CACTUS

This historic building has three new plants added to the conservatory.

Cactus flanks the banks of the Rio Grande as boaters in the distance navigate the shallow river as it flows through Rio Rancho, New Mexico, on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. New Mexico and other southwestern states have been dealing with dry conditions and warmer temperatures this summer. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)

(AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Cities across the U.S. Southwest recorded their driest monsoon season on record this year, some with only a trace or no rain. Flagstaff notched its driest season ever, down more than 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) of rain from its normal of 8.31 inches (21.1 cm ). Danielle Kosten looks forward to the monsoon season when she can open up the doors at her house northwest of Phoenix, let any breeze flow through and cool down. The scarcity of rain during the monsoon season was disappointing, she said, but not unexpected. The monsoon season doesn't guarantee widespread rain.