July 4th is the traditional start of the monsoon season here in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Many people mistakenly believe that the word monsoon refers to the thunderstorms that begin at this time of year, but monsoon is a word that derives from Arabic mawsim, which means "season," and denotes, specifically, the change in wind direction that brings the rainy season to southern Asia from the Indian Ocean. Here in the Southwest deserts, the wind pattern shifts from the west to the east, bringing moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. Yesterday afternoon's heavy storm washed over Tortugas Mountain and environs, tipping this ocotillo over at the roots.
Despite appearances in the photo at left, the sandy soil is still wet this morning from yesterday's abundant rainfall.
The air is still heavy with humidity, and the Chihuahuan Desert plantlife is thriving on the moisture.
This prickly pear cactus has absorbed copious amounts of rainwater, and it is plump with the life-sustaining liquid. If you look closely at the front and at the right side of the prickly pear you can see a Christmas cactus, a very slender cholla that, supposedly, blooms around Christmastime.
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