Coming from the East Coast of the United States to New Mexico was a shock to the system but one of the things I first fell in love with was the desert flora and fauna. I have always been my happiest in nature and I quickly fell head over heels for the colors and textures of the American Southwest. This tree may be just a tree but it also was a study in my love of the colors and textures you can find in a landscape that sometimes just seemed “brown” at a passing glance. When you take a closer look though it is impossible to not find the beauty in the strength of the life in the desert. It also struck me at a metaphor for life. Sometimes we feel a little barren but, when you lean in close, we are all brimming with beauty.