Arizona weekly citizen., 1888-04-28
Spring Time in Arizona.
"She is co very fair
 Fair Arizona, Only the nirg star Doth seem 10 avn Ler.m

Doth seem Co own Ler."
 Feel a great amount of interest 1T
 Arlzons from the fact of it's being my
 home. The summer time of other oouu
 tries IS the early Spring of this Territor,
 In March, April or May there is no rsip
 or very littl to speak Of, in consequence the country jusiifies the name Arid Zone" Our Spring virtually commences in the latter part of July then truly does the eye rejoice Tn the rich green look of the broad and rolling hills; the rain caused by the intense heat, pours down with as much violence as in the tropics. The earth ID gratitude for this grateful and needed shower, reveals what she long concealed from mortal view, ss if by charms of magic the fairest of flowers spring from the moistened ground; what wss apparently desert, is now a won. drous garden, snd the cattle as they wind slowly over hill and dale compla- gently, satisfied with their abundant harvest and happy in watching their off, spring gsmbOl in the tall green grass. The wondrous plant of ArIzoos, the cac- tus, IS best seen at this period of the year. The marvel of it's many shapes, the quaint and curious color of its bloom form a most agreeable contrast to plants of less pretentious hue.
 In the month of July two years ago l was travelling in the southeastern DOT ton of Arizona over the BAbcomaFi Grant, one of the most fertile valleys Tn the Territory. The hills on either side of the small river, were 5edecked with most exquisite variety of cactus, Their blossoms were of every shade of pink, red and yellow, and in such prOfusIOn that they colored the ground itse f. I gagged at this brilliant spectRcle-"s painters imagination" would have been the criti- cisms. were it truthfully portrayed on canvas. l know some peo Jls who would have styled II tiasby. However. color Is the characteristic feature of Arizona. The sky of Italy SO famous, is not SO blue ss Arizons's; its sunsets so often spoken of, can not compare remotely to those of this southern cline. The majority of the mountains are of a red shade, some l have seen ss red as brick, then again l have observed hills Rs yellow Rs saffron. There IS DO sresteT pleasure to me than ID riding over this country; the desire for contrast Is Rgreesbly rewarded and the artistic taste giatiied.
 One of the disagreesble features of our spring time are the terrific lightning storms We are subjected 10, n point Uf violence l have never seen anything equal them. The results of these storms are generally disastrous 10 the extent of many horses and cattle. Houses and trees are struck, leaving nothing but their foundation. to subsisntiate the fac. of their late existence, Lightning is sl- ways accompanied by rain, st times by perfect deluge. History proves some time back ID the past, that in places ou the west side Of the Santa Rita noun tsins, along tbe dry valley of the Santa Cruz. where for uine months not drop of rain had glsGdened the earth, that in this season of spring SO terrific wss the rainfall ths. n stage coach was cspsized, and every body hurried on to frightful death in the f0sming waters that rushed over the plain and on which 8 few nm utes before the horses had turned up the dry dust.
 June is the warmest month of the year, during that season, the heat IS rather unbesrable. The Indians (of whom there seems to be s quantity inall the small villages, wear nothing hut a light ulster and straw hat. They loiter round the fruit stands. where the water mellons are pIcGuresquely and mpting- ly stacked. The owners If these stands, impelled by the usual generosity of frui. dealers. bequesth unto the lone Indian | such melons that happen to be over | ripe or dscayed. They are dispatched | with zeal however; even the rind aud | seeds disappear beyond ;he possibility | of return.
 Towards the end of September the | rain ceases, and as our spring passes | away. the curtain drops. the scene | changes and another year passes by, ere | Arizona losses tie sad van look of dry | and sterile country. H.