Watering Paradise

I stood watering Mother's petunias last week. They were looking fine. So were the geraniums. The grass was coming in nicely. All in all a fine Minnesota garden. Sadly it was in Apache Junction, part of metro Phoenix. On the other side of the wall was the desert, dry and brown as it moved into summer. Mom loves her garden and I don't say anything. As a good son I just hold the hose spilling out the precious water that is the life blood of a very large consumer-oriented population, living where they have no hope of sustainable living in those numbers. Some other observations:

• Mom is careful about recycling pop cans which can be taken down to the club house. Everything else – everything- is headed for the landfill. There is no recycling program. Governments have no courage to do so as the voters, many on fixed income, will not tolerate the cost.
  
• Roads are four and 6 lanes wide, even on secondary roads. They are largely deserted. The automobile is king. No one walks because of the heat. On the positive side, the boulevards are beautifully landscaped. Public realms are wonderfully designed and maintained.
  
• No solar collectors. Then again, a shower did not need the hot water turned on – only 'cold' water.
  
• I saw very few recreational vehicles. Most of the snow birds had left, but there were almost none on the road to Tucson. Everyone was complaining about the cost of gas.
  

We came back to Canada to cold wet weather, leaving behind 90º F and dry comfort. This week it is over 100º F and the petunias are dying. Arizona was oddly attractive and at the same time unreal. The guilty pleasure of an unsustainable life……… When gas is $10 a gallon, the city in the desert will likely suffer the same fate as the petunias.