Our Desert Blossoms as a Rose

Utah? or Seattle? or Scotland?

I have to remind myself I live in a desert. In the first twenty-two days of June, eighteen were rainy. This is definitely not NORMAL. In fact, according to a local weather report it is 387% greater than normal.

I feel like we moved to Seattle and no one told me. I now live in Soggy Valley instead of the Salt Lake Valley.

In ancient times, the great prophet Isaiah proclaimed:

"The desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. . .they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. . .for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water. . .and an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of Holiness. . .and the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." (Isaiah 35:1-2, 6-8, 10)

My mother would be so proud of my roses!

The early Latter-day Saints who entered the Salt Lake Valley understood the words of Isaiah to have special meaning and application to them. Indeed the Salt Lake Valley was at that time a desert, a solitary place. But since then it has blossomed as the rose. . .and the roses have never been rosier than this year.

In 1847 trapper and mountain man, Jim Bridger, told Brigham Young that it was not prudent to bring a large population into the Great Basin until it is proven that grain can survive the cold. So skeptical was Bridger, that he told Brigham Young, “I would give $1,000 for a bushel of corn raised in the basin.”

I wonder if Brigham Young paid up.

Orson Pratt, one of the first Mormons to see the Salt Lake Valley, exclaimed, "an extensive scenery opened before us, we could not refrain from a shout of joy which almost involuntarily escaped from our lips the moment this grand and lovely scenery was within our view."

But not all of the pioneer party was so enthusiastic about the Great Salt Lake Valley. Harriet Page Wheeler Young on viewing the Salt Lake Valley said, “Weak and weary as I am, I would rather go a thousand miles farther than remain in such a forsaken place as this."

Oh, if Harriet could see the valley now!

The Geraniums have never been so grand!

The Delphiniums have never been so delightful!

The Ornamental grasses have never been so ostentatious!

Although I tire of the rain, I'm grateful for the cool temperatures. It will soon be in the 90s. The plants will wilt and turn brown to remind us we live in a desert. We'll forget the lush, green of spring and we'll sizzle in the heat of summer.

I get the news I need on the weather report.
I can gather all the news I need on the weather report.
Hey, Ive got nothing to do today but smile.
Da-n-da-da-n-da-da-n-da-da here I am. . .

(Only Living Boy in New York - Simon and Garfunkel)