The original building material of the Southwest, adobe bricks are made of mud and straw mixed together and allowed to dry in the sun. Unfortunately, because of its composition, adobe can be very impermanent, which is one reason why there are so few historic buildings still standing. Modern adobe makers often use cement, asphalt or other ingredients in the mix to improve its stability.

The historic and originally Spanish-speaking areas of the Old Pueblo. Barrio Viejo, also known as Barrio Historico, is part of the original Barrio Libre, the oldest area of the city, located south of what was once a walled Presidio. It includes several historic houses listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as the famous El Tiradito Wishing Shrine.

A dry wash that can suddenly fill with water. Always heed the signs that proclaim, "Do not enter when flooded."

Spanish for "street." Usually followed by something picturesque, as in "Calle Sin Vacas" (street without cows).

"Mi casa es su casa" (my home is your home) is a phrase that's usually bandied about by locals, but not always meant to be taken literally.

Jumping cactus,the name says it all, and if you get too near one, you'll be wearing it. In appearance, it can look more furry than fierce, but don't be deceived.

A scary-looking lizard, but it tends to avoid humans and is seldom found outside of desert areas.

These wild, New World swine can look pretty ferocious, especially with their sizable teeth bared, but your garden is in greater danger from them than you are.

A bush-like thorny tree that bears long, bean-like edible pods used as cattle fodder.

A spectacular late afternoon thunderstorm that occurs in the summer. It is accompanied by dramatic pastel sunsets.

A thorny, scarlet-flowered bush (also know as "devil's whip") that is often used to build fences.

Literally, it means "green stick." A green-barked tree with stringy-looking leaves. Extremely prolific and almost impossible to kill, young palo verdes seem to spring up overnight in the most unlikely places.

Literally, it means "a bunch of branches." The word denotes a covered patio and once was de rigueur for any self-respecting backyard around here.

A giant, slow-growing, long-living cactus that grows only in the Sonoran Desert. Occasionally spelled as "sahuaro."

The winter visitors who begin arriving around October. They take only some of the traffic jams with them when they leave after the snow is gone in their hometowns.

A succulent plant with large, spiky gray-green leaves and white bell-like flowers.