Last October, while walking through a quiet neighborhood in Tucson, I stopped in my tracks at the sight of a front yard bursting with color. Golden yellow blooms of brittlebush danced in the breeze, accented by the brilliant purple of desert ruellia and the fiery red of chuparosa. A few young desert willow trees framed the scene, their feathery leaves glowing in the evening sun. The entire landscape looked alive—freshly planted and thriving.