Comments on: What’s That After-Rain Aroma in the Valley? http://arizonaoddities.com/2010/02/whats-that-after-rain-aroma-in-the-valley/ Fri, 18 May 2012 16:21:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: SaraDhttp://arizonaoddities.com/2010/02/whats-that-after-rain-aroma-in-the-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-1194 SaraD Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:45:13 +0000 http://arizonaoddities.com/?p=712#comment-1194 "Greasewood" (Sarcobataceae) and "Creosote" (Larrea tridentata) are 2 separate species and really don't look alike. The leaves of creosote are waxy (a sort of resin protection from heat and water loss), its branches tough and unfriendly, and virtually nothing will eat it even in the worst drought or famine. Some animals will browse on greasewood but it can cause kidney failure, especially in sheep. Greasewood is usually found east of Arizona, from N. Dakota down into Texas and Mexico. Creosote is native to Arizona and is, indeed, the source of that particular refreshing after-rain scent. When wet, tt actually does smell like the creosote we used to use to preserve fence posts, but its scent not nearly as strong. A creosote bush with a plentiful water source can be a lovely thing. Its dark green leaves will be thick and shiny, its spring flowers vibrant yellow and plentiful, and I have seen them 12-15 feet tall. Perhaps one of the nicest things about creosote is that, unlike so many other green things in the desert, it has no thorns, spikes, spines, or stickers. Back when I lived surrounded by desert instead of city, I could tell when rain was coming because the scent of wet creosote traveled ahead of it. Now, I rarely smell creosote in the city. The scent is masked by other city smells such as wet lawns, asphalt, and concrete - more's the pity. “Greasewood” (Sarcobataceae) and “Creosote” (Larrea tridentata) are 2 separate species and really don’t look alike. The leaves of creosote are waxy (a sort of resin protection from heat and water loss), its branches tough and unfriendly, and virtually nothing will eat it even in the worst drought or famine. Some animals will browse on greasewood but it can cause kidney failure, especially in sheep.

Greasewood is usually found east of Arizona, from N. Dakota down into Texas and Mexico. Creosote is native to Arizona and is, indeed, the source of that particular refreshing after-rain scent. When wet, tt actually does smell like the creosote we used to use to preserve fence posts, but its scent not nearly as strong.

A creosote bush with a plentiful water source can be a lovely thing. Its dark green leaves will be thick and shiny, its spring flowers vibrant yellow and plentiful, and I have seen them 12-15 feet tall.

Perhaps one of the nicest things about creosote is that, unlike so many other green things in the desert, it has no thorns, spikes, spines, or stickers.

Back when I lived surrounded by desert instead of city, I could tell when rain was coming because the scent of wet creosote traveled ahead of it. Now, I rarely smell creosote in the city. The scent is masked by other city smells such as wet lawns, asphalt, and concrete – more’s the pity.

]]> By: Greg Leachhttp://arizonaoddities.com/2010/02/whats-that-after-rain-aroma-in-the-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-346 Greg Leach Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:54:58 +0000 http://arizonaoddities.com/?p=712#comment-346 That "fresh" smell you refer to is in actuality the Greasewood or creosote bush. The smell used to be much more distinct in decades past, so I supect it's a little of wet asphalt thrown into the mix now. I used to go out and gather up handfuls of leaves that are easily stripped off of the branches and put them in baggies. When I would lament the smell of the desert, I would put them into sections of pantyhose that my wife wanted to throw out due to "runs" in them, and then smash the leaves between my fingers inside the hose and hang it up on the shower-head. Voila, the scent of a summer desert. That “fresh” smell you refer to is in actuality the Greasewood or creosote bush. The smell used to be much more distinct in decades past, so I supect it’s a little of wet asphalt thrown into the mix now. I used to go out and gather up handfuls of leaves that are easily stripped off of the branches and put them in baggies. When I would lament the smell of the desert, I would put them into sections of pantyhose that my wife wanted to throw out due to “runs” in them, and then smash the leaves between my fingers inside the hose and hang it up on the shower-head. Voila, the scent of a summer desert.

]]>