Ms. Karen here. There is no doubt in my mind, Arizona is one of the more spectacularly beautiful states in the Union. And I have been to all of them but Alaska. Most states have their unique beauty, but most are not spectacular places where you just say “WOW!”. Because of its remoteness, Arizona was the last state in the continental United States to achieve statehood. Moreover, it’s stark realities of nature – heat, remoteness, dryness – are why it remains surprisingly beautiful. Just my opinion. Visitors to Arizona in winter (we call them snowbirds), sometimes decide that Arizona would be a nice place to live permanently. That is, before summer sets in. I am told that the average residence of a person or family in Arizona is 7 years. So, what can we tell them before they move here permanently?

• 

  Harmless Gopher Snake taking a bath

  Snakes – No one ever mentions them before you get here. Especially not real estate agents. In fact, the nice folks that we bought our house from had never seen a snake in the yard. Yeah, right.

• Snakes are a resource. They keep down the rat population. Always good to have a gopher or king snake hanging around.
• How do you tell the difference in a rattler and a gopher snake? Rattlesnakes have a triangular shaped head and rattles on their tail. Gopher snakes have a more rounded head; no rattles.
• Rattlesnakes don’t want any part of you. If they strike you, it’s because you got too close. Keep your distance. They don’t like surprises.
• We don’t mow lawns, we rake rocks. Nothing better than a well raked rock garden. It’s a Zen thing.
• Water is expensive. Actually the water is free. The delivery is expensive. Question: IF the water is free then how come the more you use, the more delivery costs? We have been asked by the City to use less water. But when we use less water, the City gets less money. So they raise the price of delivery. Catch-22!

Read More

Packrat nest on our car’s engine. One night’s work.

• Packrats are everywhere. They will destroy your car’s electrical system or anything you leave on the ground. Yes, they are cute, but also hugely destructive.
• Javelina eat anything. They can’t jump but they can dig. They have special front hooves and a snout to do just that. Rabbits dig too. Bury your fencing at least 4 inches below the surface if you don’t want rabbits to destroy your gardens.

Monsoon Over Tucson. Photo by John Edwards.

• Summer is hot and dry. Summer is also hot and wet. That’s because we have two summers. May & June are hot and dry. Then for the next two months we get the monsoons … thankfully!!! Half our annual rainfall occurs when the summer monsoons start about the 4th of July and end around Labor Day. This is why our Sonoran Desert is the greenest of all earthly deserts … and so beautiful and full of life.
• Shade your windows from the outside before the heat gets in. Doing so will reduce your electric bill substantially.
• The Sun can be brutal. Protect wood doors. Keep them shaded. They will last longer.

Our Front Door

• Coyotes can jump your 5-foot fence if they are hungry or thirsty enough. Keep an eye on your dogs and cats. Where you see a pet, coyotes see a meal.
• Hawks can carry off a rabbit and small pets. Beware of attack from the sky.

Cooper’s Hawk on our patio rail looking for a meal.

• Snakes can climb … you should not be surprised to find them in trees and atop fences!
• Scorpions hide in dark spaces. They particularly like to hide in shoes or clothes left on the floor. They can get through any space you can slip a credit card in.
• Jumping Cholla don’t really jump, even though they appear to. Bring tweezers or pliers on your walks.
• A Resident of Arizona is an Arizonan; not an Arizon”i” an. Similarly, a resident of Tucson is a Tucsonan, not a Tucsonian. For reasons few understand, Tucson is pronounced T00-son; not TUK-son.
• So called “flat” roofs should be re-coated every 4 years.
• What did we forget??? Send us a note!

Here is another post from someone who moved here a couple of years ago.