Sometimes it seems that way, and certainly that's been the case over the past few years. We've had quite a dry spell, a drought even. But surprise surprise! if the beautiful Coachella Valley didn't get more rain in one day (this past week) than it the past two years combined!
I've written before on this blog about how the aquifer underneath our desert floor provides us with much of our water, and how this makes us less dependant on the Colorado River and other sources California's water comes from. That's great for pragmatic water uses, yes. But nothing beats that fresh smell after a desert rain.
Many folks believe the smell comes from Desert Sage but it's mainly the Creosote Bush (which covers much of the Sonoran Desert, where the Coachella Valley sits on the extreme western edge). These plants are more moisture-driven than most desert plants, so they have very long roots, up to 60 to 70 feet sometimes. Also, they have pores on them to absorb even more moisture, and these open up after a rain, to absorb it. Hence the amazing scent it produces.
Somebody should bottle the stuff if they haven't already. Yes, we've all come across candles and sprays and potpourris called "Desert Rain," but they pale in relation to the real thing. Better yet, ask a Palm Springs Real Estate agent where you might find a field of Creosote, perhaps it's adjacent to (or even part of) your new home in the desert?
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