Countdown: Vegas to South of the Border: “The desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose” (Isa 35:1, kjv)

The Mojave Desert- one of the most forbidding places on the planet.

Joshua Tree- Symbol of the Mojave

In fact, the hottest temperature ever recorded on earth was 134 degrees Fahrenheit (56.6 Celsius) at Death Valley (now a National Park), and summertime temperatures routinely pass the 120 mark. (Yes, it’s one of my favorite places to visit, but that will be the subject of a future post.)

The greater Las Vegas area boasts a population of around 2,000,000 people who somehow subsist on an average rainfall of 3.5 inches a year.

But here is the amazing thing: despite the harsh conditions, life flourishes here. In fact, if you sprinkle a little water on this sterile soil, plants will literally, as Isaiah 35:1 says “blossom as the rose”.

It’s a tribute to Jehovah’s mighty works that so many wonders of creation can be found in such an intimidating environment. There is ample wildlife- coyotes, desert bighorn sheep, desert tortoise, rabbits, and any number of birds and reptiles.

But is it suitable for humans?

Shirley and I have lived her for more than 20 years, and it will be sad to leave. We generally enjoy a climate with single-digit humidity and mild temperatures for 9 months out of the year. So while much of the USA is getting slammed with unpleasantries like blizzards, tornadoes hurricanes, and floods, floods, we in the desert enjoy a winter, spring, and fall with temperatures averaging from 50-80 degrees.

Then comes the 3 to 4 month blast of heat, as if some giant oven was turned up to “high” and we’re the main dish. Fortunately, that’s why air conditioning was invented.

Cactus in my front yard with magnificent bloom

far as field service goes, it’s important to note that the high temps come in the afternoon. So yes, while it might be near 100 at 10am, the 4 per cent humidity makes it feel more like, say 90. And while you may sweat, it evaporates immediately. Newcomers quickly discover that you carry a bottle of water in your book bag and in your car, in fact, everywhere you go. Pioneers get most of their service time in during the cooler months and take it a little slower in the summer. Early morning witnessing starting at 5 am is popular, visiting bus stops, convenience stores, and parking lots.

Here in the Mojave, we are in a perpetual drought situation, so “lawns” in the conventional sense are not permitted (unless they were installed in the distant past). The nurseries stock drought-resistant trees and shrubs, and we water them with drip irrigation.

Nearly 10' tall giant Yucca bloom

For example, in my yard, I run my drip system for 30 minutes two days a week. This consumes very little water, and unlike a sprinkler which would just waste water the drip irrigation delivers water directly to each individual plant.

I took the photos of plants in my own yard for these photos so you can see for yourself the “desert blossom as the rose.”