Welcome to the Sonoran Desert, where life thrives despite the heat thanks to two seasons of rainfall. This subtropical desert spreads across parts of Mexico, California, and Arizona and is home to animals such as roadrunners, Gila monsters, and the Morafka"s desert tortoise. Its rainy seasons are followed by the blossoming of colorful wildflowers such as the brittlebush, seen in today"s image. These hardy shrubs are adapted to the dry seasons, with their silvery-gray leaves covered in fine hairs that help reduce water loss. Brittlebushes produce bright yellow flowers that bloom in clusters, adding splashes of color to the desert landscape. Another drought-loving desert flora is the saguaro cactus, which can live for over 150 years and grow up to 40 feet tall. The saguaro also provides food and shelter for desert species and is a sacred plant in the culture of the Tohono O"odham people.
The Sonoran Desert, Arizona
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Ingenuity in action on the Santa Monica Pier
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Pont dArcole over the Seine river, Paris, France
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Silver-studded blue butterflies
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Strolling across the Red Lagoon
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The forecast calls for blooms
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Birds and bees, and why they re so important
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Edinburgh Art Festival
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The first ascent
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3,000 years of history
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Just a couple of yellow-billed hornbills
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Don’t get lost in there
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May we have this dance?
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A house of grand scale(s)
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Hello, harbinger of spring
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Take the Stairs Day
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Happy Fathers Day!
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Celebrating World Art Day
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Halo around the sun
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Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, Australia
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Ancient groves in Australia
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A special day for a special cat
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Mid-Autumn Festival
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Cheers! It’s National Wine Day
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Freshwater plants in Aquário Natural, Brazil
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Welcome to the Hoh
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A unique perspective from Italy’s ‘golden sands’
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Where is this gorgeous peak?
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Mardi Gras flower power
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Belted Galloway cows
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Let s ride! It s Roller Coaster Day