiscuous chuparosa and a prickly cholla. I removed the unwanted squatters and pruned her a bit.
3. In just a few months, she’s already gracing us with her aromatic green leaves.
