At the risk of being mocked by anyone who's been transplanted to Arizona from somewhere cold, I'm tired of the chilly weather. I'm a sunshine and summer girl. Chilly, gloomy temps

Arizona spring is subtle
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The desert is subtle.

Plants in the Sonora Desert's arid climate use a host of tricks to fight for survival. Some store water, while others send out long, shallow roots and collect water a few inches above them.

Arizona spring is subtle
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READ: The Best Places to Find Arizona’s Secret Blooms this Spring!

The desert flora quietly uses its wily ways to fight for survival. It's no surprise that the seasons in the desert exit on tiptoes and enter with a hush: no dramatic blizzards or lake-effect snowstorms.

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Hurricanes die before they arrive, becoming rain showers when they reach our borders. Tornados don't run their flags up the Fujita scale. If they make an appearance, they generally stay around F-1 or lower and usually give up before they cause damage.

Arizona spring is subtle
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What Does Spring Look Like in Arizona?

Spring in Arizona is a bit of an undercover agent, too. It doesn’t hit you with a full-bloom extravaganza like other places. Instead, it whispers its arrival.

The days begin to stretch a bit, and sunsets linger just a tad longer. The early mornings greet you with a little nip in the air, but it doesn't last as long. A gentle warmth quickly replaces the chill as the sun climbs the horizon.

Spring in Arizona doesn't pop until you get confirmation from a particular desert plant: the mesquite tree.

One day, the mesquite tree looks dead and barren, a few dead leaves still clinging to its branches.

Arizona spring is subtle
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The next day - BOOM! Green leaves cover the tree and wash the landscape in emerald glory.

READ: The Recipe for an Arizona Wildflower Superbloom

Late winter and early spring warming can fool other plants, but the mesquite tree never lies: it knows when the final winter frost is behind us.

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It's a bit of a mystery why the mesquite trees harbor this esoteric knowledge, but we count on their subtle wisdom to let us know that spring is, in fact, here.

It's not a dramatic change, but Arizona's unpretentious mesquite tree hint lets us know the moment spring has arrived!

[Wikipedia | Hunker | University of Arizona Cooperative Extension: Backyard Gardener ]

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